Omaha daily bee., 1911-03-12

ing but after-dinner talk. my dear fellow
] assure you"
Then YOU have lost faith IN the police
and want TO back out?' Or Romie said
this with a wink to himself
Back out, In a bet with Douglas? Ncverl
Not on your lie, say I cannot possibly
get away from this crowd before eleven.
Eat your dinner and so to the show OF
something. and I'm meet YOU later any
where you say
why. it's after eight now. Wen stay
here. Get here as soon as you can
IAN right But say: not a word to them
about any backing out You understands
All right Goodby.'
There was not much trouble In passing
the time until Hartley arrived which was
soon after the hour Of ten. The dinner
had occupied more than an hour, and when
the cigars and coffee were brought in the
members Of the little party had settled
themselves down to an intimate talk
As Maynard poured out the coffee he
brought into fun view a ring that he wore
ON his right hand.
Rather a peculiar ring that, II you Will
pardon me FOR calling attention to it, OBJ
served Douglas. 81 never noticed Il be-
fore. Did not know YOU wore a ring
yes it is odd. said Maynard taking off
the ring and showing IT, THE design Is a
small round tablet, YOU see with a druden-
fuss cut lightly upon IL. Looks as II It had
been scratched by hand almost. From un-
der one end peeps a snakes head and from
the other a fsh's. Funny you did not no
tice it, before he added with his usual
nervous little laugh. % believe drudcn-
fuss keeps out the confusion and trouble
IL YOU make il yourself; but did not make
this one"
Family heirloom, l suppose?" remarked
: Fletcher.
NO It was given to me" Maynard put
the ring back upon his finger as he spoke.
s 81 believe IL has quite history. II l
were supersttlous / would not have ac-
! copted it., as IL has been associated with
two violent Deaths
When Hartley arrived they got down at
once TO the business Of the evening. II APP
{ peared that Maynard and DIR. Rame had
= been over the ground with Milton Fletcher
n in advance and were quite familiar with
r the scheme proposed. The doctor was fun
OF the business involved, and seemed to
10 attach most Importance TO the proper un-
l. Outstanding Of the conditions and to the
c posting Of the bet. Maynard, on the other
d hand. was full of the Joke as he persisted
in calling 1t.
If Douglas did not waste any time in laying
f ated, which was that one of them should
y place a certain amount Of money in safe
l. somewhere. and that they should hire
st some man to steal It, After this man
e had had sufficient time to get away they
z could 20 to the police and raise the hue
e and cry after him.
l. This plan was speedily demolished by
n Fletcher, who pointed out its great weak
is ness, which was that the whole party
would inevitably be drawn into the police
I net as Witnesses and would have to betrdy
5. the quarry themselves.
y Maynard, Hartley and Dr. Ramie were
ID evidently pleased 10y the businesshke way
in which Fletcher presented his reasons
" Tor disagreelng with Douglas. Douglas him
le self was so strongly impressed by the young
Englishman's acumen and foresight that
lie during a pause in the conversation he
N asked Fletcher IL he would not like 10
lie 30 into a brokeds office.
e "Of course, l don't want TO inquire into
te your affairs, AIr. Fletcher he remarked,
TO but unless | am much mistaken there is
1t a good deal more do than blow about
rs you. There are great openings in this coun-
At try for young men that can keep their
it mouths shut until they have thought over
what should be said, or until what Is to
lie do is done. / could put you into a place
d, something worth while"
Il don't know anything about stocks
Of replied Fletcher with Il smile that showed
$. he was not displeased at the compliment.
IN 81 have a pretty good berth now. At the
p same time, l am seriously thinking about
G, making my home in the states, II l can
ct find an opening. 1t is very good OF you
e. TO suggest the possibility as to my future,
l. but for the present think It viii be better
ly to finish the matter in hand"
Let us have your idea Of what might be
ar done them demanded the doctor.
er MY plan is briefly this said Fletcher
There are two or three conditions which
ry limit the problem and increase its diff
d, culties In the first place, in case the
en- amateur criminal is caught, it will be nee
e. essary that there should be some loophole
er provided for his escape. 1t might be shown
he that the whole thing was a mistake, and
Re that no actual robbery had occurred. 9th
Sc erwise, If the robbery were real, the whole
ut lot OF us might go TO sail as accessories
e- before the fact.
~ Another point Is that It will be neces
- sary to commit the robbery without hav
ing TO commit burglary or assault on thu
- person as well. You might announce tina
~, nothing had been actually stolen, after all
but you could not deny that a house haC
-, been broken into. IL 1t were highway ROB
a.. berry, the person who was held up coul'
- hardly claim, after the thief was caught
that it was all a mistake and that no on
:, had ever attacked him.
re- Amy such things as robbery Of the mails
ny or OF an express company, would never do
i'm because they would not be humbugge
10y any story Of nothing in IL after the
ne had caught the thief but would probabl
ere dig out the whole story on the witnes
ng stand.
lat AS one Of the conditions Of the bet
that the police should not be able
Identity the criminal by his work. nor I
be led 20 him By his pals-a very importan
condition, by the way-t will be necessar
tor the Identity ~ the thief to be a myI
~ terry from the first This will compel IN
l,u police to find out who he is before pre-
az ceeding 20 the second part Of their task
ia' his arrest 1 should insist on the import