Smyrna times., 1900-02-21

box?' | asked the men. There was 81
lence for a moment. and then East.
scratching his head, said grutfiy:
Try old Bennett. the iron found.
er in GOodge street. wot got five
years stretch for passin fash coin.
ELS out on ticket now and is up to
maxim a fancy pillar box as soon as
wink at yer"
Having hidden them hold themselves
at my disposal for final Instructions
went straight to GOOdge street, where
found the worthy Bennett in a surly
mood owing to SlackneSs of trade. He
smiled when | asked him if he could
Dulld for me pillar box to the govern
ment pattern in the time at our dis
posal.
On reaching home | wrote briefly to
Herr MoskOvitz informing him of nv
scheme and adding that | hoppd TO
have the pillar box and letter safely at
my house between and ) 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
S:1O. | 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 ut the cor.
nerS of the street
At O'Clock | heard loud shouts and
curses proceeding from our two
friends. and 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 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:
Notice.-This pillar box being in temporary
disuse. the public will oblige by posting com
munieations at the temporary box across the
road. By order.
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.
| confess that. hardened and expert.
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 it. we
might be equally overthrown.
1t was therefore with a 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. 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
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 at a. III. and found
Herr MOskovitz awaiting us in intense
excitement.
We'll" he cried. gesticulating with
both hands. well. have you succeed
edT'
| itliitu- A1ClC 10 thS
box and 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 turf
the key the excited man knelt dowr
and drew forth the envelope AS hC
looked at the superscription a cry O
disgust escaped his lips. and he tor'
it open. One glance at the lettel
seemed to suffice. and it transformed
him utterly. He strobe across thu
room and shook his great fist in m!
face.
Fool! Simpleton! lmbecile!' b,
yelled, each word having the malignit!
of blow. You have failed after al
and made fool of yourself and me-"
He flung the letter at me and dartet
from the house. uttering curses as h
rolled down the stairs.
| took up the letter and read thes
| xvor6c.