The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-05

and to the right of it. Part way between
the two points there was an old-fash
toned cylinder stove, the pipe of which
arched in front of and above the safe.
Sitting at his table with his back 10
the safe and having what photographers
would term a three-quarters view Of the
door, MI, Lord never supposed it possible
that any one could enter the office unob-
served by him. lie was equally confident
that the safest place in the world for the
safekeeping of the evidence of his wealth
was his own office safe. When other
men were doubting the financial stability
Cf the country Mr.. Lord had showed his
implicit confidence by buying government
bonds when they were worth much less
than their face value. With so good an
investment in hand he now trusted his
safe as confidently.
There lived in New York In February,
1866, a man who spent most Of his time
in a saloon kept by Adam Curtis. not
many PAGES distant from Broadway. He
passed daily by the window of Mr.. Lord s
Office on his way to the saloon, and, be-
ing an obSerVant person, he. more than
once noticed that Mr.. Lord was alone
there and soothingly occupied in clipping
coupons from bonds. Among this observ-
ant persons friends at Curtis saloon
were two men from Boston named Pet
tingill and Charles Howard.
The police and thieves of both cities
knew Pettingill by the scant appellat on
of Pet" which was not wholly amiss
when Pettingill was in funds. Howard
existed none the less pendulously be-
tween ''corlmandeered'' wealth and the
warship of the state. The observant
person took these two men aside and told
them wnat he construed to be Mr.. Lord s
invitation to him to call and help MIN di-
vide his wealth among some good fell
lows. AS he himself did not wish to
take part in executing the trust, he sug-
gestcd that he appear on Mr. Lord s
premises by proxy.
PettinSilI and Howard investigated the
proposition and concluded that while they
might alone arrange the division of Mr.
Lords wealth. it would nevertheless be
advisable to nave a friend posted outside
of Mr.. Lords Office door, so that in case
any one appeared VINO was bent upon see
ing MIR. Lord at so inopportune a moment
he might be diverted by whatever means
an eXigency would demand. from inter
ruptlng the benevolent negotiations going
on within.
They therefore invited John Rand to be-
come party to the trust This gentle
man had already added luster to the
fame of Boston In several states, for his
misfortune in getting into iails and De NJ
tcntiaries was always equaled by the
nimblcness witk which he got out Of
T.,
being a person of sagaeity and large ex-
perience. was not long in arriving at the
conclusion that the partnership would
still be incomplete unless another skilled
operator could be induced to join it.
The man to rise to the occasion must
be one who could approach Mr. Lord in
such way as to command his ent re
attention while one or two Of the others
secured from the safe whatever portion
of Mr.. Lords wealth they deemed 1t ad-
visable for him to divide with them. They
could make equable subdivisions of this
portion more at leisure and remove from
the distracting rush that pervades the
neighborhood Of Wall street.
From the available men who might ioin
them they selected one who. like them
selves, had had q thorough training n
Boston and New York. Horace Annis
left his native town in New Hampshire
at an impressioned age stopped over
long enough at Manchester to become a
skilled locomotive builder and then pass
ed on 10 Boston 'Hod" Annis agreed
to become one of Rufus Lords trustees
Annis it was who, on that spring day in
1865. interrupted the routine Ct Mr.. Lord 8
Office work to inquire about a store to
let. From the position which he took
at the table he was able to limit Mr..
Lords range of vision and to con-
troll it. The conversation, which he
also monopoliZod, was carried on so
noisiiy that any other sound, If any
were made, mast have filled of detcc-
tion.
Fett 'ng.l, rs soon as Mr.. Lords senses
OF @,sht and hearing were thus stalled.
ca;trei tiIe Office lightly and swiftly. ana.
pa-s-ig EloSe 10 tie wall and under the