The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-01-24

Having hidden them hold themselye,
at my disposal for final instructions,
went straight to Goodge-street, where ]
found the worthy Bennett In a surly
mood, owing TO slackness in trade
He smiled when / asked him If he
could build for me pillar box to the
government pattern 10 the time at ouI
disposal
On reaching home / wrote briefly tc
Herr Moskovitz informing him Of my
scheme, and adding that l hoped to
have the pillar box and letter safely al
my house between 4 and on the fol.
lowing Friday morning. asked him
to be waiting at my residence TO receive
the document, and to bring the prom.
ised reward with him, as | would only
part with the letter in exchange for the
same.
All went well, and on the following
Friday the van, containing the pillar
box, my assistants and myself, set out
for Percy-street, where we arrived at
2l0. 1 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 sct," the other two
men taking up their places at the cor
ners of the street.
Al 3 O'Clock heard loud shouts and
curses proceeding from our two friends,
and moment later two policemen were
Fastening in the direction of the noise.
The coast thus clear, we drove up to
the ambassador house, and in twink
ling deposited the dummy box, which
was an exact duplicate of the genuine
article on the opposite side of the street.
''Now for the notice of Temporary dis
use," / said with laugh, and an in
stant afterwsrd the mouth Of the genu.
inc pillar box was closed with gummed
paper, and the following notice posted
in front of the time table of postal de-
liveries:
'-NOTICE-This pillar box being in
temporary disuse, the public will oblige
by posting Communications at the tenn
porary box across the road.-By Order. {"
This work completed to our satisfae-
ton, my pal and l climbed back into
our van and drove noiselessly down a
side street, from which we could watch
all that happened outside Count Rode
hOltz's mansion.
I confess that, hardened and expert
enced as | was, terrible thrill Of ner-
vousness went through me as stood in
that van with my companion waiting.
The return of the policemen from the
station before the conclusion of the bus
iness would ruin all; nay, if a chance
youth on his way home from a dance
were attracted by the notice on the box
and fingered to look at it, we might be
equally overthrown.
1t vas, therefore, with feeling of re-
lief that amounted to positive joy that
tchNAOf dt Aoeuh a QNattCA pAcA y tot
door of the house open, and young
man-evidently the ambassadors sec
retary-glide into the street. He held
in his hand the letter, and / saw him
run up to the geunine box and peer at
it a moment in surprise.
Then, with some expression, which
of course we could not catch at that
distance, he 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 as such good service and removed
the paper from the mouth of the box.
Three minutes later we were driving
away briskly in the direction Of my
house. We arrived at a. m, l3a
found Herr MOskovitz awaiting US, in
intense excitement.
"Wellp' he cried, gesticulating with
both hands, shave you succeeded ?"
Perfectly" | replied. Here is the
box, and here is the key. We have not
touched or looked at the letter, believ-
ing il TO be private"
"YOu have acted well, " he returned,
quickly; land now to obtain the letter"
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 at the superseription cry of
disgust escaped his lips, aud he tore it
open. One glance at the letter seemed /
10 suffice. and it transformed him ut
terly. He strobe across the room and
slook his great fist in my face.
Fool! Simpleton! Imbecilew he
yelled, each word having the malig-
nity of a blow; ''you have failed after
al, and made fool of yourself and |
ner'
he flung the letter at me, and darted |
rom the house, nttering curses a he
rolled down the stairs.
l took up the letter and read these
words:
"Dere Mary Ann-Master sittin' up |
ate to- night, as per usual, with his
blessed letter writin' and sichlike. I |
ave & few minits to rite to say as 'ow |
opes this finds you as it leaves Ne in
ealth and spirits, tho dog-tired, and
please to meet me at the Marble Arch
1t sharp next Sunday, from your
uvvin George"
| saw through the whole business at !
,nce. The man | had taken to be the /
was merely valet, or butler,
lnd the letter was servants eommu-
lieation TO his sweetheart instead of an
letter 20 his government.
We bad come away too soon.-LondOn |
rit-Bits.
having a Great Run on Chamber
lain's Cough Remedy.
Nanaoar Afar.f1 of fla Df.r.Or dr,,or