The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-07-16
ESCAPING BY A HAIR
By MAURICE SMILEY.

,, It was no evidence Of any special
shrewdness on my part that l knew
what Wilson was watching the train
for.
The papers were full of the details
| Of Judson's last exploit. The trick ne
haL turned on this particular occasion
was the lifting of tray OF diamonds
from the importing firm Of Couvler
Freres.
| The police had followed Judson
pretty sharply and l knew that VIII
son must have got some tip to the
effect that Judson was going to take
train for a cooler habitat-most
probably the $40 for the west.
Now, Wilson and knew each other
by sight. We had had professional
rub or two on former occasions, and
knew with what had to deal.
It just happened that saw him get
telegram at the station Office and
that gave me two ideas which pro:
ceeded to put into effect. One was to
intercept the messenger boy attached
to the Office, and for quid pro quo
induce him to hand to Wilson this mes
sage, scrubbed on telegraph blank:
"Mr. Wilson: forgot in my hurry
to copy the message just delivered to
you. Kindly return it to me for
moment and I will hand 1t to you at
any time.-Mary Emerson. Operator"
Five minutes later the boy handed
me the message Wilson had received.
It read:
Anderson says Judson will take the
$40 train for Chicago. Win wear .
long white beard.-Foley."
Foley was the chief. His dispatch
threw new light on the Judson tip. SO
Anderson had turned against Judson.
It happened that was going to take
the $40 train myself. and I determin'
ed to keep a sharp outlook for any.
body with a long white beard. I was
smooth shaven myself.
But the second idea. It was ridicu.
lousy easy to write a message my
self, and my convenient messenger
friend for another quid pro quo
handed 1t to Wilson. My message ran
like this:
Made a mistake. Judson will leave
on the 9:15 for MOntreal.-Foley."
It was already 9:O5 and Wilson had
barely time to catch the 9:15 train,
for he swallowed the spoon. hook and
bait.
With Wilson safely side-tracRed, I
boarded my train.
Message for Henry Wilson. Is Mr..
Wilson in this carr"
"Ah, yes, guess that's for me-" I
remarked, casually, reaching out my
hand for 1t as the conductor stopped
at my berth. OF course it was from
Foley. 1t read:
Anderson makes complete confess
sion. Says story Of Judson being dis
guised was blind. He will, so far
as Anderson knows, be smooth shaven,
as he does not suspect he will be fol-
lowed, but thinks he has sidetracked
US. Williams is at Buffalo, and will
meet the train at Lees landing
Foley"
The plot was thickening.
"How far are we from Lees Land.
ing, porter?" l inquired.
Next stop, sir"
started on another exhaustive in.
spection Of the car, but there was no.
body there whom l thought Williams
would be likely to spot as Judson.
But there was a gentleman with q
long brown beard, sitting all alone in
one end Of the car. A white beard
might be dyed overnight.
would you mind stepping into my
drawing room compartment, sir?" I
said in a weak voice as bent over
the brown-whiskered gentlement.
Certainly, SIR" he replied, rising
and accompanying me to my drawing
room. Once the door was locked and
there was something doing in two min.
utes.
That's very fiLe bunch of whisk.
ers you have there, my friend" said
fiercely, land shall have to trouble
you for them! Don't make any fuss
now and you won't get hurt!"
The sheer absuldity OF my words
made him blink bewilderedly and be-
fore he got through blinking had him
tied hand and foot and two minutes
later had neatly shipped off his
beautiful brown beard.
I had become suddenly alive to the
fact that pair of whiskers was
something that I needed in my bust.
ness. l usually went provided with
spirit gum and other toilet accessories.
but had neglected to grow a bunch
OF side whiSkerS or provided mvself