The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-31
BY SPECIAL MESSENGER.
By WARING MITCHELL.

On that certain Tuesday morning. when
Col. Graves got ready 10 start for the
city from his country place. he said 10
his daughter Winnie.
1T is possible that I may want those
Mexican bonds this afternoon, and here
is the key OF the safe. II ] have TO have
them I viii send you a note by a special
messenger"
The colonel was something Of a lawyer,
Spectator, and broker and Miss Winnie
was his ninetcen-year-old daughter. She
acted as his amanuesis at home. and was
pretty familiar with his business trans
actions The bonds spoken of had a face
value Of S20o95, bat Of late had been
rather "wobbly" in the market and had
caused the colonel considerable anxiety.
At o'clock that afternoon he wanted the
bonds. and telephoned his daughter To
that effect, saying that he would send a
messenger. Instead Of sending a boy
from the regular service. he stepped into
the office of Jones, next door. and said:
Jones. ! want trusty fellow 10 run
n
some bonds. Haven't 1 noticed a young
man around here?'
Yes. He's a nephew of mine He's
out now, but write a line and I'll send
him when he returns. He ought TO 90
out TO East Park and back i'm an hour"
The colonel wrote d line TO Miss Winnie
10 deliver the bonds to bearer, and then
went out on the street. on business.
Fifteen minutes later Jones' nephew was
making for the Grand Central station as
fast as the express in the subway would
carry him
Jones hadn't given the young mans
biography. but it may be stated that his
name was Vincent Gray, his age twenty
two, and ne was in the office Of his uncle
to learn the devious ways Of Wall street
before setting up in business for himself
on the comfortable fortune left him by a
deceased aunt For a young man who
expected TO come in contact with bulls
and bears and other animals. young Gray
was very trustful of human nature. For
instance. while his train was speeding
along underneath the streets and he was
hanging TO a strap and thinking Of things
financial. a young man with ambitions
leaned against him and picked his pocket
without exciting the least suspicion
The -Hght-hHgered youth found there
only a card case and the letter to Miss
Winnie. but they were sufficient to bring
about several unlocked for results. He
passed into another car and opened and
read the letter, and he saw the golden
opportunity ne had been long looking
for. in the card case We're two or three
dollar bills The thief had a right to in
fer that his victim had no more money
about him. He likewise had a right to
infer that young Cray could not produce
the wherewithal to buy "a ticket for East
Park. The fare was only % cents. but
without it a man is as badly off as if the
sum was s..
There was a train ready TO leave. The
thief bought his ticket and got aboard
Vincent Gray stood at the ticket window
and fused and fumbled and was left
His card case and money were gone. and
when he found that the letter had also
taken wings, he realized that he was in
trouble. He hadn't even q nickel 10 get
back 10 the Office. He hadn't the where
Withal to telephone 10 his uncle Jones
in New street, and after wasting fifteen
minutes trying to figure out the problem
he made haste to a pawn shop, where he
put down his watch for s..
The next train to East Park was ten
minutes late in starting and the same
In reaching the Park so there was in all
fifty minutes lost The young man had
not suspected that he was the victim of
a pickpocket, but supposed he had lost
his property in the jam while boarding
the car. He had been told that a toie-
phone message would precede him, and he
had remembered the address Therefore
he did not worry so much over the loss
of the letter. It was only when he came
face to face with Winnie Graves and
stated his eTrand and saw her look Of
surprise and distrust that he realized the
situation.
Why. sir" she replied. those bonds
were delivered 10 a messenger more than
half an hour ago"
But was sent for them and was de-
!ayed"
If you were sent for them. you must
have line from my father"
II had a line, but unfortunately I
lost it, together with my money Ny
name IS Vincent Gray. and I am in the
office of Ezra Jones. in the same building
with your father I am afraid that some
rascal found the lost letter and has taken
advantage Of IT,"
And 7 am afraid that another rascal
is trying to do the same thing" aeX-
claimed Miss Winnie's Aunt Ruth. who
was at the head Of the house. and who
had entered the library just in time to
hear the young mans words.