Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-04-27
DAILY SHORT STORY
Jimmy's Great Scheme.
IOriginaI.l

/ A4EAl SOl1lC DOlu anu 1nSChIOuS
pretense. One morning Jimmy read in
newspaper that a certain Mr.. Archi
bald, a wealthy man, was endeavoring
to get possession of certain valuable
property and by advice of counsel was
refusing an order of the court to pro-
duce certain papers connected with the
case. 1t occurred to Jimmy TO go to
Mr.. Archibald's house in the guise of
constable and make u search, osten-
sibly for the papers, really for plumber
1t did not occur to him that such pa
pers would likely be in the hands of
Mr.. Archibald's attorney. Indeed, he
didn't care where they were.
After executing neat piece of pen
manship in the shape of a search war;
rant and manufacturing constable's
badge he went to the house, rang the
bell and was admitted. There were no
men in the house at the time, and Miss
Daisy Archibald, young girl of seven
teen, answered the summons.
I'm sorry to trouble you, miss" said
Jimmy, but I've a warrant to search
the house for certain papers in the case
of Fairleight versus Archibald
phone my father, who will come home
Immediately"
Jimmy preferred to make the search
without the presence of the head of the
house, but he didn't wish to appear to
force matters.
II would be glad to accommodate
you, miss. but the courts waitin'. The
judge ordered me to make the search
and git back before o'clock, when it
meets after the noon recess
The young lady pendered. Finally
she said reluctantly:
"We have an invalid in the house
and don't want any disturbance, so L
suppose L may as well give you the
papers. If you'll wait a minute, I'll
go and get them"
This unexpected proposition was rath-
er startling to Jimmy, but he was
equal to the occasion.
"I'll have to go with you, miss. If
you should git away with the papers,
I'd be blamed by the court"
Certainly said the girl. 81 can
understand that You'd be very re-
miss to take such a risk. / don't know
exactly where father keeps them, but
we can search together.
Jimmy assented to all this, leaving it
to be decided as he proceeded what
action he should take. The young lady
led him upstairs to an unoccupied bed
room, where she began a protracted
hunt. Jimmy, to show his delicacy, sat
down on a chair and left the matter
entirely to her. He saw her take a
box of jewels from a drawer and put,
it back again. When she was about to
leave the room for another apartment,
Jimmy said:
I'm sure such n pretty young lady
couldn't play game on a poor con-
stable who's only dOin' his duty. Just
you go on searchin', and I'll wait here
That's very considerable of you" she
said, showing two dimples and two
rows of white teeth in smile.
Jimmy was much pleased at the sue
cess of his artifice As soon as Miss
Archibald departed he stepped to the
bureau, took out the jewel box. saw
that it contained articles of value and
slipped it in his pocket.
THE dear little foolr' he said. az
never met any one so soft. But after
all she's only child"
Presently he heard Miss Archibald
call:
Mr. Constable. please come here, 1
think the papers are in the silver
vault. 1 know the combination, and
I'll let you in
what luck!' remarked Jimmy to
himself. Things is workin' beauti-
full
I'll tell you the combination. and
you turn the knob said Miss Daisy
when he came up.
The numbers were given, the bolts
turned. and Jimmy found himself at
the open entrance of vault large
enough to admit him standing upright
please go and get me light he
said in order to make an excuse to
send Daisy away.
Zone moment" she replied. "Look me
In the face. Yes, you are honest. l know
1t. You see, our most valuable jewels
are in there, and l wouldn't like to let
any one in alone unless had perfect
confidence in him. I'll bring you light
in q minute"
When she returned with a lighted
candle, Jimmy was in the vault and
had just slipped bag of Jewels in his
pocket. In fact, he had finished the
job and was about to come out. but for
appearance he took the candle from
Daisy and began to pull open certain
drawers containing silverware. Sud-
denly he heard clang behind him and
bolts shoot into sockets. He was a
prisoner.
A few minutes later Mr.. Archibald
in his office was called to the telephone.
Papa, DEAR" came the soft voice of
his daughter, "a man came here to
search for some papers. locked him
in the silver vault"
You locked a man in
Eyes. Come home at once. I'm
afraid he'll suffocate''
Mr.. Archibald made hasty inquiries
by telephone and learned that no
search had been ordered. Then, taking
two policemen with him, he went home.
The vault was opened, and Jimmy,