The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-04
TIE EVENING STOR r
At the other End.
nv Claude Pamares.l

g
Last week he was Mr.. James Taylor;
the week before that he was Mr.. Hiram
Brown. Mr.. Felix Bradbury changed
his name and his habitation as often
as he thought the police had discovered
him
Sometimes they hustled him around
pretty lively, and again they let him
rest and take on flesh. This was one
OF his resting spells, and yet he was not
quite happy. His funds were at low
ebb, his partner was in Sing Sing on q
ten-year sentence. and nothing in his
line seemed to turn W.
Mr.. Bradbury's speciality was cracking
cribs. With him crib meant anything
with a roof on it-dwelnng, store, bank
or warehouse. He was also a fair hand
at the confidence game and had been
known to rob half a dozen guests OF a
hotel the same evening. Taken all in
all, he was a good all-round man, and
it wasn't his fault that luck was against
him. Even if his money was low, he
was making big bluff by dressing well
and ordering the best the menu AFFORD
much the next detective who arrested
him would demand for letting him go
again, when one of the bellboys sudden
~ appeared and said:
You are wanted at the telephone,
sir
The gentleman of the jimmy gave a
start Of surprise and then proceeded to
the instrument in the next room. Few
knew of his presence in the city, and
they would hardly chance calling him
up over the wire. The problem was
soon solved however. In answer to his
hello q girls voice started off with:
so I've got you at last, have II I've
been trying for half an hour. Are you
coming home this evening""
Il don't know was the doubtful re-
ply Of Mr.. Bradbury, who instantly re-
allied that a mistake had been made,
but had a natural curiosity to hear more
of it.
But you must come Papa is in d
great stew. He meant to go down today
and deposit some bonds in safe deposit,
but has sprained his ankle and is laid
up and swearing at a great rate. The
safe has got out of kHlter and can't be
unlocked and there are thirty thousand
dollars worth of bonds lying around
loose. You must come up for the night
and take them down III the morning
It may be a week before papa can get
out. You know mamma IS in bed, and
I can't leave hr, so you will CONF ?"
Why. yes, I guess so. Where are
your
AT home. Of course"
s.Well-er-you know" stammered
Mr.. Bradbury, with his heart in his
mouth as he thought OF those bonds and
realized that he didn't know here the
other end of the wire was located
If you don't come papa will have a
fit. Have you got a, cold, that your
voice sounds so husky2"
Yes bad cold; but I will go up
there. It may be late, and you'd better
leave the front door unlocked"
You mean the side door.
yes: the side door. Leave it I'M
Have you been losing your key
again?"
ITS either lost or mislaid. You can
leave the door unlocked and all &C
r
shouldn't try to be so spry. Good-by. %
Somewhere within a few miles OF
Mr. Felix Bradbury was a house in
which there was sick mother. q
father laid up with sprain and a girl
of eighteen or twenty the sole pro-
tector. In that house was $4,000 worth
Of bonds ready to be had for the TAX
ing. and it is needless to say t!eat the
man of many names felt his mouth
water at the prospect. At the same time
he cursed fate because he didn't know
the location Of the house and couldn't
see how he was going to find out Two
minutes later Providence c4me to his
assistance. Providence does assist the
wicked as well as the good on occas-
ions
Two young men sat down near him
and he heard one call the other Brad
bury So there were two Bradburys
and the bell boy had summoned the
NAOh5 OHS- n l1lllC ldlSI there was
talk of the country. and within half an
hour the crib-cracker had his case al
his fingers ends. The girl had tele-
phoned him from a few miles out OF
Boston. He could reach the country
seat within a. few hours by train.
Mr.. Felix Bradbury bought a quar-
ter cigar on the strength of his pros
poets and made for the depot. The
girls brother wouldn't be troubled to
take those bonds to the safe deposit
in the morning.
In the country house Miss Bessie
Bradbury sat up until II o'clock. 1t
was at that hour before her father
ceased swearing at the stairs on which
he had slipped, at the doctor who told
him to lie quiet for a week, and at the
family burglar proof safe for getting
out of order.
"Will will probably come on the
midnight train" she unused, as she saw
that the side door was left free for
him to enter, land I am going to give
him a scare about those bonds. If !
lead him to think that the house has
been robbed maybe it will scare his
hoarseness away
There were old bonds in the safe
and out of it. There were silver mine
bonds worth one cent on the dollar for
the pictures on them, and there were
coal oil bonds worth three cents a
pound as paper rags. The elder Mr..
bIduDuTy ldu invested IN MS time. IL
was no trouble at all for Miss Bessie
to hunt up thirty thousand dollar
bonds. worth altogether thirty cents
and put them in the envelope in place
of those issued by Uncle Samuel. The
latter she carried up to her room with
her, and by and by the house grew
quiet. 1t was then that Mr.. Felix
bradbury approached to reap the rip
ening grain. He had the girls word
that the side door would be left I'M
locked. He found It so. He entered
noiselessly, turned on his dark lantern
and proceeded to business.
What more fitting place in a house
for bonds than the library Only now
and then is a man mean enough to hide
them in the oven of the cook stove
before going to bed. On the way to
the library Mr.. Bradbury stopped to
partake of a glass of wine and a cold
lunch in the dining room His appe-
tite was good and his prospects all that
could be desired He expected to have