Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-07-23

so long as you gain the importance you so covet. Dos you accept my of fer?"
 "No," said Number Five. If your plan succeeds though I don't think such lot of it as you do-you'll take all the credit; and if it fails, as I be- lieve it will, shall have to pay the costs. Much obliged to you! No thanks! When play Guy Faux, as of my own-not somebody else's- planning You're not the only man on this council with ideas, and if the other members would like me to think out a plan or two I'm ready to do it. But you've dealt out the cards in this lit tie game of yours, and now you'd best play your hand out All the same, and to show that it isn't funk that keeps me out of it, I'm quite ready to act as your assistant in this jubilee business, and to share whatever risk you run in it."
 Ut is quite true that ought to have an assistant" replied Number Two, coldly. "The wire rope which I have , need some one to hold it for me while thread the ball; for if by any chance the thing slipped out of my hand the result would be too previous to be pleasant. But if you will pardon my saying so, would rather that some other member than yourself volun teered to assist me. You have already expressed your disbelief in the suc- cess of my project; and it does not do to have half hearted workers in such a business. We are already half way to victory when every one con- 1 cerned is confident of success, and, conversely, we are halfway to a fail- ure when one of the workers antici- pates breakdown. Besides, though I am not very superstitlous, something tells me that your presence on the occasion would bring us ill luck, Is any other member of the council will ing to assist me in the great blow I am about to strike ?"
 Here was my chance
 II am,' said.
 As spoke I stepped forward and raised my right hand in military salute-why cannot think, unless the i whole thing seemed to me less like real 4 life than melodrama in which I was sustaining part The action, how ever. appeared to please him.
 That's good" he said "A soldier, too, and accustomed to act under or ders without asking questions. Your number?"
 Number Seven" replied, prompt- 1 ly, as if on parade
 "All right, Number Seven. Here's the exact address of the house in ques- tion. Can count on your calling there at nine. o'clock sharp on the evening before the jubilee?"
 You can, sir I said
 All right Remember. Nine o'clock sharp the night before the show. Give I three single knocks and I'll open the door to you myself That's all I need say to you now, think,
 Taking this as my dismissal, sa- luted in silence and stepped back | Then Number Two turned to the rest of thescompany again. There is one point that ought to bring to your notice. gentlemen" he said. It was 3 rule of our late chiefs that the coun- cil never met in the same place twice. l This is the second time that this wagon has been our trysting- g-place, and I though have no reason to suppose it | is not perfectly safe, think we should l do well to make a change. There is I 8 disused shed in some brick-fields ad- l joining the cemetery at Marlborough. | The town is fairly near London, and there are three different lines of rail- way. Let us arrange to meet there the night after the jubilee If the lit- I tie surprise packet which l have ar ranged for the queen and the royal family achieves it's purpose, and I re- ceive no personal injury and can slip away in the confusion, I shall be at the shed at midnight the day after to meet you. If I am either killed or taken you'll have read about it in the papers, and must make your arrange ments for the conduct of the business without me. One thing can promise you-that should I be taken, your se- cret will be safe with me Were to l be captured red-handed in an attempt to assassinate the queen on the one day of all days when the poor fools who call themselves her loyal subjects l will consider her person as sacred, the chances are ten to one that I get lynched on the spot But even if the l police can prevent that, and get me safely away, no power on earth can. save my neck from the hangman. And l rest assured that I shan't try to save I it by playing my comrades false. Who ever turns traitor. I shan't. We meet again, fellow-conncillors, at Tar borough, at the place I have told you l of, and at midnight on the day after the jubilee Don't fail to turn up l punctually on the night before, Mum Der Seven. shall need your assist ance. I think that's all; now we can 1 adjourn this meeting and get to bed"