Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-04-20

be at the door for ~ in half As nEaf
II you = ant the loan of a razor you can
have mine, and perhaps you'd better
put on suit of my clothes, in case
the police happen to know that our
uniform is blue serge. II you'll come
with me, I'll show you my wardrobe,
and you can pick out what will fit you
best, and supply yourself with some
clean linen
I nodded ''good-by" to my two col
leagues, Number Four and Number
Six, and clambered down through the
cupboard-top into Number Two's own
room.
When we were out of hearing, he
took me by the arm somewhat famil-
iarly. I'm glad the lot fell upon you,
Number Seven" he said
"Why?" l asked.
WELL" he answered, 1--WE are all
blackguards, or we shouldn't be men,
bers of this rascally syndicate. All
the same l think I'd rather work with
BLACKBOARD who ought to have been
a gentleman (as is, think, the cass
with yOu) than with gentleman who
ought to have been blackguard."
THAT sounds cleverish," I replied,
but I'd not know what it means.
However, take it that you mean it
complimentary, and that you want me
to infer that you'd rather work with
myself than with either of the other
two upstairs
''That's it," he said. II was afraid
I was going to draw the foreman'-I
always call that glib rascal Number
Six the foreman When he isn't in
solent, he's cringing, and hang me /,
know when like him best or least!'
l ought, suppose, to have been fiat
tered by Number Two's advances, bui
I was by no means certain whether
his assumption of cordially towards
myself was not meant as much as q
blind as for any other reason. Ano
even had I been convinced of his sin,
cerity, I could not have brought my.
self to make friendly overtures to
man whom l was all the time planning
to betray.
So remained discreetly silent, find
ing which Number Two said no more.
except to inform me that breakfast
was nearly ready.
During the meal he told me where
the hall in which the meeting was to
be held was situated. "You had bet
ter go there direct" he said, when we
get to London The care-taker won't
be there till noon. He lives some lit
tie way Off, and I've told him to stay
in all the morning, as I'm calling to
see him about the final arrangements,
and haven't time to go far east. But
I've got a duplicate set of keys. Here
they are. The switch, for turning the
electric light on and off, is in the space
between the double set of swing baze-
covered doors. You'll see a little cup
board high up on the right. The key
is always in it. Turn the light on and
off several times, to make sure you I'M
derstand it. There is a pair of round
glass windows, about on a level with.
your head, on the inner set of doors
that lead into the hail. Watch the
platform through them. You'll see
me place the bag containing the cash
on the table. When I put my hand
on the top of my head, slip away at
once, and turn off the light"
and suppose there is a policeman
or the care-taker there?" I asked.
They'll stand in the inner lobby, if
&c." was the reply. "The double set
of spring doors was put there to keep
out the noise of the street, as we'll as
to keep out the draught But they
arc placed inconveniently near to-
gether-the county council built the
place, expect; no one else would have
done the thing SO clumsily.-and it's
quite a work of art to pass in and out
without getting nasty clump from one
or other of the swing DOORS"
Il understands I said. Am I to
turn the light on again afterwards?"
mo, shouldn't trouble about that.
IT You should chance to be seen when
turning off the light, and you Went
back to the place afterwards, you
might get collared The policeman,
or the care-taker, or some one else can
see to that. You'd best be off when
you've turned on the total eclipse
You won't be able to get back here
again tonight; but if you come to-
morrow afternoon by the three o'clock
train from St. Pancras, shall be home
by then, and will meet you with the
trap. You'll be in time for the shar-
ing up OF the money. Now l think you
have your sailing orders complete,
and, if you have finished your break
fast, We'll be off to town."
Arrived at st. Pancras, Number Two
and parted company, he perhaps to
plan some new devilry, to visit the
hall where the meeting was to take
place. 1t was big red-brick building,
lying back few feet from a main
street. In front was graveled space
with iron ratings. On the right was
lattice-work wooden door opening
upon a narrow passage that ran be-
tween the side of the hall and a high
brick wall, and leading to the yard
behind. 1t was upon this yard that
the window Immediately behind the
platform looked, and here lubbock
was to post himself, in order to So
cure the bag containing the money,
when it was thrown out.
ITO Be Continued
Woman's Wisdom.
Once upon time there was a man
who was travelling III foreign parts, and
who fOund in an ont ~ tho NOV