The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1902-08-27

brigand began the OLD song. The audi
ence listened in amazement and as he
finished the first verse filled the house
with genuine applause.
BY the time the song was finished
the collectors had completed their
work, and only the guards on the doors
remained. The leader again raised his
hand for silence.
Ladies' and gentlemen" he said, Il
thank you for your kind attention. Our
little comedy has passed of successful
~, and now before we wind up let me
give you few final Instructions. Our
guards are still outside the various
doors and shall remain there until we
have had good start. That will be,
let us say, fifteen minutes. Any one
who attempts to leave before that time
will be shot dead at the door, and you
know | have n habit of keeping my
word. TO simplify matters intend to
place this alarm clock"-here he held
up an alarm clock which was handed
to him from the wings to the view of
the audience-'here on this table. 1t
Is set to go of at IL o'clock. Don't
leave your seats until you hear 1t. IL
you do
Before the sentence WAS finished
Gentleman George had vanished.
The people In the house looked at one
another wonderingly. No one dared to
be the first to tempt fate by getting up
and leaving the theater. Yet each man
there believed that the threat was n
bluff" intended TO give the robbers
chance to get safely away. They were
disinclined, however, to put their belief
to the test, and no one stirred. While
matters We're still In this indetermi-
nate state piercing cry of Fire.
rang out throughout the house and
was Immediately taken up on several
sides.
The managers of the theater at this
cutlery rushed on the stage and shouted
words meant to be calming to the audi
ence They succeeded In n measure In
allaying the panic which was begin
ming to get under way, but many peo-
pie, overwrought by the evenings hap
penings, rushed from the theater out
into the street. Then II was discovered
conclusively that there was no fire. but
that the scare raised by the cry had
added to the start already gained by
Gentleman George and his band.
BY noon ON the day following the
sheriff was ready to start for the
haunts of Gentleman George with II
strong posse. when the mayor sent for
him and read this letter, found on his
doorstep that morning;
Dear Mr. Mayor-A dastardly outrage
has been perpetfated Oh my good name
and incidentally on the people of your
city by the rufiians who held up the
Opera House last night The person call
Ing himself Gentleman George was only
an impeTsonator. l believe / know the
scoundrel and by the time you receive
this myself and few trusty comrades
Will be on his trail. The good citizens of
Oaktree cannot be more grievcd than l
am over the regrettable occurrence of
last evening. To show YOU that | was not
the man who held up the Opera House
inclose you my latest photograph. made
in San Francisco. You can depend upon
II that the evildocrs of last night will be
brought TO justice Yours In good faith,
GENTLEMAN GEORGE.
Tho sheriff did not like the eo,.,, Inn
pertinent tone of the letter and thought
that, owing to his long immunity, Gen
tleman George was inclined to Jest
with the township. The mayor thought
differently. Ii was, he said very
courteous note, and he could not see
that 1t In any way reflected on the
town. Sides were taken, and the next
ntnsf Inn fniloht la ruaIy fha