The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-08-16
BEGIN HERE TODAY

John Ainsley, a man of education
and breeding, becomes a master
crook-preying upon other thieves
One afternoon on Fifth Avenue h,
knocks down a man whom he see:
abusing hunchback, and then runs.
AZ an auction sale he sees newly
rich Marcus Anderson buy a golden
jewel-studded box for $4,000. Later
he sees Anderson in the company of
the hunchback and crook known
as the White Eagle. The White
Eagle lives in modest private resi-
dence on the upper East Side, pos
ing as duke, with the hunchback
as his secretary. Ainsley sets about
to find out in what way the White
Eagle is endeavoring to rob Ander-
son. He picks the lock of the East
Side residence and enters.
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
l went over that house from cellar
to servants quarters on the top floor.
In these latter rooms / found no
clothing. The servants had been dis
charged and had left with all their
belongings. Two floors below, / en-
tered study. Behind it was the
chief bedroom of the house. II knew
that it must belong to the White
Eagle. And in that bedroom were
packed suitcases. To that room.
then, the, White Eagle would un-
questionably come. But in the study
was decanter of wine and cigarets.
If / knew my Cochet, there would
be at least one cigaret smoked and
one glass of wine drunk in celebra-
ton of his latest coup. In this room.
then, behind great leather couch.
! ensconced myself.
But before / went into hiding I
took half dozen towels from the
bathroom adjoining the bedchamber,
and from the latter room took a
score of apparently discarded era
watts. l tested each one of these and
found them satisfactory. They were
no longer beautiful, but | was GER
tain that they would prove service
able. And behind the leather couch
knotted them into four stout
thongs. ! had finished when / heard
the front door open.
Cochet bounded up the stairs with
an activity which envied.
l hoped that l, when attained his
years. would be as supple. He enter
ed the room where was hidden,
snapped on the lights, filled two
glasses from the decanter on the
table, and lifted one high above his
head. The hunchback, less active,
now entered the room. Cochet greet
ed him loudly.
Drink, mon brave!" he cried.
Drink to the genius Of the White
Eagle, who sees and swoops and rises
Genius is too weak word," said
the hunchback. "You work miracles.
my master"
He, too, took the other glass from
the table and drank eagerly. Cochet
filled the glasses again.
"And of simplicity, Raoul,"
boosted the White Eagle. "This pig
dog of profiteer shows US his price
less box, opens it and lets us behold
the richest jewels Of his so vulgar
wife that CLEAN within it. And then, |
as he closes the safe door, l distract
his attention and you snatch the box
even as the door is being closed"
In my hiding place l nodded ap-
provingly. This was sleight of\hand
that might be matched against lny
own gift of legerdemain.
The hunchback's voice was depre-
eating. 81 have the trick of the
fingers, monsieur, but what are the
mechanics hands without the artists
brains? To you goes all the credit"
Cochet laughed merrily. "But the
profits, eh, mon vieux? They, are
more important than the glory, and
YOU will have your share !of those.
But we must not stay here. That
lady whom you have so justly termed
vulgar may desire to see her Jewels
once again this evening. One never
knows in what direction woman's
whim may lead her"
"As always, my master, you are
right" said the cripple. 81 will tele-
phone for taxicab; we shall disap-
pear. In fortnight We shall land
in la belle France"
=
but so much may happen in
fortnight"
l flatter myself that it was a line
worthy of the situation. Certainly
Cochet and Letter greeted it with
that stark Amusement which dra-
matte speech should arouse. | as