The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-08
COLONEL CHILDERS' CALLER
By JOHN TRAME

barrassed and was all politeness, would
have taken his money and departed II
Colonel Childers had not detained him.
While the colonel meant to keep his word,
he had a natural curiosity to know just
how he had been despoiled.
"Egad, SIR he exclaimed as he pounded
his knee, II am sixty years old. l have
been about a bit. Such a thing has never
happened to me before. / have boosted
that no living man could hocus-pocus me,
and am willing to add e5 to this if
you will tell me how-you did it,
Il am quite willing to oblise," replied
the caller. But are you sure your man
is not listening at that door?''
HE is not the sort to listen, but gave
him his evening an hour ago." -
And there are no other servants?"
None First, tell me this if you will.
How comes it that gentleman like you is
engaged in such disreputable business?"
believe me, colonel, but it was all a
lark. made a wager at the club that 1
would steal something within an hour,
when I took your cross. l am deeply
grieved if I have put you out. When
have shown this reward money at the
club will return it to you
r. $50 it was wager, eh?" unused the
colonel, somewhat Modified. II like a
lark as we'll as any man, but that was
going little too far. You should have
But I did not know you.
"That's true. Now as to how you got
this thing. Was it when you fell against
me? You must be as tricky as profess
sional pickpocket.'' $1,000.
''I will show you how it was, colonel"
said the stranger as he rose up. Stand
up, please. If you will remember, you
got down first. I followed you closely.
When you reached the pavement, was
behind you like this, and as you partly
turned your head "
The strangers right arm swept around
| un.ltr the coonel's chin, a knee Of iron
WAS pressed into the small of his back,
and lie was garroted after the most ap-
proved fashion in the center of his own
| sitting room.
| 1t might have been ten minutes later
| when lie recovered consciousness. Then
| the he 70 of a dozen battles and the re-
cipient of half dozen medals found him
self treated like a dog. His hands and
feet had been tied, gag inserted in his
jaws, and he had been rolled to one side.
| There were two men In the room, and
eacl, had stout sack and was packing
up such articles could handily be re-
moved. The collection Of curios was
large and valuable, and the men were
connoisseurs. They were in no hurry
They drank the colonels wine and smoked
his cigars as they worked and now and
| LuGIl pduSeu 10 give llliil d. WOiu VI duNlCt
OH Victoria crosses and advertising.
| When the sacks had been filled and car
ried out to carriage in waiting, the
gel.teel man returned alone. He hadn't
quite finished business. There was a safe
in the colonels bedroom. 1t was a thief
proof safe, but the man had it open in
five minutes. There were some jewelry
and e $50 in cash, and he slowed the
pll1dcr away in his pockets. Then he
knait beside the colonel and removed his
watch and scarfpin and did not overlook
a handful Of change. There was nothing
more he coveted, and he lighted a cigar
sat down in the easy chair and quietly
Observed:
'Cnlonel Childers, you are fool. When
yon foEn! your cross missing, you ought
to have reasoned that it was not taken
for its intrinsic worth, but with some
Interior object in view. In advertising for
it yoIi should have had the thief call
elsewhere. If here, you should not have
sent your valet away. You should have
had no curiosity. You should not have let
me step behind you. You see the result
the natural result. You are pretty eff
fectually cleaned out, and I am e 1000
ahead Of the game. And I will now bid
you good night. Your man ought to be
back in half an hour, and you will observe
that your Victoria cross is left lying on
the floor beside you. It has come back to
You after many days, and trust you will
pin it on at once and be happy"