The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-04
THE EVENING STOR Y
BY Special Messenger.
(By Warning Mitchell.)

10y w 01llCAcA-J
On that certain. Tuesday morning,
when Col. Graves got ready to start for
the city from his country place, he
said to his daughter, Winnie:
1T is possible that may want those
Mexican bonds this afternoon, and here
is the key to the safe. If 1 have to
have them will send you a note by a
special messenger"
The colonel was something of law
yer, Spectator and broker and Miss
Winnie was his 19-year-old daughter.
She acted as his amanuensis at home
and was pretty familiar with his bust
ness transactions. The bonds spoken of
had a face value of $4,000, but of late
had been rather 'wobbly'' in the mar
ket and had caused the colonel consid-
cradle anxiety. At o'clock that after
noon he wanted the bonds and tele-
phoned his daughter to that effect, say
ing that he would send a messenger
Instead of sending boy from the reg
ular service he stepped into the office
of Jones next door and said:
JONES' 1 want a trusty fellow to run
out to my house and bring me back
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 go
out to East Park and back in an hour
The colonel wrote a line to Miss
Winnie to 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 1t may be stated that
his name was Vincent Gray, his age
%, and he 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 young
man who expected to come in contact
with bulls and bears and other animals,
young Graywas 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 ex-
citing the least suspicion.
The light fingered youth found
there only card case and the letter
fcient to bring about several unlocked
for results. 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
card case were two or three dollar
bills. The thief had a right to infer
that his victim had no more money
about him. He likewise had a right
to infer that young Gray could not
produce the wherewithal to buy
ticket for East Park The fare was
only 90 cents. but without it man is
as badly off as if the sum was IS.
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
we're gone and when he found that the
etter had also taken wings, he real /
even a nickel to get back to the Office. |
He hadn't the wherewithal to tele-l
phone to his Uncle Jones in New street
Ind after wasting fifteen minutes try
ng to figure out the problem he made |
haste to a pawn shop, where he put |
Town his watch for So.
The next train to East Park was ten |
minutes late in starting, and the same |
n reaching the Park, so there was in |
LII so minutes lost. The young man /
lad not suspected that he was the VIC
i'm of a pickpocket, but supposed he |
lad lost his property in the jam while
the car. He had been told |
hat telephone message would pre-
,ede him. and he had remembered the |
ADDRESS. Therefore, he did not worry
10 much over the loss of the letter. 1t |
vas only when he came face to face
With Winnie Graves and stated his
GRAND and saw her look of surprise
md distrust that he realized the situa-
ion.
why. SIR she replied, "those
,onds were delivered to a messenger
more than half an hour ago"
but I was sent for them and was
lelayed."
IF you were sent for them. you
must have a line from my father"
TT had a line, but Unfortunate
Y lost it, together with my money.
1y name is Vincent Gray, and 1 am
n the office of Ezra JONES' in the
anne building with your father
m afraid that some rascal found the
ost letter and has taken advantage of
and l am afraid that another ras-
al is trying to do the same thing ex-
laimed Miss Wfnnie's Aunt Ruth who
1as at the head of the house. and who
ad entered the library just in time to
ear the young mans words.
But, madam. you surely can't think
hat T.
81 can think what 1 please, sir. Can
GU imagine we were idiotic enough
D give up those bonds without writ
en- order from Col. Graves?"
But whoever presented that order
yas an impostor."
perhaps SO, and perhaps it is the
npostor who is here now. Winnie,
o to the telephone and ask your faith
r the name of the messenger he sent. ,
Re wouldn't have sent Tom, Dick or
larry on such an important Grand
Dung man, sit down here until we
nd out the truth of this matter"
The girl went to the telephone and
ne young man sat down with visions
{ policemen and prison bars passing I
irectly in front of. him and stared at 6
i'm in a cold cruel way-a way that