Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-08-28

The Feathered Gem
Smugglers
BY DON MARK LEMON

NCopyrignGl
THERE were eight In all, and their
n owner-a little, wrinkled, gray
eyed man-was evidently very proud
of the birds, as he invited Baldwin into
his stateroom the fourth morning out,
to watch them feeding
Eyes, sir, they're carrler-pigeons," he
explained, "and as soon as reach New
York I'm going to spring the trap.
Maybe they won't hit the blue Just
maybel" He wiped the grain dust
from his hands, and smiled with de-
light.
Baldwin watched the birds as they
eagerly pecled at the grain their own
or had spilled for them, and after a
bit realized that the little man meant
to free the pigeons and let them at
tempt to find their way back across the
Atlantic to England, where he had
taken the Steamer.
Then he expostulated. Really, sir"
he cried, you don't mean to allow
those birds to recross to EnglandT
The bird fanSier took Baldwin by
the coat sleeve In conciliatory way.
MY dear SIR" he begged, Il trust you
viii not be so inconslderate as to raise
objections to my purpose. To be hop
est with you-and honesty Ia me rule
Of my life-I do propose that these
carriers shall recross to England. And
they can do 1t, slr-they can do II "
perfect safety. They are splendid
homers, and each shan carry one writ
ten word around its neck to my wife
In Bath"
zone written world" exclaimed
Baldwin, thinking his travelling com
panion still more eccentric.
zone word, sir, one word each,
which will make eight words in all
A sentence-a greeting to my wife. All I!
you understand me now, sir, under
stand me now. A little token Of affec-
ton between me and my wife"
Baldwin did not understand at all,
except that his point had been evRded,
and SO again expressed his dlsap-
proval of allowing the pigeons to be
let loose. They would perish in the
attempt to reach England, ne asserted.
"Why, my dear, sir" cried their
owner. "the thing has been done scores
Of times It is nothing for birds like
those to cross the Atlantic, even in
winter. They will make 80 miles an
hour the whole dlstqnce-just hit
current of air and slide there, as 1t
were"
Now, Baldwin knew practically
nothing Of homing pigeons, except a
vague idea Of their swift flight and
great endurance, and 80 he let the
matter drop wishing neither to do the
little man an injustice nor show his
own ignorance
However, he decided that as soon as
they should land In New York he
would lay the matter before the su-
perlor knowledge and judgment Of the
s. p. @. A.
But he was saved that trouble. As
Fire island came In sight the door Of
the pigeon-cage, which was now on
deck, became Unattached and the eight
birds Immediately took flight
Their owner was the picture of
despair. They're gone" he exclaimed.
Gone without any messagel What
win my wife thinkf"
"You had better cable her on land
ing" suggested Baldwin, and then he
noted vaguely another point Of weak
ness in his knowledge Of homers, to
which the bird fancier paid no atten-
ton. The pigeons, after circling once
or twice in the air, laid course direct
ly toward the Long Island coast.
Il thank you for your advlce-I will
cable her" replied the little gray-eyed
man despondently, picking up the
empty cage and casting 1t overheard;
but 1t VIII be great disappointment
to Agatha-a great disappointment !"
Amid the hustle Of docking and bag
the owner Of the pigeons, and thought
no more about him until a day or two
later, when struggling with the ac-
emulation Of business on his desk In
Maiden lane. Then, glanclng through
crevice Of the grOundglass door of
his private office, he both saw and
heard little, wrlnkled gray-eyed man
asking for the diamond buyer. The
vague suspicion which he had enter
tanned now took definite shape, and
he hastily scrubbed line to the man
ager, instructing him to urge the WIS.,
ltor to return the next day, but when he
left to have trusted clerk shadow him
to his residence, no matter where It
might be.
At four O'Clock that afternoon the
emlssary reported that the man lived
out on Long Island and had just re-
turned from abroad with some fancy
pigeons he had exhibited there. At
six o'clock Baldwln's chauffeur was
guiding his car through the eastern
outskirts Of Brooklyn, drawing up
eventually near handsome villa. One
glance at neat dove-cote on the
grounds was enough for Baldwin, who
briefly gave the order, "Home."
But that was the reason why the
secret-serylce man awaited q little,
gray-eyed caller at Baldwin's diamond
emporium in Maiden lane on the NOR
row, and why the government grew
richer to the value Of several thou.
sand dollars worth Of gems, brought |
ashore by Baldwln's feathered fellow
passengers Of the Rurltanla.
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