The state herald., 1909-01-22


keeps" this time. taken back to Lon
don, tried. sentenced and imprisoned.
After he had served his time he
started on tour of the continent, ac-
companied by mysterious blonde
woman who passed as his wife. He
played cards, engaged in the pastime
of bunco steering and varied these
performances occasionally by assum.
ing the part of the wronged husband.
He had scheme by which the bank
could be broken, and offered to show
the man how he could take thou.
profit of ten thousand. The man ac.
cepted this glowing offer. but instead
of going TO the house that was desig.
mated he notified the District police
and the versatile rogue was once
more arrested-this time under the
name Of Frank Tracy. lie was re-
leased on bail, however, and soon
after again sought the historic at.
mosphcre OF London.
His latest exploit is really deserv.
ing of chapter in itself, but because
of lack of space must be condensed
into a few paragraphs. Superintend.
ent Froest, who was always on the
lookout for queer characters. learned
that Tracy-as he now called himself
was in London "a hours after he had
set his feet on English soil. He in.
structed his subordinates to be on the
lookout for Tracy. but otherwise did
not give much thought to the man.
One morning the telephone bell at
ScotlsSd Yard rang. and the voice of
an excited individual. who proved to
be a clerk In banking house near
Leadenhall street. Informed the au
thoritles that thief had entered the
institution that morning and robbed
one OF It's deposltors of e200. There
was much excitement: a crowd had
gathered In the corridors, and In the
confusion the thief had escaped with
the money.
Pardon me-" said the stranger,
but You have dropped one of your
notes"
Inv h'lbHlApl AT Allf
on the other side of the desk and. sure
enough. there was bank note.
Thank you" he replied gratefully.
and stopped down to pick up the odd
note. The act only consumed two or
three seconds, but when the deposition
stralghtened up and was about to add
the missing note to his pile he found
TO his amazement. that the original
package OF money had gone, and with
II the stranger. He gave the alarm and
rushed out of the bank. but when he
reached the street the crowd was 80
great that II was impossible to find
his man.
When Superintendent Froest re
ceiyod news OF the theft. he immedl
ately dispatched one OF his men to
the bank. but, not satisfied with this,
he resolved to go there in person as
soon as he had finished the work In
his private ofiice at Scotland Yard.
That only consumed few minutes,
and at It's completion Mr.. Froost
pulled down the top OF his roll-desk
and hurried towards Leadenhall
street. Al oldgate. where Cornhlll
and Loadcnhall street converge. he
saw tail. wcll.drcssed man. hurryinP
along amidst the crowd. II did not
take him many seconds TO recognize
the man ms his old friend. the versa
tilo rogue. who had lived succosslvoly
under the titles OF Frank Macy Frank
Lacy and Frank Tracy. lnstlnctlvcly
the superintendent associated the fol
low with the theft OF the bank In
l.eadcnhall street. He walked up and
took Tracy by the arm.
My dear friend" he said. u would
like you to go down TO the Office with
me and have a talk over old tines"
Tracy made no rcslstnnce-indeod
this was characteristic of the man
The moment mn officer Of tho law
touched him he surrendered without
n struggle. The two mon proceeded 10
Scotland Yard and Tracy. when
searched. was found TO possess tho
f200 which had been stolen from tho
deposition In the bank that morning
lie was tried for that offenso. convict
cd and served his time.
The versatile rogue IL at liberty
once again, and for the time being In
honorlng the United States with his
presence. This brief sketch In not
offered nv II story OF hia life II lsl
onyl what II pnrports to bc-a frag
mont from the life Of n versatile
rogue
Copyright 1905. By ". O. chapman)