The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1903-01-15
By G. AlTCHlSON.

uc'tcCiiNt utpuTtln Oh u large CITY
in the North, was entertaining me
with few "reminiscences of his past
career.
You ask me, he replied to a ques-
tion / had put to him, if it is not the
case that some person having q
knowledge of an unpunished crime
often uses the power his knowledge
gives him to compel the offender to
execute deeds he previously would not
have dreamed of. Such may be the
case in a good many instances, though
in my opinion the average criminal
has natural propensities which gener-
ally enable him to circumvent the
intimidator and relieve himself of the
threatened danger without incurring
further risks. Such propensity is,
think, in the possession of every man,
and unless the will-power has been
utterly wrecked by dissipation, it is
impossible for anyone to be forced
against his will into committing an
offense against the laws. recoliect
a case bearing on the subject, which
/ will give you, AS it was purely a
family affair, and the persons in
terested were unwilling to create a
scandal, the facts never became pub
lie property.
About ten years ago n man named
Grimes returned to Nj, after serv-
ing a term for some oirense, the
nature of which have forgotten
He was, without exception, the most
daring. cunning, and resourceful
scoundrcl that ever breathcd. Orig
inally an actor, he was past mas
ter in the art of DISCUSSES; in fact the
time of his downfall dated from the
day ON which he impersonated the
manager of the company he Travelled
with, and ab+conded with the treas
ury. Somehow, other peoples clothes
seemed to have n fascination for him,
which naturally created large
amount of ill-feeling on the part of
the true owner, and lot of work
for MS.
Soon after his arrival he received
letter from a gentleman giving the
name of FrankiSon. making an ap-
pOintment for the following night.
and having nothing better to do he
called upon him.
For time Frankison confined
his conversation to commonplace
matters, as though afraid of intro
ducing the subject for which the in
terview had been arranged. Seeing
this, Grimes. who had on several oc-
casions previously engaged on shady
jobs by gentlemen equal in position
to the one who stood before Him.
proceeded to enumerata eoihe OF IL,
most daring cases he had been en-
ployed upon. ap., successfully carried
tnfougbSwnei the necessary reward
was Forthcoming. This had the de-
sired efIect.
81 noticed your case in the pa~er "
commenced Frankison, land in,c Il
when you came out of your tenn
porary confinement to offer you po-
sition in which you could not only
be swell, but probably settle down
N life and become a Useful member
of the community"
Grimes thanked him. but added that
If ii was intended to try and reform
him il was hopeless task. He loved
the profession too much to settle
down into the dull. monotonous round
of "A respectable existence.
But this case" returned Franki-
son, offers excitement sufficient for
the most daring" Grimes nodded his
satisfaction.
How would you like to get mar
ried?" continued Frankson. Say, to
lovely girl with an income of about
1000 year?"
I'D like that immensely" said
Grimes, with grin. But unfortun-
ately | have already got two wives
living, and it's as much as | can pos
sibly do to keep out of their way"
But this one" replied FranIison,
will only be too pleased to make you
handsome allowance to leave her."
Then what on earth does she want
to marry me fort" questioned Grimes.
Frankison smiled at his astonish-
ment, and handed him a photo OF
oh 'ASVSuhSis pi'''y Sii' biiilicS
held it at arms length for few
moments, without speaking.
Its no USE" he said, with sigh:
"a young lady so good-looking as she
will have no difficulty in obtaining
lovers enough, without having to
descend to take on--well, gaolbird,
Out with it; | suppose you have some
job or other on hand"
Frankison sat down and swallowed
n stitf glass of whisky, then, after
Il momentary hesitation, commenced
to unfold bis scheme.
"The young lady whose photo l
have just shown you is my cousin.
From Il child she has been of Il deli
cate nature, and is even now recov-
ering but slowly from the effects of
dangerous illness. This illness,
may tell you, was the cause of her
wedding being postponed. Now that
she is convalescent, however, her low
er insists upon the marriage taking
place at once, in order that he may
take her abroad to try and regain
her health. This wedding must not
Any. ~