Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-12-26

Wn1cn ran through the Sneu. here lney
dug hole, kindled fire, set an iron
pot thereon, and melted two of the four
bars at time. This was 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 choukidars and porters.
On the forenoon Of the next day Pusa
came for his case. Everything was in
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 silversmith set out on his
return journey to his village, carrying
the box with him in q bullock-cart. In
due to Hiralel Seal that youth applied
for and obtained it. He had decided
on spending it in 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 hardihood and effrontery al
most inconceivable, and the confiden-
tial clerk resumed his duties. But on
the very night of their arrival Thota-
ram was seen in the company Of a
young Bengali babu, stranger to Kan
gri, at native theatre, occupying
front-row seats. Further, when ia
hoora, a famous dancer and heroine
of the piece, at 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 a storm of lamentations Pusa
was introduced He and a servant car
ried between them nothing less than
the case.
Behold Maharajv' 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 Bhugwandass's suspicious
did not take long in 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, fitting in SO well
with 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
taram's companion, and, under a pre-
tended message from that youth him
self, to inveigle the stranger to the
bank. The emissary succeeded In nnd-
ing his man, and in half an hours
time returned with the Bengal.
Addressing the precious pair the
banker accused them point blank of
concocting and perpetrating the rob-
berry, and asked them if they had
aught to say in extenuation 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 consignee, and the superscrip-
tion on the box itself all notified the
same thing-'old nails weighing so
much, and old nails of the specified
weight were duly delivered to Pusa,
the consignee. Why, then. do you ac-
cuse us of stealing your bar silver?
Who beyond yourself is there to say
that the contents We're bar silver?
Even granted ouch 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"
@joined Bhugwandass. somewhat IT,
resolutely.
Assuming that We are" retorted
Seal. insolently, "supposipg 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 a prosecution under
the Railway Act for misrepresenting
the contents of your box. Gomez he
shouted, seeing the effect that his
words had on the unhappy banker,
take us before the magistrate. You
shall tell your story, 1 will tell mine!
He will ask for all the documents l
have mentioned, and when he peruses