Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1902-10-16
NO. ~
PUDDING
LANE By ]. Hamilton
Graham
Copyright, 1901, by 4. S. Richardson =
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meant for my ears. There are times
when nv fellow travellers comment on
my personal appearance, much TO my
detriment. but l have to take the bit
ter with the sweet.
The day | went up to London from
Liverpool TO be present at the funeral
Of py old friend Stebbins the compart
ment was full at starting. had my
trumpet along and copied the actisns
and attitude OF 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 u hunted, desperate
look in his eyes. | judged he was in
desperate straits for money and that
he would be willing to risk great
deal to make 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
ton OF dynamite. If l thought he had
$50 in his pocket, I'd twist his neck
and heave him out of the door, but !
don't believe he's got 10 shilllngs about
him."
You'd be a fool to NEEDLE with any
one until we pull this affair off. Now
talk low and go ahead. 1t is on Pud-
ding lane, is it?'
"No. II Padding lane. Don't write it
down, but don't forget it. 1t is full
mile from the depot. We take cab to
the corner of Hoke street, and then we
have only two blocks te walk. The
place is open till 10 o'clock in the even
ing"
''And the name Of the partyT
as Webb. He's man Of sixty and
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 signal to me.
1 shall be exactly opposite. We can
loot the place in fifteen minutes IL the
safe is still open"
81 have told you l would not strike
to KILL" said the weaker one after a
pause.
II 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 foxy old rascal,
and he may get peep at me. IL he
does, then goodby, and you'll be In the
same boat. What's the use OF being
squeamish over it? Why not make a
safe job? He IS the biggest kind OF
robber and n man without a heart"
"But / couldn't strike to kill"
Have your own way, but IL he
comes TO | 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 railingP
"He won't be. You show him the
diamond ring | have TO give you, and
he'll invite you inside fast enough.
Tell him it's a part of big haul, and
you can steer the rest his way, and
he'll pat you on the shoulder and bring
out Il bottle of wine. The only thing
IL 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 II out that they were after either
a pawnbroker or fence" 1t was to
be a 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 Il
third man. | am an imperturbable
man. | sat there for two hours and
made no sign, but was doing great
deal Of thinking just the same. 1t has
always been my habit to mind my own
business. | have never cared who was
being robbed or murdered as long as
lobbcrs and murderers let me alone.
but II looked like such pretty case
that | changed my mind. 1t was an
opportunity for Scotland Yard to
capture couple OF desceradoes red
handed, and no doubt | would be
patted Oh the back for the pointer
was TO give them.
We reached London at $40 In the
morning, and while the two men took
cab and drove away for Hoke street
| called one and drove direct to Scot.
land Yard. was snubbed as soon as
| arrived. An official TO whom | was
directed asked me II horse had fallen
down or q chimney caught fire that !
came into his presence In such hurry.
/ allow no man 10 rub my fur the
wrong way and therefore gave this Of
fetal better than he sent. We used up
ten minutes in passing compliments
and then detective was called TO
hear my story. He heard II under
protest AZ soon as | mentioned ths
fact that | was not deaf he Indignantly
demanded:
"Then why carry that ear trumpetf
Your carrying the trumpet Is n gross
deception Oh tho public, sir"
"The public Is not affected one way
or the other" | replied. ms II Is no
ones business whether / am deaf or all
right In this case my pretense Of be
ing deaf has served the public good
turn unless you stand here and let
murder ana robbery be done"
"Sir," he continued, 81 believe you
can be arrested for carrying an ear
trumpet when your hearing Is per
fcctly good. | believe such thing
comes under the head OF misdemeanors,
Tom, viii you look In the bookf"
The book was consulted, and much
TO the detectives disappointment my
ear trumpet was not mentioned along
with pistols, knives and slungshots.
But you can be detained US sus-
picious person." he said as look OF re
lief came TO his face. "Yes, that Is the
charge, and / shall detain you until
| the inspector arrivss."
"If you let those two men carry out
| their plan, | viii make London too hot
| to hold your | shouted I'm my anger.