Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1899-08-25
Capturing aStatue
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With Paint, Wig and Beard
Work of Art May Easily
Be Made Repulsive.
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In the course OF my long ana event
full career | have the honor of plan
ming various schemes which have
taken conspicuous place in point of
audacity in the records of crime, but
perhaps in none of these transactions
was such audacity more prominent
than in the incident Of the carrying off
of the Apollo statue from the residence
of Sir Titus Blaydes, Bart, the statue
in question being the work Of the
famous sculptor Apclles and being
valued by experts at $250,000.
One evening l was sitting in restau-
rant finishing an after dinner cigar
when Il short, foreign looking man, OK
pensively dressed, came and sat down
beside me.
Excuse the liberty take in adj
dressing YOU" he began courteously,
speaking with strong foreign accent,
but in perfect English, "but your fame
has indirectly reached my ears.
think l have the honor of addressing
Mr.. Godfrey Vince"
"That is my name," returned, much
amazed. MAY l ask what you desire
with me?"
lie came very close and, sinking his
voice, said in a whisper, 81 want you
to carry off for me the Apollo statue
from the house of Sir Titus Blaydes
at Longworth Court"
One glance at the card told me all
1t bore the name of Count Antonio
Delarocca, the famous millionaire col
lector of the antique, whose gallery at
Milan contained priceless glories of
ancient masters.
81 recognize your name, count, and
shall be glad to be of service to you.
But may ask what constrained you
to fix upon me as the instrument of
your designs"
81 CHANGED to he present at your trial
over the Wigmore case, when, as you
will remember, you escaped with n
light sentence, though the evidence
showed you to be an artist in crime. l
kept my eye upon you, resolving to
offer you this delicate mission directly
the government no longer required
your services
Il shall be delighted to do all in my
power for you count, but first of all
you must tell me In detail what you re-
quire DONE"
Most certainly" he made answer, as
he offered me a cigar and relit his own.
During the past four years have
made countless offers to Sir Titus
Blaydes for his Apollo, the offers being
made through secret agents of mine,
for naturally the baronet would not
part with the statue to rival collector
such as myself. My last offer was no
less than S250,000, but this also was
unhesitatingly refused"
He paused and blew n great cloud
from his cigar. Then he resumed: Il
am a man of iron will, and what | set
my heart upon l always obtain. Sir
Titus has proved unamenable TO falr
means. will now assail him with the
| only MISUNDERSTANDING Yes, mere
ly stratagem, not robbery, for on the
day that you hand over to me the Apol'
10 statue | shall forward him anony-
mously the sum of $250,000. And you
my friend, would receive S2o,ooo'
Come. is the bait sufficiently tempt
ingT
Before we parted he gave me his al
dress in Milan, for which place he was
leaving on the morrow, and 1t was to
this address that l was to convey the
statue if my efforts proved SUCCESSFUL
| NAV add that he left with me the
sum of $1,000 as a guarantee OF GOOD
faith.
On the following Monday l journey
cd down to Longworth court, ana
mingling with the crowd, entered Tue
SPACIOUS mansion, l soon gained al
mlttance to the gallery.
The more / contemplated the busl
ness the further and further away dic
the counts reward seem, and by inc
time reached London l was in a de
spairing mood. l retired to bed, resolV
cd to think no more of the matter
though on the following morning
visited two of my oldest chums, Jacf
Grimes and Tom Harris, and put the
case to them They sneered at the al
fair, declaring it was impossible.
1t therefore came about that the
matter passed out Of my mind untl
the end Of November, when 1t was
brought back to me in n curious man
ner.
l happened to enter a theater ont
', night where play was being enacted
in which a distracted hairdrcsser' be
ing pursued by a. statue which hat
been miraculously endowed with life
t suddenly conceived the idea of paint
! ing her face and dressing her in MOD
ern attire, SO as to render her appear
F, ance more conventional when she wa
tracking his steps.
/ An idea flashed through my bran
when | witnessed this incident. | di'
$ not wait for the end of the play, blu
leaping into hanson, drove to our den
where, by lucky chance, / foun'
: Grimes and Harris cnsconced in arm
) chairs and smoking peacefully.
They both looked up quickly. but dix
not speak.
sAv nlan Is this" | went ON, speak