Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-11-22
A TEST OF COURAGE.
ny JOHN H. RAFTERY.

!
mail. Most Of it was from New York, for
Mr. Caeever was an old Broadway beau,
and many a pink and rale blue envelope,
cxaaIng dainty perfumes, had found him IN
bis strange environments in South Ameri
ca He had been there but six months, and
bis secretaries and assistants had found
out that the words New York" or United
States" Oh anybody's card was certain to
win an audience from their new chief
"Senor James Trefuy, Of New York,
would wish that he may speak with yon,
senor, said the soft-yoced office boy in dull
cat spanish accents.
| THANK you, Enilio. Show the gentle
| man ia, said President Cheeyer with a
| lock Of pleased anticipation, though he
/ could not remember having ever met OF
| heard Of the visitor.
The young man who came in was perfect
| ly attired in well fitting 1annels In me
| pale buff stock about his neck was a fine
| gold scarf pin set with diamonds Upon
/ his finger a splendid solitaire sparkled in a
heavy gold band. His hat was in his hand
and Mr.. Cheever noticed the singularly
calm unconscious beauty Of his manly
head and face. He was dark with the tar
Of the sea, but his thick, fine hair was care
fully arranged, and his whole manner be-
tokened the patrican man of education,
travel gentleness and courage. Cheever
liked his looks and showed his welcome in
a frank smile and hearty handshake. But
he had reasons to quickly change this most
favorable impression, for Mr.. Trefny, Of
New York, sitting calmly beside him and
speaking in measured, clear tones in which
there was not a suggestion of a tremor,
said:
"Mr Cheever, this walking stick is filed
with nitro cotton; if you move III explode
it. There quite STILL that viii do. Nitro
cotton is the new explosive just adopted by
the German army, and is, as you probably
know, the most terrible medium Of destruc-
ton ever perfected. II is ignited by a fuse
Of mercury See, here in the handle of my
cane is the Illuminating cap. Don't look
| round. If anyone comes in, say you will be
busy for half an hour. Thank you. Ne, mol
Don't tap your foot against the velvet rug.
1t annoys me.
There was knock at the door, Cheever
looked an inquiry at Trefny.
Say what / told you or not as you
please" said the latter, quietly
Not in for 80 minutes" said Cheever.
Now, to resume have here, taking
from his inside pocket a check, IAN ordinary
check on the Plaza bank, your rival, you
know. 1t is made payable to me, James
1 Trefny. 1t is signed-let's see--oh, yes, it
I is signed Homer O. Dunlevy,' and calls for
$4,000. You see" turning over the slip Of
/ paper, 81 have Endorsed it in form. Now,
i my business with you is this; you must call
! a clerk, tell him to fetch 81 81 900 bills get
/ them and hand them over to me. | need
hardly tell you that my name, James Tref-
ny, is wholly mythical. This cane, load
! ed with instant death for all of us, is the
4 only argument | have. See, my finger is
! just above the disk. The first sign, word or
motion you make to betray me-down it
comes. Now get the money"
Ramon, Ramon" called the banker,
without moving. And to the suave clerk
who came in he said: Bring $4,000 at once
for this check, and"
81 want all the large bills, thousand each
il possible, interrupted "Trefny," smiling
blandly.
The clerk disappeared bowling, came back
with the money, laid it before Cheever and
departed. Trefny reached across the table,
picked up the money, counted it, placed it
in his inside pocket, waved his terrible cane
as in salute, and said:
( Thank you. | want but ten minutes to
catch my train. If you pursue me within
that time III come back and wreck the
/ bank as a mere matter of protest Adios,
senor." And he was gone.
OF course Cheever had sent a messenger
to the police inside of two minutes. They
held the train, but they couldn't find Tref-
ny, nor anybody like him. They searched
, the town and about an hour later found the
robber slippered and at ease over his cigar-
a. 1,ol1 l.
tie Hotel del Orinoco He was engaged in
i writing a letter, too, so he did not fore
stall the approach of ten officers in time to
seize the awful cane which stood harmless
I ia a remote corner while Trefny looked
4 cdmly enough into the muzzles Of six rifles.
{ AS none Of his captors could speak English,
and only Cheever was there to complete
! has Identification, a messenger was dis
/ patched for the magistrate, who presently
arrived to begin an inquiry. When the court
was thus installed and the prisoner put
under oath, this odd criminal explained
matters thus:
I'm the first place, gentlemen, especially
you, Mr. Cheeyer, put yourselves at ease
about that cane. It's quite harmless even
id my hands It's a sword cane. That,
the worst can truthfully be sand about H.
( Now, my name IS Homer O. Dunlevy %
New York, and ! robbed the Banco del
Prado--don't laugh, centlemen-just TO
,est my personal courage
Cheeyer sneered and the magistrate put
his tongue in his cheek.
"Oh, ! assure you, gentlemen See:'
holding up the letter he had begun 81 was
JUS, in the act Of writing a letter OF ex-
PLANTATION to you, Mr.. Cneever, l-'
"Nou had better quit this foolishuess and,
If you are telling the truth, return the $50,
600 you stole
II didn't steal it, should say. Stealing
implies skulking, sneaking- SO 10
speak Besides, I really needed the money
and intend TO keep it,"
Put On the manacles, ordered The mag
istate, gathering courage after hesitat
ing glance at the walking stick.
But, | protest." cried Trefny, looking
quite panied as he saw the fierce glances OF
Caeeyer II protest, Mr. Cheever. Don't
you understand"