Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-02-29

NA>' Aoi ~ -
Il have Il plan for preventing your
doing so"
Your plan would fail. However,
can give you u scheme of operations
by which you can work with me. |
shall need Il confederate. You may
name that confederate"
proceed"
Il shall require a few carpenters
tools, which l shall take with me on
the ship. and a tiny pot of paint. l
suppose from what you have told he
that the moment the papers leave your
vaults the enemy will know it."
Il have been told that we have spies
here in this office. and the best Lon
don detectives are watching u.s."
Very we'll, send the papers to the
ship in any way you like and deliver
them to me in my stateroom, which
you will engage for me. AS soon as you
have secured it cable some one you
know in New York to engage it for the
return trip. This done. we shall pro-
coed further"
Will ulleuu " lIc ululIcI dI once.
How about your confederate?"
He may so with me on the trip and
will take the papers from me in New
York"
But l don't understand the necessity
for these details"
'"They are more necessary on my ac-
count than on yours. A long expert
ence enables me to get these papers
through for you, but that experience
makes me a suspicious character. l
shall be searched by the customs Of
ticers in New York. But there is this
advantage in your employing me. Like
~ your opponents will get on to the
fact of my taking the papers to Ameri-
ca. If they don't 1 prefer that you
should see that they do. This will
concentrate suspicion on me-"
"And insure failure"
It took some time to convince Mr..
Collamore of the e%xpediency Of EN-
ploying me. In fact. 1 was obliged to
give him my whole scheme before he
would do so. When l told him all he
engaged me at once.
1 was given the papers in his office
and went direct to the ship. watched
by several detectives. who remained on
the dock till the ship had sailed. Once
in my stateroom I took my carpenters
tools from a satchel, loosened a board
in the floor, put in the papers and,
putting back the board, dabbed a little
paint OF it. so that it's removal would
not be noticed. To make more sure l
removed the board under the berth.
I was conscious Of being watched all
the way over. but I did not know
whether my watchers were in the
service of the London or the New York
parties interested in the papers. One
man, a middle aged gentleman, I sus
pected Of being my confederate, who
was not to make himself known to me,
but 1 was not sure. 1t didn't matter
to me how closely 1 was watched, for
as soon as I had concealed the papers
under the floor of my stateroom my
work was done. When we arrived at
New York and l went ashore / was
accosted by Il customs man who knew
me we'll by:
"Hello. Bob! What racket are you
working on this time?"
He took me and my baggage into a
private room and went through every
thing. He found nothing dutiable, not
even my carpenters tools. for I had
thrown them overheard. Finding moth
ing, he let me go. | had not got a block
from the dock before l was attacked
by a gang of roughs, one of whom,
doubtless disguised. searched me. A
policeman picked me up half dead, put
me in q cab and sem me home.
MY confederate had received full in
structions from Mr.. Collamore. A
couple Of hours before the ship sailed
the former went aboard the ship, ac-
companied by one who purported to BE-
his daughter. but who was really Il
typist in the employ of a legal firm
who were Mr.. Collamore's correspond
ents. The confederate. having obtain.
ed the key to his stateroom-the one
I had occupied on the last trip from
England-went there and. with tools
he carried in his suit case. took up
the board in the floor, secured the pa
pers. the typist concealed them on her
person and. when the "All ashore!"
bell was rung, bidding a fearful good
by to him who %purported to be her
father, she went down the gangplank,
and in another hour the papers were
deposited in the vaults of a safety de-
post company.
According to the contract 1 had made
before leaving London. 1 was given
5000 a month till the estate was set
tied, when l was to receive a million.
I was paid the 5000 regularly. but
when the final settlement was made l
was put off with a beggarly half mil
lion on the ground that after all the
viscount had been obliged to compro-
mise with the American heirs.
However, I am quite comfortable
and do not need to practice any more
schemes. for l cal get on very we'll
from the income 1 enjoy from the pro-
ceeds Of my last venture. 1 live in
London and am much respected,
though l am known to be a retired