The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1907-03-06
BY Special
Messenger.
BY WARlNG MITCHELL.
Copyright. $780,, by Homer sprague.

for the city from his country place, he
said to his daughter Winnie:
ut is possible that may want those
Mexican bonds this afternoon. and here
IS the key of the safe. II have to have
them, will send You note by a spe
eiai messenger"
The colonel was something OF a law
yer. Spectator and broker, and Miss
Winnie was his nineteen-year-old
daughter She acted as his amanuensis
ut home and was pretty familiar with
his business transactions. The bonds
spoken of had n face value of $4,000.
but of late had been rather wabbly
in the market and had caused the colo
mel considerable anxiety. At o'clock
that afternoon he wanted the bonds
and telephoned his daughter to that
effect, saying that he would send n
messenger. Instead of sending a boy
from the regular service he stepped
into the office of Jones next door and
said:
Zones. | want Il trusty fellow to run
out to my house and bring me back
some bonds. Haven't noticed young
man around here"
Yes. He's nephew of mine. He's
out now, but write line and I'll send
him when he returns. He ought to go
out to East Park and back in an hour"
The colonel wrote Il line to Miss Win.
ME to deliver the bonds to bearer and
then went out on "the street" on bust
ness. 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-five. and he was in the Office
of his uncle to learn the devious ways
of Wall street before setting up in bust
ness for himself on the comfortable
fortune left him by deceased aunt.
For young man who expected to
come in contact with bulls and bears
and other animals, young Gray was
very trustful of human nature For In
stance, While his train was speeding
along underneath the streets and he
was hanging 10 a strap thinking of
things financial Il young man with am
blfionS leaned against him and picked
his pocket without exciting the least
suspicion.
The light fingered youth found there
only a cardcase and the letter to Miss
Winnie, but they were sufficient to
bring about several unlocked for re-
suits. He passed into another car and
opened and read the letter and he saw
the golden opportunity he had been
long looking for. In the cardcase
were two or three dollar bills. The
thief had right to infer that his VIC
tim had no more money about him.
He likewise had a right to infer that
young Gray could not produce the
wherewlthal to buy ticket for East
Park. The fare was only 90 cents, but
without it a man Is rs badly off as II
the sum We're So
There was Il train ready to leave.
The thief bought his ticket and got
aboard. Vincent Gray stood ut the
ticket window and fused and fumbled
ey We're gone, and when he found that
the letter had also taken wings he re-
allied that he was IN trouble. He
hadn't even Il nickel To get back to the
office. He hadn't the wherewithaI to
telephone to his uncle Jones In New
utes trying TO figure out the problem
he made haste to Il pawnshop, where
he put down his watch for 50.
The next train to East Park was ten
late in starting and the same
In reaching the Park, SO there were in
all fifty minutes lost The young man
had not suspected that,he was the vic
tim of IL picllpocket. but supposed he
had lost his property In the jam while
boarding the car He had been told
that n telephone message would pre-
cedc him, and he had remembered the
address, Therefore he did not worry
so much over the loss of the letter. 1t
was only when he came face to face
with Winnie Graves and stated his err
rand and saw her look of surprise and
dlstrust that he realized the situation.
"Why. sir" she replied. those bonds
were delivered to a messenger more
than half an hour ago
But ! was sent for them and was
III you were sent for them, you
must have line from my father
81 had line, but unfortunately
lost it, together with my money. My
name is Vincent Gray, and ! am in the
Ing with your father. | am afraid that
some rascal found the lost letter and
has taken advantage of it."
"And | am afraid that another ras-
cal is trying to do the same thing"
exclaimed Miss Winnie's Aunt Ruth,
who was Mt the head of the house and
who had entered the library just In
time to hear the young mans words.
But, madam, you surely can't think
that T.
Il can think what | please, sir Can
you imagine we were idiotic enough to
give up those bonds without a written
order from Colonel Graves?'
bul WnotNtl lil'htb'rh 'iht piuci
was an impostoi
perhaps so, and perhaps 1t is the
Impostor who is here now Winnie,
20 to the telephone and ask your fa-
Their the name of the messenger he
sent He wouldn't have sent Tom,
Dick or Harry Oh such an important
GRAND. Young man, sit down here un-
til we find out the truth of this mat
ter"
The girl went to the telephone and
The young man sat down with visions
IF policemen and prison bars passing
before his eyes. The aunt took seat
ilrectly In front of him and stared at
aim in cold, cruel way-a way that
gave him to understand that she would
ct no guilty man escape. After three
II four minutes Winnie returned to tho
Dom to say:
That's always the way. Central
ellis me that the line into the city is
'rossed or something and it may be
In hour or more before they find out
he trouble and remedy it,
Then will go back and tell your
ather the situation" said Mr.. Gray,