The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-07-14

to know who was the actual robber?
Well, il was the cashier himself. All,
you start. 1t does seem improbable.
but 1t is a very real truth, 1 assure
you. He was a sentimental gentle
man and-well, my consort, the queen
of Sheba. alias Mr.. Browning, alias
the 'Grisette, " and he laughed softly,
was and is a most charming person
atty. Result, the cashier was induced
to imagine that a princely establish
ment in some foreign cline would. be
the proper thing and-well, of course.
I borrowed the result of his imagin-
ings. Under threat of exposure and
er-instant immortality, he was per-
suaded to resume his position. 1t was
all planned to appear as If professional
crooks were at work. He committed
suicide a year later. The astute press
said it was owing to brooding over the
banks loss.
Now we come down to contempora-
neous 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 neces-
sity. We easily borrowed loans on the
stolen bonds. I viii not state how
many banks were victims; they kept
their losses entirely to themselves.
Sometimes l negotiated the loans,
sometimes my cOnsOrt who, you will
readily admit. makes a very handsome
man. Paddock overcoats were Great
ed especially to disguise the lines of
fair woman. She it was who played
Mr.. Browning and, in feminine guise,
walked calmly past you as you sat hi
bernating in the hotel lobby. l played
the role of Old Mr.. Fownes, and my
consort the deaf Mrs FOwnes- We are
both of the same height and build, so
such exchanges are a comparatively
easy matter. Of course, l was Mr..
Wilson. l really did do the original
gentleman up on a bond loan six
months ago and was aware that he
was in New York at the present time.
AS my complexion is peculiarly beauti-
full, l had to bestOw upon it the hue
of liver complaint. Then every fool
has an ounce of wisdom, so | gave YOU
ample opportunity of telephoning the
bank and thus allaying your suspi-
cions. You did the very thing ] eX-
pected of you. Thus. having your
entire confidence, 1 knew you would
not bring confederate with you.
Now we come down to the real
question of the moment-yOur meta
mOrphosing from an unintelligent Gu
cumber of the earth to d beautiful.
warbling angel" he chuckled diabol-
ically.
During this monologue my brain had
been working al a bursting charge.
The first wave of blighting shame at
my gross stupidity had receded, Ieav-
ing me cold, dispassionate, calculat ting;
1 had but one fighting chance for
breaking clear of this death-trap. /
knew by the location of the room I'm
what part of the house | was. Three
feet on nv tharo rr-os
solitary window. The finger Of
Providence had pointed it out as the
one | should place Jarvis under-Jar-
Wis the faithful. Three feet away, and
six below, was life-and to open my lips
for the signal meant instant death.
Il am very sorry our cOquettish girl
settle cannot be present when you go
to join the immortal legion of Smith"
said the Professor Our lease is I'D
next week, and my consOrt has already
departed for our new abode. When YOU
are presenting your wings and tuning
up your harp, I will be removing what
effects l possess, chief among which is
a most powerful dynamo. Being the
principal factor you will no doubt take
an interest in your dismissal from pub
lie life. Now, over there" and ne nod
ded to the far side of the room. we
have most ingenious stepping stone
u
looked and saw a peculiar coffin
shaped table standing on four short
steel legs. its top was made of steel
and, moreover, it possessed a huge steel
lid.
"A most ingenious instrument" add
ed the Professor" pleasantly. You
see, the top of the table, by means of
the pedal underneath the instrument
can by a mere pressure of the foot be
converted into an immensely powerful
electro gnet. I may observe that a
somewhat similar but much less eff
cacious instrument is used in modern
tailoring establishments. The gar
ment to be pressed is laid on the table.
the goose is laid upon it, then. by
means of the pedal the operator
throws into the table a high or low
current, as desired Instantly it be-
comes a powerful electro-magnet, the
goose Is attracted, the garment
pressed-to oblivion II necessary. As
you are stronger physically that I, my
modus Operandi will be to cripple you