Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-08-29
themselves into any adventure Of the

''~~ "oANSN oohSs W. VI Nuc ulcu,
burly fellows. known as Jim Thursday
and Bill East, were to devote their
powers to quarreling and getting run
In" at the corner Of Percy street, while
another two were to keep watch ut the
corners OF the street The remaining
man. Tom Rogers. was to assist me In
dcpositing the pillar box and removing
1t when the time came.
Then new difficulty arose. How
was the pillar box to be obtained?
"Wh@: Is to be done about getting
boxr' l asked the men. There was ST.
ience for moment, and then East,
scratching his head, said gruGly:
"Try old Bennett, the iron found.
er In Goodge street, wot got five
years stretch for passin flash coin.
'E's out on ticket now ana Is up TO
maxim fancy pillar box rs soon ms
wink at yer"
Having bIlden them hold themselves
at my disposal for final Instructions, |
went straight to Goodge street, where
found the worthy Bennett in n surly
mood owing to slackness Of trade. He
smiled when asked him if he could
build for me pillar box to the govern
ment pattern In the time at our dis.
posal
On reaching home l wrote briefly to
Herr Moskovitz Informing him Of my
scheme and adding that | hoped to
nave the pillar box and letter sa fcly at
my house between q and 5 on the fol.
lowing Friday morning. asked him
70 DE waiting at my residence to re-
ceive the document and to bring the
promised reward with him, as l 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
Dox' my assistants and myself set out
ror Percy street, where we arrived at
5:lo. noticed with satisfaction that
the night was very dark, which fact
vas or course advantageous | at once
dispatched Thursday and East to do
their "quarrcling aci," the other two
men taking up their places at the cor
ncrs Of the street.
AT o'clock heard loud shouts and
curses proceeding from our two
friends. and II moment later two police:
men were Fastening in the direction OF
the noise. The coast thus clear, we
drove up to the ambassadors house
ana IN twinklinE deposited the dunn
my box, which was an exact duplicate
of the genuine article on the opposite
side Of the street
Nov for the notice Of Temporary
disuse," said with 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:
Nottce-This pillar box being In temporary
disuse the public will oLlge by posting com.
munications 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 noisclcssly down a
side street. from which we could watch
all that happened outside OF Count
Rodeholtz's mansion.
| confess that. hardened and expert
enced ms was, n terrible thrill of ncrv-
BUSINESS went through me rs 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
chance youth on the way home from n
dance were attracted by the notice on
the box and fingered 10 look at it, we
might be equally ovcrthrown.
1T was therefore with n feeling Of re-
lief that amounted to positive JOY that
| beheld Mt 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 gcnu-
Inc box ana peer at 1t for n moment I'm
surprise.
Then. with some expression which
Of course we could not catch Mt that
distance, he crossed the road and, hav-
Ing deposited the letter in our box, re.
turned with all speed to the house.
Not soul was in sight--the street
was silent rs 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 4 n. IN. and found
Herr Moskovitz awaiting us in intense
excitement
hS NiiCNi, Wltn
both hands. "well, have you succeed.
ed?"
Perfectly" | replied. "Iierc Is the
box and here Is the key. We have not
touched or looked ut the letter believ-
Ing 1t to he private"
you have acted WELL" lie 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 knclt down
and drew forth the envelope. AS he
looked at the superscription n cry of
disgust escaped his lips, and he tore
1t open. One glance Mt the letter
seemed to suffice, and 1t transformed
him utterly. He strobe across the
room and shook his great fist In my
face.
600. Simpeton Imbccilc" he
yelled, each word having the mallgnity
Of n blow. "You have failed after all
and made fool Of yourself and me-"
He flung the letter Mt me and dartcd
froln the house. uttering curses as he
rolled down the stairs.
took up the letter and read these
words:
Dcrc Mary Anne Master sittin up late tonight,
as per usual, with his blessed letter ritin and
sich Ike. ave few minits to rite 10 say as
'ow opcs this finds you II leaves me, In
'ealth an spirits, tho dog tired. and please to
meet me at the Marble arch at sharp next Sun
oa}' from your luVNin GEORGE.
saw through, the whole business at