The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-28


up set Of uncarpeted steps and being de-
posted upon bare boards. The rug was
removed, and he was able to breathe again.
The place in which he lay was in dense
darkness. but there were whisperings and
the movement of feet about him. He re-
solved to keep quiet. to await whatever
might happen with composure, and to lose
no chance of escape from what was evil
IDENTIFY a dangerous predicament. His mind,
now that it had begun TO move again, was
busy. In the course of his professional life
it had been his duty to bring many scoun-
drels to justice, but that was all i'm the
way of business, and his experience did not
lead him TO believe that the criminal
classes held spite against either the
bench or the bar, Yet he could think of no
other reason than that afforded by such
spite for his having been set upon in this
swift and surprising fashion.
A voice said, Strike a light" and an
| other answered, with a strong American
accent: mo; guess we needn't all give
| ourselves away, and I'm the only man in
the blamed quartet that's had the gump-
ton to bring little bit of black crepe
| along. I'll deal with the gentleman when
| it's time to have a light Leave him to
| touched him with his foot. Anyway, the
voice went on: Say. you there. You know
| there's four Of us, supposed" The magis-
trate returned answer. There were
hands still about him, and he could hear
the breathing of the men who held him.
They breathed hard and tight. as if they
were under the influence of strong agita-
| ton. You've got to understand" said the
original speaker, that we mean business.
We haven't begun a job of this sort with
a man Of your consequence and position
without intending to go through with 1t.
| Soak that into your intelligence, and we
| shall all find it useful Still Davenhill
| said not word. I'VE mean business"
said the voice out of the darkness, after
| little pause. You do as you're told, and
you'll be treated nice and kind. Try to
| bluff US, and you'll find yourself beyond
| blufing in about one-half hour from now"
| And still Davenhill said not a word. He
| was waiting for clew, and so far there
| was none forthcoming. Its no good your
/ foxing," the speaker went on. well find
/ way to your tongue in two twos If 1t
| comes to that. / learned a trick or two in
/ Cuba. Don't you ask me to teach 'em to
| YOU" 'What do you want with me?"
/ asked Davenhill. AS his husky whisper
1 broke the silence he felt that one of the
men who held him started violently, and
| a voice said, Holy Mosesv in a tone of
intense establishment. I'VE want" said
| the man who had constituted himself the
| spokesman Of the four, your order on
Barnieux, Of the Rue de la Paix, in Paris
| for the delivery of that little packet, and
| We want your check for the alterations
and additions. and we want you to stop
quiet here for a matter of two days"
"Ah," said Davenhill; perhaps you
| wouldn't mind telling me whom you sup
| pose yourselves to have got hold Of" The
j spokesman laughed, briefly and grimly
| "Well." he said, we've an idea that we've
! got hold Of Rutherford Patience late of
/ San Francisco, and later still of Queens
Gate, London" $50 1 had begun to mag
ine." the magistrate answered, ''but am
| not the man." The spokesman laughed
| again, as briefly and as grimly as before
| "You can put a stop to that blasted croak
and that playing up for English. 1t won't
/ go down. Gentlemen" said Davenhill, ST
assure you that regret your error as sin
cerely as any Of you. You have, can
easily believe been robbed Of a very hand
some haul, but I have been submitted to
some Inconvenience. I can appreciate your
annoyance and If I were the gentleman
| for whom you do me the honor to take me
1 should probably be glad to enter into any
treaty with YOU am sure, from the ex-
IRENE neatness Of your work tonight that
| none of you are amateurs. If L have to
deal with professional gentlemen 1 should
| think 1t not impossible that one of you
Il ,iOh no ohl 10
more careful examination than you have
| yet had opportunity of making. Indeed,
now that come to think of it, Ishave some
| means of Identification about me- The ring
upon my right-hand little finger bears my
initials-M. d. In my pockets-I am sure
that gentlemen of your professional emf
| nence will not make me regret the disclo-
| sure-you will find a watch inscribed to
Mortimer Davenhill by his friends of the
bench and bar, and a pocketbook contain
ing letters addressed to the same unmon-
eyed person. I should be obliged, gentle
men. If you will verify my statements, and
| 1 shall be glad If you can do it without de-
lay, for feel that this dark interview can
scarcely fail to be embarrassing to both
| sides"
Davenhill always held that it was lawful
| TO emDelllSu a COMIC story, ana ne USED TO
quote with approval Sir Walter SCOTS con-
| fession that he could not set an anecdote
going without cooking its bonnet and set
ting a walking stick in it's hand. But no.
body who ever knew him would charge him
| with exaggerating his own sense of the
humorous side of this uncommon situation,
| or would suppose that he represented him.
| self as having been cooler than he really
| was. Indeed, his way of relating this ex-
| perience was to represent himself hav-
| ing been frightened half out of his life I'M
| til the comedy OF the thing began to appeal
| TO him, and then as having carried Oh his
own part in it in sort of hysterical brava-
| do. But this could not have been so, as is
| pretty evident from the fact that they ac-
| cepted his plea. They ransacked him in
the dark there, and one of the party car
ried the spoil into another room. He heard
the crackle of a match, and saw faint
beams of light below the door. Its about
right" said this gentleman. returning in
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