The Somerset reporter., 1900-01-11

mood owing to slackness Of trade. He
smiled when | asked him II he could
build for me pillar box to the govern
ment pattern In the time at our dis
posal.
On reaching home I%wrote briefly to
Herr Moskovitz Informing him of my
scheme and adding that hoped to
have the pillar box and letter safely at
my house between and 5 on the fol-
lowing Friday morning. ! asked him
to be waiting at my residence to re-
ceive the document and to bring the
promised reward with him, as | would
only part with the letter In exchange
for the same.
All went well, and on the following
Friday morning the van with the pillar
box, my assistants and myself set out
for Percy street. where we arrived at
BIO | noticed with satisfaction that
the night was very. dark. which fact
was of course advantageous. | at once
dispatched Thursday and East to do
their "quarreling act" the other two
men taking up their places at the cor
ners of the street.
At O'Clock heard loud shouts and
curses proceeding from our two
friends and a moment later two police
men were Fastening in the direction of
the noise. The coast thus clear, we
drove up to the ambassadors house
and in a twinkling deposited the dunn
my box. which was an exact duplicate
of the genuine article on the opposite
side of the street.
Now for the notice of temporary
disuse," | said with a laugh. and in an
instant afterward the mouth of the
genuine pillar box was closed with
gummed paper and the following no
tice posted in front of the time table of
postal deliveries
Notce.-This pillar box being in temporary
disuse. the public will oblige by posting
muncations at the temporary box across the
road BY order
This work completed to our satisfac-
ton my pal and climbed back into
our van and drove noiselessly down a
side street, from which we could watch
all that happened outside of Count
Rodeholtz's mansion.
l cODIpSS llldl. udIueutu anu tApclI
enced as was. a terrible thrill of nerv-
BUSINESS went through me as | stood
In that van with my companion wait
ing. The return of the policemen from
the station before the conclusion of the
business would ruin all; nay. If a
chance youth on the way home from a
dance were attracted by the notice on
the box and fingered to look at 1t, we
might be equally overthrow.
1t was therefore with feeling of re-
lief that amounted to positive joy that
| beheld at about 3:15 the door of the
house open and young man. evidently
the ambassadors secretary, glide into
the street. He held in his hand the let
ter. and saw him run up to the genu-
inc box and peer at it for a moment in
surprise.
Then. with some expression which
of course we could not catch at that
distance. be crossed the road and. hav-
ing deposited the letter in our box, re-
turned with all speed to the house
Not a soul was In sight-the street
was silent as the grave. We quickly
tore down the notice which had done
us such good service and removed the
paper from the mouth Of the box.
Three minutes later we were driving
away quickly In the direction of my
house. We arrived Mt a. m. and found
Herr Moskovitz awaiting us In intense
excitement.
Well" he cried, gesticulating with
both hands, well. have you succeed
ed?"
"Perfectly." replied Here Is the
box AID here Is the key. We have not
touched or looked at the letter. believ-
Ing it to be private"
You have acted we'll" he returned
quickly. And now to obtain the let
ter"
With hands that trembled so violent
ly that he could scarce insert and turn
the key the excited man knelt down
and drew forth the envelope. AS he
looked The superscrption a cry Of
disgust escaped his lips, and he tore
1t open. one glance at the letter
seemed to suffice, and it transformed
him utterly. He strobe across the
room and shook his great fist In my
face.
Fool! Simpleton! Imbecilee' he
yelled each word having the malignity
of a blow. you have failed after all
and made fool of yourself and me-"
He flung The letter at me and darted
from the house. uttering curses as he
rolled down the stairs.
took up the letter and read these
words:
Dcre Mary Anne-Master sttin up late tonight
as per usual with his blessed letter ritin and
SIGH like ave a few minits to rite to say as
'ow ! opes this finds you as ii leaves me, in
'eath an Spirits tho dog tired, and please tc
meet me at the Marble arch at sharp next Sun
day from your luvyin GEORGE
saw through the whole business at
once. The man was merely a valet OF
| butler. and the letter was a servants
! communication to his sweetheart In
stead of an ambassadors letter to his
government. We had come away toe
soon. -Pittsburg Press.
Social FOrmaIlty.
"What do Won UrODOSp TO do with this