The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1903-04-16
GREAT SCHEME
tOriginal ]

Jimmy the Cat he was called be-
cause he WAS such slick worker,
never using saws or skeleton keys, but
walking into house in broad day
light under some bold and ingenious
pretense. One morning Jimmy read In
a newspaper that a certain Mr.. Archl.
bald, a wealthy man, was endeavoring
10 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 a 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 We're.
After executing neat piece of pen
manship in the shape of a search war
rant and manufacturing a constables
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, a 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"
IF you'll wait a moment, I'll tele-
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.
Il 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 1t
meets after the noon recess"
The young lady pondered. Finally
she said reluctantly:
I'VE have an invalid in the house
and don't want any disturbance, so
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.
"Tll 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. Il can
understand that. You'd be very re-
miss to take such a risk. l 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 unoecupied bed
room, where she began protracted
hunt. Jimmy, to show his delicacy, sat
down on chair and left the matter
entirely to her. He saw her take a
box of jewels from a drawer and put
1t back again. When she was about to
leave the room for another apartment
Jimmy said;
I'm sure such a pretty young lady
couldn't play game on a poor con-
stable who's only dom his duty. Just
you go on searchin', and III wait here"
That's very conslderate of you" she
said, showing two dimples and two
rows OF white teeth In a 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 fool" he said. ~
never met any one so soft. But after
all she's only child"
Presently he heard Miss Archibald
call
Mr. Constable, please come here!
think the papers are in the silver
vault. | know the combination, and
I'll let you in
"What luck" remarked Jimmy to
himself. Things is workin' beautl-
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
luinttl, anu JlillllA lOuHi lilillSfl 1T
the open entrance of n vault large
enough to admit him standing upright
please go and get me a light" he
said in order to make an excuse to
send Daisy away.
"One moment" she replied. Look me
in the face. Yes, you are honest. know
1t. You see, our most valuable jewels
are In there and | wouldn't like to let
any one in alone unless | had perfect
confidence in him. I'll bring you light
in 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 Il
prisoner.
A few minutes later Mr.. Archibald
In his office WAS called to the telephone