The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-14

staring me in the eye. His silence had been charged with sudden death. Then he laughed, low chuckling laugh that carried contempt in it's musical cadence. l noticed now that he had the brow of a scientist and the mouth of wolf.
 Captain Smith," he began pleasantly, this is our second meeting-and last I believe" he continued. that before we commence new existence it is we'll that we realize what role we have played in this world. Therefore, if you will favor me with your attention, l will endeavor to convince you how artistcally you have played the fool"
 He seated himself comfortably in the chair, but the Colts was uncomprom- ising. Well, to begin. You remember the C. bank robbery of fiften years ago? So do l. Permit me to observe, that with their usual brilliancy, the police got the wrong parties. Nc wonder the con- victed gentlemen would not incriminate me; they couldn't. I had severed my connection with them years before. Do you wish to know who was the actual robber? We'll it was the cashier him self. An, you start. It does seem inn probable, but it is very real truth I assure you. He was a sentimental gen tleman and-well, my consort the Queen of Sheba,' alias MT. Browning alias the 'Grisette,' ," and he laughed softly" was ana IS a most cnarmlnS personality. Re suit, the cashier was induced to imagine that a princely establishment in some foreign cjfne would be the proper thing and-well, of course, l borrowed the re- suit of his imaaginings Under threat of exposure and-er-instant immortality, he was persuaded to resume his position. It was all planned to appear as if profes. sional crooks were at work. He commit ted suicide year later The astute press said it was owing to breeding over the banks loss.
 Now we come down to contemporan- eous history. Our perquisites from the A bank lasted us until six months ago. During the past fifteen years we have never been out of the United States There was no necessity. We easily bor- rowed loans on the stolen bonds. I will not state how many banks were victims; they kept their losses entirely to them- selves. Sometimes I negotiated the loans sometimes \ my consort who, you will readily admit, makes a very handsome man. Paddock overcoats were created especially to disguise the lines of fair woman. She it was who played Mir. Browning, and in feminine guise, walked calmly past you as you sat hibernatng in the hotel lobby. 1 played the role of old MT. Fownes, and my consort the deaf Mrs. Fownes. We are both of the same height and build, so such exchanges are
 
 I was MT. Wilson. I really did do the original gentleman up on a bond loan six months ago and was aware that he was in New Y ork at the present time As my complexion is peculiarly beautiful I had to bestow upon it the hue of liver complaint. Then every fool has an ounce of wisdom, so l gave you ample oppor- tunity of telephoning the bank and thus alaying your suspicious. You did the very thing l expected of you Thus, hav- ing your entire confidence, I knew you would not bring a confederate with you.
 Now we come down to the real ques- ton of the moment-your metamorphos- ing from an unintelligent cumberer of the earth to beautiful warbling angel" he chuckled dabolically
 During this monologue my brain had been working at a bursting charge. The first wave of blighting shame at my gross stupidity had receded, leaving me cold dispassionate, calculating: I had but one fighting chance for breaking clear of this death trap. l knew by the location of the room in what part of the house I was Three feet away, and on my right. there was solitary window. The finger of Providence had pointed it out as the one l should place Jarvis under-Jarvis the faithful. Three fdet away. and six below, was life-and to open my lips for the signal meant instant death.
 ''l am very sorry our coquettish gri- seIte cannot be presented when you go to join the immortal legion of smith, said the Professor Our lease is up