The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-12-18

reverts to me. II she marries, she
is perfectly at liberty to dispose of
it as she thinks fit"
And, naturally, you intend to get
the money" returned Grimes. But
how? I'll tell you candidly I'm no
| good at murders"
"Well, 1 want you," continued
FrankisOn, "to put this fellow Thomp-
son out of the way the night before
the ceremony. You will then take
his place at the church next morn
ing, Disgusting yourself, in the man.
ner you understand so well, to pass
for him, and get married to the
| young lady. Immediately after the
affair is over you will make some
excuse for retiring a few moments
| and clear off. Your absence will prob
ably have the effect l require without
resorting to further measures, but
to make assurances doubly certain
you will take care to acquaint her, by
| letter, with the exact state of af-
| fairs, laying particular stress on the
| fact that you have more than a pass
ing acquaintance with the inside of
| prison. The latter portion of your
letter will make you particularly OBJ
| jectionable in her eyes, and will
doubtless make her agree to your
terms for silence. The false position
she will be placed in and the scandal
likely to accrue from the publication
of the true facts of the case
will to her mind, assume such
fearful proportions that they will, 1
am certain, preclude the possibility of
any action being taken to declare the
marriage null, or of prosecuting you.
Nevertheless, her grief and mortifica-
ton will be none the less poignant,
and eventually prey upon her mind
| to such an extent, even if she sur
wives the shock of your disclosures,
| that l shall soon be the richer by
about 1000 a year. For your part
in the matter, I propose to pay you
the sum of $500"
Grimes held out his hand dramati-
cally. "Shake," he said. eff l adj
mire anything, it is a man good at
his business. I've seen a good many
Williams, but, man, you could give
them all points. Nevertheless" he
continued, adopting a familiar tone,
now that Frankison had divulged his
! secret, "this is a matter that re-
quires thoroughly reviewing, old
! chap. You want me to engage my
| self in the most cold-blooded scheme
ever concocted, take all the risks,
! do away with a fellow (who, for any
thing l know, will probably cause a
lot of trouble), get married-the at
| tendant risks of which are, under the
| best of circumstances, worth more
than the amount you so generously
morally, if not legally, murder
a girl, and leave the country-it can't
de done-for 500"
Frankison eyed him savagely,
and paced the room in thought.
He resented the familiarity in
the mans voice. "Six hundred" he
exclaimed, at last. Grimes shook his
head negatively.
Frankison sat down white with an
ger. Suppose 1 tell you a little
! story" he commenced; and without
waiting for an answer proceeded. "a
few years ago young swell entered
one of the principal banks in London
and cashed check for fairly large
amount. This was, of course, dis
covered to be a forgery. A few
months afterward he attempted the
| same trick, but with disastrous re-
suits. He was Immediately recog-
nized, although to a certain extent
| disguised, and detained. He accom-
plished his escape, however, by half
| killing his captor. No doubt you
know the man" He ceased, and
smiled grimly at the confusion plain
ly showing itself on Grimes features.
81 do not think you have been
continued. Shall we say 600; it is
charged with that matter yet" he
a good price to pay for what cannot
be called other than little decep-
! ton"
Grimes swore horribly. The story
cast reflection on his professional
capabilities that affected his mind
more than the danger he was men
aced with. Before leaving the house,
however, he had been forced into CIV
ing a reluctant consent, and received
final instructions. The course of ac-
ton was left entirely to him, so long
as he kept to the main details of the
| plot.
His first procedure was to obtain
an introduction to the same club that
Thompson frequented, and once there
his insinuating, pleasing exterior
soon won him an acquaintance with
the person he desired. This soon
! ripened into a friendship so close
that an observer would have been
under the impression they had
known each other for years.
After fortnight's time Grimes
conceived the idea of testing his
power to carry through the scheme
successfully, and with this object in
view called upon Frankison in dis
guise. The deception was complete.
He was received and entertained for
over an hour without his disguise be-
| ing penetrated, and whatever doubts
| Franllison had of the ultimate sue
cess of his plot they were dispelled
when Grimes revealed himself
| On several occasions afterwards he