The Press., 1902-10-23
NO. II
PUDDING
AANE By ]. Hamilton
Graham
Copyright, 1901, by a. s. Richardson
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I am called an eccentric man, and
am rather proud of the fact. Among
my eccentricities is that Of carrying an
ear trumpet and pretending to be deaf
whenever go on journey. AS mat
ter of fact, my sense of hearing Is most
acute, equal to that of a fox, think,
but in carrying the trumpet I 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, I
have the fun of overhearing much not
meant for my ears. There are times
when my fellow travellers comment on
my personal appearance, much to my
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-
ment was full at starting. 1 had my
trumpet along and copied the actions
and attitude of a 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. It was easy to see
that one dominated the other, and the
4x.z4 y x, "a
look in his eyes. I judged he was in
desperate straits for money and that
he would be willing to risk a great
deal to make a 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 a
ton Of dynamite. If thought he had
ESQ in his pocket, I'd twist his neck
and heave him out of the door, but l
don't believe he's got 10 shillings about
him."
you'd be a fool to meddle with any
one until we pull this affair off. Now
ding lane, is it?'
''No. II Pudding lane. Don't write it
down, but don't forget it. 1t is a full
mile from the depot. We take cab to
the corner of Hoke 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 partyY
SIS 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 a signal to me.
I shall be exactly opposite. We can
loot the place in fifteen minutes If the
safe is still open."
Il 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. If 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 a
robber and man without heart"
"But l couldn't strike to kill"
"Have your own way, but If 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 railingY
"He won't be. You show him the
diamond ring I 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 bottle of wine. The only thing
| is that you must not make a 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 a word.
heard everything, however, and rea.
soned it out that they were after either
pawnbroker or 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 pun
der and in what direction to take
flight, and / came to understand thf
affair as plainly as If I had been
| third man. am an imperturbablt
man. / sat there for two hours and
made no sign, but l was doing great
deal Of thinking just the same. 1t hal
always been my habit to mind my owl
business. have never cared who was
being robbed or murdered as long al
robbers and murderers let me alone
My first idea was to keep hands on
/ but it looked like such pretty case
i that / changed my mind. It was al
opportunity for Scotland Yard t.
capture couple OF desperadoes ret
handed, and no doubt would b.
4 patted on the back for the pointer
was to give them. at
We reached London At $40 IN ~