Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-03-15


pin? Hang it ALL I'm getting bis
teringly tired of the modern refine
ents in crime and yearn for the pc
iod when the highwaymen met you
on the road and made you stand and
deliver at the point of the pistol"
'1need, | don'tl" | calculated I'm
not chicken livered, Rallies, but I'm
mighty glad my lines are cast in less
strenuous scenes. When book
agent comes in here, for instance, and
holds me up for $40 a volume for a
set of Kipling in words Of one sylla-
BILE, illustrated by his aunt and every
volume autographed by his uncle's
step-sister, it's game of wits be-
tween us as to whether ! will buy or
not buy. and if he gets away with my
signature to a contract 1t is because
he has legitimately outwitted me.
But your ancient Turpin overcame
you by brute force; you hadn't rua
for your money from the moment he
got his eye on you, and no percentage
of the swag was ever returned to you,
as in the case of the double cross edi-
ton of Kipling, in which you get back
at least fifty cents worth of paper
and print for every $19 you give up.
Take my advice, Rallies. Let fire
arms and highways alone. There's
too much battle, murder and sudden
death in loaded guns and surplus Of
publicity in street work"
jenkins, I'm not going to follow
precisely in the steps of Turpin, but a
hold-up on the public highway seems
to be the only way out of problem
which have been employed to solve.
DO you know young Ellington Rand"
by sight" said |, with a laugh.
and by reputation. You're not go
ing to hold him up, are YOU" added
contemptuously.
why not?" said Holmes.
ITS like breaking into an empty
house in search of antique furniture.
Holding him up would be at most an
act of petit larceny If you would meas
use a crime by what you get out OF
IT, It's n great shame, though. for
lows in the world"
Your sympathy for Rand does you
credit" said Holmes. But / have
just as much of that as you have, and
that is why at half-past FIVE o'clock
tomorrow afternoon I'm going to hold
him up, in the public eye, and rob
him of s25,000."
Twenty-Five thousand dollars? Bill,
ington RANDI" gasped.
twenty-five thousand dollars. Bill
ington Rand" repeated Holmes, firm
ly, IF you don't believe It come
along and see. He doest know you,
does he?"
mot from Adam" said |.
Very good--then you'll be safe as
a church. Meet me in the Fifth Ave
nue. hotel lobby at FIVE tomorrow aft
ernoon and I'll show you as pretty a
hold-up as you ever dreamed Of" said
Holmes.
But can't take part in criminal
proceeding like that, Holmes" pro-
tested.
You won't have to-even IL 1t were
a criminal proceeding. which II is
not" he returned. Nobody outside
of you and me viii know anything
about 1t but Rand himself, and the
chances that he will peach are less
than A millionth part of half per
cent. Anyhow, all you need be is a
witness"
I've decent motive In all this,
Jenkins he resumed in a few mo,
ments, Don't forget that This
hold-up is going to result in reforma-
ton that will be for the good of ev.
erybody, so don't have any scruples
on that score"
"Ali right, Raffles." said l. You've
always played straight with me sc
far. and | don't doubt your word-only
do hate the highway end of It,"
The next afternoon at FIVE Holmes
and | met in the lobby of the Fifth
Avenue.
Come on" he said. after the frs
salutations were over. Rand will
at quarter after FIVE, and it's impor
tant that we should catch him hefor,
he gets to Fifth avenue"
Ten minutes later we stood at tn,
intersection of Thirty,third street an,
Fifth avenue Holmes eyes fiashe,
and his whole nervous system quiy
cred as with the JOY of the chase.
Keep your eyes open. Jenkins am
you'll see a pretty sight" he whis
pered, "for here comes our man"
Sure enough, there was Bilingto
Rand on the other side of the stree
walking along nervously and clutcl
ing an oblong package. wrapped /
brown piper. firmly in his right han,
Now for it," said Holmes. and W
crossed the street scarcely reachin
the opposite curb before Rand vas N
on us, Rand eyed us closely an
SHE'D off to one side as Holmt
blocked his progress.