The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-11-27

usual2"
His vis-a-vls slowly drained the glass
In his hand and replenished It from
the deeanter with an appreciative ges-
ture. he tipped his chair back and
flung one foot over the back OF another
that was placed opposite. Drawing a
silver case from his pocket he offered
it TO Blsckford and lighting one Of the
cigaret yes. iicw hs tEtn clona ~
smoke 10 the ceiling.
well. I might say that / am" he
answered eOOlly. But 1 don't know
that you are IN a very much better
financial condition yourself. II 1 am 20
judge from some recent events, not TO
mention the fact that you are willing 10
enlist my services for what / imagine
viii turn out TO be a dirty trick OF one
kind or another"
1T Is a business that will make your
fortune, as well as mine.' said Black
ford. shortly.
"Ah, indeed. Well, If that is so, am
OF course delighted 10 make one OF you.
as Shakespeare would say. Is it rob
bling bank. cheating at cards, or mar
rytng an heiress that you wish me TO
take care OF? Just what chance OF land
ing in the penlte ltiary do I incur. and.
quite incidentally. what do I get out or
it?'
Blackford adopted something Of the
others manner and cynical frankess.
You stand every chance of going 10
the penitentiary. II you are fool enough
10 get caught" he said. THE business
Will amount &C highway robbery al
though what l want you 10 steal is not
money. ! do not know myself what
there is in IT, but ! know enough 10 be-
neve that 1t is more than several hun
dred thousand dollars. am inclined 10
think that the fortune that / am after
viii amount 10 more than a million
Moreover. 1 Will tell you that 1 do not
trust you. 1 know that you would rob
me as soon as you would anyone else.
You have got 10 trust me in the matter
because you cannot help yourself. IL
Will be your business TO watch me and
see that l Do not throw you down at
the end. j don't exactly know how you
are going 10 do that. because / am not
intending 10 invite you TO my aunt's
house as a guest. l have some little
sense Of decency and consider il enough
that she has one scoundrel in the house
After all. YOU viii run very little
chance OF getting caught What / want
YOU 70 do is 10 hide in the shadow OF
an alley and watch for the passing OF
woman. Who she is is none of your
business. Your part Of the program Will
be 10 step out as she goes past and
throw a shawl around her head 70 keep
her from screaming She will probably
faint ana II she does not you viii have
10 give her ch.oroform so that when you
drag her into the alley. which IS com
pletely dark, i can secure a paper she
always carries. She does not know the
value OF the paper. In fact she does not
know she has H. Il Is concealed IN a
locket that she wears about her neck
ana II l can get my hands on that our
fortunes are made.
i cannot tell just now when we can
carry the deal through. Il will have 10
depend upon circumstances. but 1 want
you 10 keep ia touch with me so ! can
let you know as soon as the time
comes. From the information / have [
am sure that I can lay my hands on
the money as soon as ] get that paper.
viii give you a third for your share.
and when We get IL we will both have
to Try little trip through South Amer
tea. In fact. would not be surprised
II our new fortunes viii oblige US 70
give up Washington as a home for a
good many years 10 come. I don't know
how that would strike you. but for
any considerable part OF a million 1
would be willing TO leave forever. There
are SOME things about the town that
do not like very much. How about it,
Very pretty. indeed. said Stevenson.
las ! see Il. take all the risk and you
get most or the money IN fact. II you
get the chance you viii throw me down
and take II all But then 1 viii have
one advantage. II 1 can keep my eye
on you you could not get away before /
gave the thing away. and landed you In
the penitenuary"
That il your best protection" said
Blackford. win you take shot at it?''
Wen. In view OF the fact that you
have the information, / suppose 1 will
have 10 give you the advantage or me.
Naturally you are sure that there is
plenty OF money IN the affair or you
would not take such a long chance.
think you can count on me, and IL
only remains for you 10 give me the
details"
II cannot do that until / see my way
clear" said Blackford. Il will let you
know in good time. We will call the bar
gain settled then
"lFhere Is one thing more said Black
ford. as they rose 20 30. Il want you
TO write letter as 1 dictate H. You
are something OF an expert on disguised
so De sure to use q form
that no one would recognize IL they had
ever seen your writing"
lie rang for the waiter and ordered
him 20 bring some paper aud pen and
ink Having dismissed him with the
decanter and glasses he leaned back Ia
his chair and dictated the following let-
ter:
The second Will be placed at the same
hour on a residence street IN the North
east section. The name Of the street Is
oue-half tile name OF a game Of cards
which when played with slightly chang
ed rules Is called BY a compound name
that Is formed OF two words. one mean
ing an animal and the other indicating
a state. The envelope viii be placed al