Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1902-10-11
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: LANE By J. Hamilton
? Graham
Copyright, 1901, by 4. s. Richardson
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| am called an eccentric man, ana /
am rather proud of the fact. Among
my ccccntricities is that of carrying an
ear trumpet and pretending to be deaf
whenever l 30 on a journey. AS mat
ter of fact. my sense of hearing Is most
acute. equal to that of Il fox, l think,
but in carrying the trumpet l have
two objects in view first. nobody
thinks of asking ME questions on tri-
fling matters or seeks to draw me into
political arguments. and, second, l
have the fun of overhcaring much not
meant for my ears. There are times
when my fellow travellers comment on
my personal appearance much to my
dctrimcnt. but have to take the bit
ter with the sweet.
The day l went up to London from
Liverpool to be present at the funeral
Of my old friend Stebbins the cOmpart-
mcnt was full at starting. l had my
trumpet along and copied the actions
and attitude of Il deaf man. BY the
time the journey was half completed
there were only three of us left. The
other two men were acquaintances.
Neither was over thirty-eight. and from
their general looks sized them up as
belonging to the gambling and horse
racing fraternity. 1t was easy to see
that one dominated the other, and the
dominant man had a hunted, desperate
look in his eyes. | judged he was In
desperate straits for money and that
he would be willing to risk a great
deal to make Il haul. AS soon as the
three of us were alone he said to the
other:
"Now we can talk matters over and
settle particulars"
"But the old dozer there" protested
the other.
HE couldn't hear the explosion of Il
ton of dynamite If l thought he had
$50 in his pocket, I'd twist his neck
and hcave him out of the door, but l
don't believe he's got 10 shillings about
him."
You'd be fool to mcd,lle with any
one until we pull this affair off. Now
talk low and 20 ahead. 1t is on rud-
ding lane is it,
"No IL Pudding lane. Don't write it
down, but don't forget it. 1t is Il full
mile from the depot. We take a cab to
the corner of IIOke street, and then we
have only two blocks to walk. The
place is open till 10 o'clock in the even
ing"
And the name of the partyT
q 4
not in good health. One crack on the
head will settle his business. When
you have done for him. you raise one
of the front windows as Il signal to me.
1 shall be exactly opposite. We can
loot the place in fifteen minutes If the
safe is still OPEN"
Il have told you would not strike
to KILL" said the weaker one after a
pause.
Il don't ask you to-" replied the 9th
er; 'but just remember this-if you
don't finish him we may both end our
days in prison. He's a foxy old rascal,
and he may get peep at me. If he
does, then goodby, and you'll be i'll the
same boat. What's the use of being
squcamish over it? Why not make u
safe job? He is the biggest kind Of a
robber and a man without Il heart"
"But | couldn't strike to kill"
Have your own way, but if he
comes to l shall finish him off in a
hurry. and you'll have to stand in with
me-
Suppose he is suspicious of me and
keeps me outside the railing?"
"IIe won't be. You show him the
diamond ring l have to give you, and
he'll invite you inside fast enough.
Tell him it's part of big haul. and
you can steer the rest his way, and
he'll pat you on the shoulder and bring
out II bottle of wine. The only thing
is that you must not make bungle
of it,
They had agreed that was deaf, but
at the same time they had lowered
their voices until an ordinary man
would not have caught word. |
heard everything. however, and | rea-
soned it out TINT they were after either
Il pawnbroker or a "fence." 1t was to
be case of assault and robbery-per-
haps worse.
In the same cautious tones they
planned where to dispose of the plum
der and in what direction to take
flight, and | came to understand the
affair as plainly as If | had been a
third man. | am an imperturbable
man | sat there for two hours and
made no sign, but | was doing a great
deal of thinking just the same. 1t has
always been my habit to mind my own
business. | have never cared who was
Dein" robbed or murdered ms long as
robbers and murderers let me alone.
My first idea was to keep hands off,
but it looked like such a pretty case
that | changed my mind. 1t was an
opportunity for Scotland Yard to
capture couple of desperadOes red
handed, and no doubt l would be
patted on the back for the pointer !
was to give them.
We reached London at $40 in the
morning, and while the two men took
a cab and drove away for Hoke street
| called one and drove direct to Scot
land Yard. I was snubbed as soon as
| arrived. An official to whom l was
directed asked me IL a horse had fallen
down or a chimney caught fire that l
came into his presence in such hurry.
| allow 10 man to rub my fur the
wrong way and therefore gave this Of
fetal better than he sent. We used up