Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1904-11-24
4n Order
For Diamond


Copyright, 1894 by =. b. Lewis.
The house of Sloane Saunders q Co.
London, had received IA letter from Sir
James Blankton, living about a mile
out of the village of Morpeth, asking
them TO send down man with dia
monds for marriage presents. 1t was
added that his carriage would meet
the man at the station at O'Clock in
the evening. | was the one selected TO
go, and reached Morpeth on time
with $4,000 worth of diamonds con
cealed about my person.
A carriage awaited me, but | had
hardly taken seat in it when | had
queer feelings. The outfit was too
common to be owned and publicly
used by such IA man as Sir James
Blankton, and the two men on the box
didn't appear at all like servants. l
made bold TO say:
See here, men. | think there is a
mistake | think | have got Sir James
Blankton mixed up with Sir James
Dashton. 1t is the latter who owns
Il large interest in a Manchester cot
ton factory, isn't itF'
at may be, but | dunno" replied the
man who was driving as he pulled up
his horses.
well, you see, | wanted to show
him some of these new dyes for cot
tons"
rs that your line, sir?'
Yes | have ten new colors just out.
l am sorry for the blunder but l am
willing
"Then what the bloody blazes did
you get into this turnout forT'
TO see Sir James BlanktOn, of
course. | got 1t in my head
"Oh, blow your 'ead and your 'eels
too! Jim, turn about and drive the
bloomin' ass back to town.!
I'm be shot II | does." replied Jim.
He can get right out ere and take
'isself back on his own legs and be
blowed to him!''
When | had walked the two miles
and reached town, | went to a hotel
Inside of five minutes | had learned
that Sir James Blankton lived in the
opposite direction TO that | had taken
Further, that the gentleman and his
wife had been in Scotland for several
weeks. 1t did not take me long TO
figure 1t out to my perfect satisfaction.
1t was a put up job to rob the London
house through me, and it had been put
up with the aid of some one at Sir
James Blankton's house.
| started for London by the 0 o'clock
train The night had come on dark and
stormy, and there were but few pas
sengers from Morpeth. There were
two plain women ticketed TO Durham
and a man about forty years old OF
pleasing address and genteel appear
ance The four of us were ushered
into the same compartment. AS soon
as we fell into conversation the man
gave me to understand that he lived
at Beverly, town about fifty miles
down the line, and from certain words
let fall gathered that he was prom
inent public official of the place.
didn't exactly reply that | was in the
dye line, but he probably inferred as
much from what said. was glad Of
his company. He was well posted, a
fair talker.
The women got out at Durham and
left us alone. We passed Darlington
and were still the sole occupants Of
the compartment. Mr.. Arnold, as he
had given his name, had been sitting
opposite me for an hour AS the train
cleared Darlington, however. he rose
up and yawned and said:
II am sleepy, and yet l can never
get wink OF sleep on the train. BY
the way, | found a curious coin on the
street at Morpeth today. Can you make
anything of TT"
He had coin in his fingers as he
stepped over to me. l reached out q
hand to receive Il when he seized me
by the throat with both hands and had
me on my back Ia second. l was no
match for him in strength. He gripped
my throat so suddenly and so tiercely
that | was deprived OF all powers Of
resistance. Bending over me, with mis-
knee on my chest, he finally let up on
his clutch and said:
Don't be foolish now. l know you
and am after those diamonds"
He drew Il wicked looking knife and
held II in bis teeth. while he used some