La Junta tribune., 1900-04-18

ury nousc petween ! ana on the FOL.
lowing Friday morning. I.asked him
TO be waiting AZ my residence to re-
ceivc 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 weSarrived Mt
$40. noticed with satisfaction that
the night was very dark. which fact
was of course advantageous. Mt once
dispatched Thursday and East to do
their .'quarreling act" the other two
men taking MP tiieir places at the cor
ners of the street.
AT 3 o'clock I heard loud shouts and
curses proceeding from our two
friends. and Il moment later two police
men We're 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 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:
Sotice.-This pillar box being In temporary
disusc. the public will oblige by posting com
muneations at the temporary box the
road. by order.
This work completed to our satisfac-
ton. my pal and ] climbed back into
our van and drove noiselessly down n
side street. from which we could watch
all that happened outside of Count
Rodcholtz's mansion,
confess that. hardened and cxperi-
enced as l was. n 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, II n
chance youth ON the way home from
dance were attracted by the notice on
the box and fingered to look at 1t. we
might be equally overthrown.
II was therefore with n feeling of re-
l bcheld AT about 3:15 the door of the
house open and n 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 II 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 n soul was in sight-the street
was silent ms 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 We're driving
away quickly in the direction Of my
house. We arrived Mt ! n. IN. and found
Herr Moskovitz awaiting us In intense
excitement.
WELL" he cried. gesticulating with
both hands. "well. have you succeed
edT'
"Perfectly." | replied. Here is the
box and here is the key. We have not
touched or looked at the letter. believ-
ing 1t to be private"
"You have acted well.' he returned
quickly "And now to obtain the let
ter
With hands that trembled so violent
ly that lie could scarce insert and turn
the key the excited man knelt down
and drew forth the envelope. AS he
looked at the superscription n cry of
disgust escaped his lips. and he tore
II open. One glance at the letter
seemed to suffice. and 1t transformed
him utterly. He strobe across the
room and shook his great fist In my
face.
Fool! Simpleton! Imbecile" he
yelled. each word having the malignity
of 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 us he
rolled down the stairs.
took up the letter and read these
words:
Dcre Mary Anne-Master sttin up late tonight.
rs per usual. with his blessed letter ritin and
sich like. ave few ninits to rite to say
low 'opes this finds you as 1t leaves me. in
'eslth spirits. tho dog tired. and please to
meet me at the Marble arch at sharp next Sun
day, from your uvrin GEonGE
saw through the whole business at
once The man was merely a valet or
butler. and the letter was servants
communication to his sweetheart In
stead OF an ambassadors letter to his
government. We had come away too
soon.-Pittsburg Press.