The suburban citizen., 1902-11-01

dug a hole, kindled a fire, set an iron
pot thereon, and melted two of the four
bars at a time. This was a very neces-
sary operation as the ingots bore the
impress of the consigners. This work
finished, the two conspirators obliter
ated all traces Of the fire, threw the
melting-pot into the well, and each
concealing on his person his portion of
the ''swag" they calmly awaited the
return OF the choulSidars and porters.
On the forenoon of the next day Pusa
came for his case. Everything was ip
order; the consignee produced the rail
way receipt, it was compared with the
invoice the weight of the box was yer.
flied. the book signed. delivery taken
and the old silversmth set out on his
return journey to his village, carrying
the box with him in bullock-cart. In
the meanwhile n few days leave being
due to IIiralel Seal that youth applied
for ana obtained 1t. He had decided
on spending it in n holiday at Kangri,
the delights of which town Thotaram
had already impressed him with. Here,
too, ThOtaram said they would find no
difficulty in converting their plunder
into current coin OF the realm.
The two therefore returned TO Kan
gri with n hardihood and etfrontery al
most inconceivable, and the contden'
tial clerk resumed his duties. But Oh
the very night of their arrival Thota.
F,. 41N,. ms AF n
young Bengal babu, stranger to Kan
gri, at Il native theatre, occupying
front-row seats. Further, when ia
hoOra, n famous dancer and heroine
Of the piece. cat the conclusion of the
performance applied to the audience
for largess, it was noticed that Thota
ram and his Bengali companion each
gave her handful Of rupees. These
curious facts reached the ears of Bhug.
wandass the next morning, and that
afternoon. while the banker was in the
middle OF admonishing his protege OIL
the evils attending extravaganza there
enSued cOmmotion in the outer court,
and amid storm Of lamentations Pusa
was introduced. lie and servant car.
rled between them nothing less than
the case.
Behold, Maharajw cried pusa, ad.
dressing the banker, as he tore open
the lid and disclosed the interior
chock full of rusty nails. Behold
what you sent me in return for my re.
mittance of 1000 rupees"
For short while CONSERVATION pre-.
vailed, but Bhugwandasss suspicious
did not take long i'm assuming shape.
He pieced the whole thing together in
few seconds Thotaram's knowledge
Of the contents, his own overweening
confidence in the fellow, especially
with reference to the false declaration
and false superscription, Thotaram's
departure on leave, sitting in so we'll
with a new friend, and last, not least,
the happenings of the night before at
the native theatre-all tended to con-
firm the old bankers opinion that one
at least Of the culprits stood before
him. Ordering Thotaram not to stir
from his presence Bhugwandass in
structed one of his clerks to find Tho.
tarams companion, and, under a pre-
tended message from that youth him.
self, TO inveigIe the stranger to the
bank. The emlssary succeeded in find
ing his man. and in half an hours
time returned with the Bengali.
Addressing the precious pair the
banker accused them point blank of
connecting and perpetrating the rob-
berry, and asked them If they had
aught TO say In cxtenuation of their Of
fence before he called in the police.
Thotaram was speechless, but Seal
was not so easily disposed Of.
What" asked he, did the railway
consignment note declare the contents
TO be? The invoice, the receipt handed
in by the consgnee, and the superscrip.
ton on the box itself all notified the
same thing-'old nails weighing so
much, and old nails of the specified
weight We're duly delivered TO Pusa,
the co1signee. Why then, do you ac.
cuse Us of stealing your bar silver?
Who beyond yourself is there to say
| AhNb iiiN NOhANhls NtIt bdE sllN6I
! Even granted such to be the case. who
saw us take it out? Who saw us even
as much as tamper with the box?
Where are the signs OF any such tam.
pering?"
"All the circumstances point toward
you and Thotaram being the robbers"
rejoned Bhugwandass, somewhat ir.
resOlutely.
Assuming that we are retorted
Seal, insolently, "supposing you have
us apprehended, and the affair goes be.
fore the magistrate, how will you ex-
plain your false declaration of the con.
tents Of the case? You have rendered
yourself liable to prosecution under
the Railway Act for misreprescnting
the contents of your box. Comew he
shouted, seeing the effect that his
words had on the unhappy banker,
take us before the magistrate. You
shall tell your story, l viii tell mine!
He will ask for all the documents
have mentioned, and when he peruses
them, who will he convct--me of rob.