The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, November 27, 1898, Page 24

THE SAN FRAN CISCO CALL DAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1898 Fighters Came Into Sight In Tow of the Peacemaker. by W. W. Jacobs. Copyright, 1 HE harbor was crowded with fishing boats, and Is were coming in every few minutes. came scudding ste, but then n to the deck, left on them d the fish to the quay, where fish- mall boats conve raising the catch with a wisdom beyond ermen we ny whiting, and nake them 3 mall flat fish, w were carefully looked after & 1 seaboot, but whiting si from mortal ken in aced man with a ; fashion from heap c to af a.lrbtu e teful v_with his foot, and subbs, moved away it,” sald Gubbs, t'you do see don't do you 1 to bring home such a queer looking t there's none on "em u, I expect,” retorted ne,” sald Tarout, whose physi- used in the village for purposes of to you,” sald Gubbs, following and two 1 man to s frame the fa of Tarbu too much strategy for sport in a large ring, at the bidding of the resourceful individual who had last spoken, gradu- ally made it smaller and smaller. Two or thrée small blows warmed the combatants, and they set to work in earnest. Then Gubbs, under a heavy blow from Tarbut, went to the ground and stayed there, It was three minutes before he came thoroughly round, and then he sat up in a dazed fashion and looked round he inquired in a whisper. said one of his friends genu{. Gubbs rubbed his eves. ‘“What are they patting him on the back for?” he inquired, eying the group who were making a fuss over Tarbut. s E won,”” said his friend. ad run over to the scene of the fray; “‘ypu wasn't y trained, you know. , look ‘ere—if you put o 1f in my hands, in three weeks you can beat him oller. “You do as Mr. Larkins ses, Joe,” sald his friend, im- pressively. “I lived among prize fighters afore I came down ‘ere,” said Mr. Larkins, expanding his small frame. ‘“In three weeks' time, Gubbs, vou'll be able to knock him slll?'." ell, what about Tarbut; he ought to be tral ned, sald one of the men. ‘Fair play's fair play any 'l train ’im,” said an old ex-coast guardsman. “I don't want no trainin’,” said Tarbut surlily. “I've beat 'im; beat 'im easy.” ‘“Well, beat 'im again, Tarbut,” said one of his friends. “I'll put my five bob on you, who'll take me?” For the next five minutes, heédless of the assertions of both men that they wouldn’t fight any more, bets were freely taken, Tarbut, in view of his recent success, being a hot favorite. A jarring element was introduced into the proceedings b €mall elderly man wearing a piece of blue ribbon, who, pushing his way in eagerly, inquired what it was ali about. Nobody troubling to give him a correct answer, he tried to go it for himself, and was then caught, jhus( n the nfck of time, trying to make the enemies shake an “You go off to your mothers’ meeting, Peter Morgan,” sald an incensed “It's a fight, “Oh, my iy oice. said the little man, ratsing his voice. said Larkins, hotly. “I'm s all. They're just goin’ to frie; nothin’ o' the kind, m for a race, th the best runner.” n, disregarding the publican, looked to others formation. ‘It's quite right,” saild a bystander, “You can believe , can't u?’ ““When's it going to be?" asked Morgan. “I don’t know,” said the other, turning away. “You ought to be ashamed of yourselves,” sald Mor- gan, warn “it’s bad enough to make a couple of men x‘;fvm “1 t don’t want to, without telling a lot of lies about it. “It’s none o’ your business,” sald Larkins, surlily, “Ask no questions and yowll have no lies. ‘You'll get some idea into that 'ead of yours and then go and split, and have it stopped.” w er told of anything in my life,” said Morgan, ‘my mates here know that. That ain’t my way. sion and example, not forcing people to a purse o’ fifteen and six made up for the Larkins, turning away and whispering the “The spot for the picnic ‘Il be made inown later on. Them what's in the know is respectfully asked to keep thelr mouths shut to save trouble all around. He went back to his bar, and the other men, after standing about a bit, strolled off one by one to their teas. vas one of the last to leave, and went as s door with him to tell him an anecdote of a as struck behind the ear in a fight and killed on the spot. A comfortable meal and a good night’s rest restored Mr. Gubbs to his wonted serenity of mind, and he awoke ock feeling determined to shake hands with Tar- but and let the matter drop. A persistent hammering at door, which gradually got iouder and louder, inter- ng with his meditations, he roused Mrs. Gubbs, who ng peacetully, and with some asperity bade her nd stop it. s Mr. Larkins, Joe,” said the lady, hastily with- dra; g her head from the window. Mr. Gubbs sat up in bed, and then with a mighty yawn rose, and pushing open the casement again gazed indig- nantly at the small publican, who was standing below g up an incessant rapping on the door with a small Torning, Mr. Larkins, sir,” said Gubbs, snifing at b1 morning_ air. a1l said Larkins, looking up. *“This won't do, ing time. You ought to be up and x speaking in Gubbs, who it’s give me such a f “That’s all righ o by contrari mind,” said Gubbs, leaning out and , to defeat the intentions of Mrs, ng. “I dreamt I kiled Tarbut an "ve resolved not to fight.” d Larkins, briskl “‘dreams al- ““Well, there ain't much comfort in that,” sald Gubbs, xious to get back to his warm bed, sharply. sald Larkins, i . “you ought to be ashamed of yourself after all the trouble I'm taking on vour behalf.” Mr. Gubbs rubbed his eves and pondered. “What's the towel for?” he demanded suspiciously. “Rub you down with after you've bathed,” said the who "Ba.tha?d?" sald Mr. Gubbs, with emphasis. “Bathed? ‘What for?” N & e “Training,” replied Mr. Larkins briefly, hurry “D-b t o1 don't fz_;eligge old Bullock's goliggiojmake; Tarbh ’ sal ubbs, shivering, “‘it's w . ““You do as you're lD]d.”gsaJd (hlet autocratic Larkins. “Bullock don’t know nothing about it.”” - Mr. Gubbs sighed and withdrew his head, a.l‘ldr ex- Pla.lnlns’ to his astonished wife that he was going g:lna. ltl%)e I!ll’oll. gloomily dressed himself and joined nis t = er below. = w “‘Shoulders back.” said the small publican. “Head upfi He led the way down to the beach, and ignoring t! le looks of aversion which Mr. Gubbs bestowed upon the sil- ver sea, stood by while he disrobed and peacerully plied his way over the shingle to the edge of the water. It was & bright morning, but somewhat chill, and Mr. Gubbs’ breathless gas; Jx‘xlgs furnished an excellent clew to the temperature of the water. 'PHOW do you feel inquired Mr. Larkins anxiously, as he rubbed him down. feel bad.” said the other, shivering. e “Yow'll feel better when you've had your run,’” sal Larkins, cheerfully. “Ad my w-w-wot?”’ inquired Mr, Gubbs, staring at lz:llm lof(enslvely, and rubbing himself furiously with the owel. g “Your run,” repeated Larkins,sternly. “You don’t want ur coat. See, hold that. And mind, I don't want you 0 g0 running like & steam engine, or a runaway horse. *T wasn't goin’ to,” said Gubbs. ; “Just trot easy,” continued the other, “for about half a mile. Go as far as that gate over there, then rest.two minutes, and trot back again.” His manner was so dictatoriaul that Mr. Gubbs, re- membering in time his scene at the Three Fishers, swal- Jowed something he was ;iuing to say—and it was nearly strong enough to choke him—and set off at a strange, weird gait toward the 1adlcatefl goal. He reached it at last, and, after a very Mong two minutes, started back agalin, in resEr)nse to the semaphore-like appeals of the enthusiastic Larkins. ‘ve got my work cut out for me, I can see,” said the latter, as his victim, puffing and blowing, sat down on the ground. “But I'll soon get you in trim, and you can keep quiet about i I don’t want Bullock to know.” Why not?” demanded Mr. Gubl 7 “Because he'd train Tarbut the same way,” sald Lar- kins, with a cunning grin. 'Well, why shouldn’t Tarbut ve a doing same as me?" said Mr. Gubbs, vindictively. “Why should 'e be layin' in comfort in 'is bed while catchin’ ’arm bathing and killing myself running? “Don’t you be a fool,” sald Larkins, affectionately, patting him on the shoulder. ‘‘Come into my place when you have time, and I'll put the gloves on with you a bit; and be careful what you eat, mind, else you'll undo all the good I've done you. 1f it is possible for a man to expectorate sarcastically Mr. Gubbs achieved that feat. “Only two cups of tea with your breakfast,” continued Larkins, solemnly, “and no gravies for dinner, and I'll send you in one pint of old ale every day free gratis.” The tensity of Mr. Gubbs' features relaxed, and he smiled faintly as he rose and accompanted his friend back. Larkins saw him to his door and after explaining fluently to Mrs. Gubbs that her husband was training for a race, gave her explicit instructions as to his diet and departed. It was a source of much joy to Mr. Larkins, though he was unable to persuade Gubbs to share in his feelings, that Tarbut's trainer was satisfied with a less vigorous system for his man. He let Tarbut off with a cold spong- ing on rising, and as Tarbut had his own ideas as to what constituted a cold sponging, both parties were well pleased with each other. The business-like nature of these proceedings was ated by the inhabitants of the fishing quar- d happened before and doubtless would again, but they were mere rough and tumble affairs, and over before any proper excitement could be wi The purse had steadily mounted up to 35 shillings, and the betting varied from day to day. Each man had his knot of supporters and enthusiasm had reached such a pitch that Gubbs, who was naturall of a retiring disposition, to take his martutinal tul before quite a cirtls of admirers. Opposition on the part of the ladles was balked by continuing to refer to the affair as a race, though Mrs. Gubbs, who got up one morning to see her man run, went home in a state of mind bordering upon stupefaction. An uneasy feeling was excellent Mr. Morgan to d . & ed by the anxiety of the yver_the time and place of meeting. No information was afforded him, and as he had indignantly denied any intention of giving the alarm, the gentlemen interested were much exercised as to the reasons for his curiosity. The battle was fixed for a Saturday evening, the two trainers, after much wordy warfare having selected a site which Mr. Larkins insisted had been made purposely by nature, with a view to affairs of the kind. Lofty cliffs hid it from view, and the ground itself consisted of turf S0 soft and spongy that Larkins predicred that Tarbut would bounce up from it like an india-rubber ball. The performers expressed themselves as satisfied, though their regardlessness in the matter of thanks for the trouble which had been taken over the arrangements formed food for conversation for the trainers all the way home. The boats got in early Friday afternoon with thelr fish. The catch was s 1 and soon disposed of, and then the attentive trainers, reserving their men from admirers who were feeling their arms and putting reading questions as to their wind and state of mind, sent them indoors with conelse fnstructions as to how they were to spend the last evening. Larkins officiously sent his man off for a short, sharp walk after his tea, and later on going to the quay {io‘;Jnnd that Bullock had given his man tne same instruc- Don’t you go worrying of ’em, mind,” said Larkins an’ let ‘em 'ave an easy time of it Both of ’em,” he added, gener- * said an old fisher- sternly to the group, to-morrow in the boats. ously. “Spoke like a Briton, Mr. Larkins, him. Then I found out what, d 1 talked to AU, @ men were trying to comes Gubbs an to knock each other about for urse, 1 knew before, flfaffce these pure souls mor king helplessly, looked sternly at Mr. Mo;’gfi‘nl“:;l&m;bifiga i e nuatg finger at Tarbut's an. “‘What 1 want is fair play and no favor,” sald Mr. Larkins; “it’s to be a genuine sporting affalr. ad blow, or anythin, what go to see “It's time my man up the road which led over the cliffs. just as far as the ground and back. “Old Peter Morgan's gone down to the place, think,” piped a small lad in huge boots. lowing of Tarbut.” The landlord of the Three Fishers started uneasily. +It's on my mind,” he sald, in a melancholy voice, “the that blessed old teetotaler 1l have the thing stopped. He'll olice or something.” he won’t,” said the old fisherman who had spok- . Mo ‘an” Peter was boys together never done anything o Peter got religious there was nothing he liked better than to see a fight, or take part in one, either, and it's my opinion he'd like to see this one, 50.” he won't,” said Larkins, grimly; “it may be as ut we're not going to take any risks.' Conversation became general, and in view of the near- ness of the event, animated, but still the two gladiators failed to put in an appearance. “He's overdoin i ¢ kins, referring to the ardent Gubbs. “You can 'ave a man e'll go and knock hisself up.” The small boy came up, his the stones, and shadin along the road. The o three men advancing lovingly arm-in-arm toward them. “It—it can’t be old Morgan with 'em,” said Mr. Lar- ns. “It is, though,” said the old fisherman, through screwes old Peter, that's wot they sappointed auditors groaned in_ chorus. ?* said Larkins savagely. don’t think me and my friend Bullock here are going to three weeks for nothing, do you?”’ There won’t be no fight,” “Look how loving they are! All three of ‘em as close to- gether as sweethearts.” 3 The advancing trio certainly bore out the old man's ‘words to the letter and appeared to be half embracing his companions. “Why, they can hardly walk,” said Bullock, been too far.” “Seems to me,” sald the small boy slowly, they'velad a bit of a s The ‘crowd with bated breath stepped out to meet them, Larkins and Bullock leading. the two heroes were clinging to Mr. Morgan more for support than from any moti no less evident that the lad's remark as to a bit of a scarf was capable of a wide interpretation. In a few min- utes both parties were face to face, and the two trainers gazing at their charges speechless with indignation. “Which is Gubbs?"” an unnatural voice. The figure on Mr. Morgan’s right arm managed to open an eye and to twist its swollen lips Into something intended for a smile. “What ’ave you been doing?”’ vociferated the incensed “Fightin',” said Gubbs, speaking with some difficulty, “it’s all over no the money between us. ““Oh, are you?" said Larkins, ha’penny of it. What do you mean by it? h? “I'll tell you all about it,” sald Morgan, who was look- ing radiantly happy. *“I No b visage. % of that kind. After the little affair all t are welcome to one drink at my ex- themselves for sald as 'ow they woul 8 shillings he'd ever R4 0% Tite talk o' this kind v ' to earn it. e a5 vas, ol rarbut smack in the eve. Tarbut gave a faint groan was back,” sald Bullock, looking *I told him to go 1e ;. too, I T saw 'im fol- “Then they an. B8N why didn’ guard; ‘it was “I thought 1 “‘that an’ he's that sort in his life. Before old only he don’t like to ““There in th fell to Tarbut Gubbs up with was as_clean a knee. It, that's what he is,” said Mr. Lar- Suflering ing his chance, Big boots clattering over Was a disgustin, is eyes with his hands gazed er men, following his gaze, saw Whispered in hi ““When time geerlng “They’ve made it up through v've done. He's been talking at at 'em, and now there won't be no fight.” “Won't “Ho—Won't there. You up eyes. longest of all. a di; repeated the old man. A “After that fought very fal they were br Once Gubbs gi Mr. Peter Morgan was in the center, “they've “I wouldn't “that arf already.” It was evident that Morgan. "em promise th Ain’t you, lads With an ut s of affection, and it was demanded Mr. Larkins at last in ““They won’ explosive own,_poc] “Me?" said It was a draw and we're goin® to halve say isself, you his bitterly; *“well, you won't Peter Morgan.” %ntly away. ree Fishers, saw Tarbut going up the road +T urged them shaking his head, ; he gof Poor fellow, he was doing W’ suffering, and Peter Morgan's alwa: Second round he was more c: Mr. Larkins bent savagel standers the two men s “And though I regard fighting with horror,” concluded Morgan, beaming on them, “I think that as it was a in you should divide the purse between 'em.” *Ask yourself,” f any man ever 'ad 35 shillings worth of sport all to hawe—and, what’s more, you know it, Mr. The peacemaker sighed, a o make such a brutal show ot mon’éo't""cominued Mr. Morgan, ‘but they Y Gubbs said it will be the easiest irned, and Tarbut said it was him in confirmation. both started to peel,” continued Mr. Mor- y op 'em?”’ inquired the ex-coas § i‘x’-ud:r[ypas a Christian to stop 'em. ¥ Was better for ‘em to fignt like that than ition of themselves,” sald Mr. Mor- to make @ bruta e vas o revoiting spectacie, Shocking, and I'm glad and t £5 See Tem make such brute A threatening m re was nobody there but me K to beasts of hemselves. r broke from the crowd. U uded spot,” sald Mr. Morgan, “these two men, stripped to_the waist; ther for about fifteen rounds. First blood t in with his left on Gubbs’ nose; then low and knocked him flat. It ver see—l took Tarbut on my rong, but still he was vs got a knee for the autious, and wateh- clenched and fell with Gubbs under. It tacle.”” 5 pixt aavagely over to Mr. Bullock and at sweet, secl a_fearful bl blow as I e ar. sw‘-:xs called—"" said Mr. Morgan “Who called it?" inquired a voice, with the accent of one makidng a ]vgfin‘ti Moranst “T did,” said Mr. 0! ¥ n both of 'em walked round each other a bit, sparrin; looking for openings. else; g e.r;]ti 1 think the third round was the of ’em kept getting in a lot of little “there was nobody Bot! knocks and then dodging away again. Then Tarbut caufokir_. Gubbs one in the breast—ban, lowed up on his jaw and knoc! usting spectacle.” 2 fust ha’ been,” said a dejected voice. the wind—and then X him down again, It was there was twelve more rounds,” continued ometimes Tarbut had the best of it, and Both men were very determined and i It was good, solid, hard hitting. and uised all over before they'd finished. ve Tarbut a blow over the heart, and I thought he wouldn’t get up to time.” HE SAT UP IN A DAZED FASHION AND LOOKED AROUND FOR HIS OPPONENT ° “Yes, that's what it is,”” said Larkins, in a hollow e. if you hadn’t blowed water into my face out of that puddle,” said Tarbut. “It was a most disgusting spectacle,” said Mr. Peter Morgan, hurriedly, ‘Seems to me,” began Larkins, ferociously. “Two fine, stron, nalls, knocking eacl “They’re never going to fight any more. I made men, stripped to the waist, hard as other about for money,” said Mr. ey wouldw't. They'Te good friehds now. ter disregard for the feelings of the by- ook hands. t get a farthing of it,” said Mr. Larkins, “Unless you like to give it to “em out of your “Why?" Mr. Morgan, opening his eyes. “I should said Mr.’ Larkins, pointedly. d, turning, led nis charges The crowd watched them as far as the and observing that they detached them- selves by force from their guide and friend, crossed the and I followed him and talked to him and by and by up road and followed them in. HO JXOIo¥oRoXO) ” William Gil in the war the Bald- to-morrow night. ul in | contains ECRET SERVIC 3 late and situations. In paking of the way he came to write w York and very st several ing play Mr. da: i “Well, do the idea that . was the germ of the play is not in it at he said. “It is my habit in con- ng a drama to fix my main situ atic mind and work from It back- ward. and forward. In ‘Held by the Enemy’ it was the dead body of a Con- federate stretcher in a church. | it was the telegraph s we do it now, the Confederate | ret service agent—Arrelsford, as I 1 him—suspects the Union secret ice man, who is the hero of the| of his motive of sending a false | atch. He therefore comes to the | graph office and makes his plans t cret Service’ but I conceived it quite diff tly at the time. It/ €truck me one day, as various things passed through my mind, that I would | have. this fellow Dumont, the Union | €ecret service man, trying to send a ygus dispatch. He has got every one of the room except Arreisford. Ar- sford knows that Dumont is a Union #nan, but conceals his knowledge. Du- | shent_does not know that he is sus- | petted. He invites the Confederate to | have a drink of whisky—the way two men will, you know—chatting and friendly.. Dumont tries to drug Arrels- ford’s whisky and thinks he has suc- ¢eeded. Arrelsford. the better to en- trap Dumont, pretends that he has swallowed the drug and that he is Te ould be artistic thing for Arrelsford to make | Dumont believe that he is drugzed, | #nd at the same time convey to| the audience the truth- that he «vas ~ only pretending. Arrelsford to stagger ~about, the other jlow watching him, at last | fall outside the window. Then Dumont was to send out his false message, or part of it, and be interrupted by a pis- | ol shot, as he is now. I thought that | his astonishment when he found that | Arrelsford had fooled him would be a good point. *“RBy degrees,” continued Mr. Glllette, “the present treatment of the scene | was developed with all the incidents connected therewith, scarcely one of which resembles my original idea. Tt | often happens this way in the develop- | ‘ment of plays. The ceritral incident is | ultimately made use of in a manner en- | tirely different from the original con: ception. I had the idea in mind for ten | years before I put pen to paper on it. | “For a time I thought of adapting | this scene of the captured dispatch of- W GILLE TE making that the period of the play, but degrees I evolved the idea of an of- ficial telegraph office in Richmond dur- ing the siege, and then the other inci- dents began to group themselves around this episode.” “There is, then, no historic basis for this theme?’ he was asked. “None at all,” quickly responded the author. “During the New York run and even yvet I have a note on the pro- gramme explicitly disclaiming any at- tempt to be historically accurate in the play. It is pure fiction, and I don’t know that even the faintest resem- blance to this telegraph office existed in Richmond. I gained some knowledge | of the manner of doing Confederate official, and learned that thev had a few loading rifles late in the wa abled me to introduce the scene where the colored man bites off the bullets in order to save the life of the spy hero.” “Is that Incident absolutely neces- sary?” “No; the act could be ended in an- other way, but the scene is effective, nd then you see it enables me to make out a better case for Dumont, or Cap- tain Thorne, as the spy calls himself, in Richmond.* He refuses under the circumstances to profit by the fact that the bullds have been extracted, and tells the officer in command that his guns have been tampered with.” ““Which exhibition of manliness prob- ably wins the admiration and sympa- | | thy of the other characters on the stage | and also of the audience,” interjectéd the reporter. “Exactly so. And that reminds me that I have been a little surprised by the view most people take of army spies. To my mind there is nothing disreputable about this duty. It is a recognized branch of army service, ex- ceedingly dangerous, but not neces- sarily dishonorable. Why, monuments have been erected to spie; exclaimed Mr. Gillette with enthusiasm. “But how about the social side of the | matter?” “Well, In ‘Secret Service’ the spy- hero relinquishes his commission and refuses to act when it is made to ap- pear that he has taken a dishonorable advantage of his social opportunities. That sets him rizht in that particular.” “How dld ‘Secret Service’ come to be written at last after so many years of mental incubation?” Mr. Gillette was asked. . “It just happened all at once and without any premeditation,” replied the actor. “We were preparing ‘Too Much Johnson’ for production, and had put it aside for a little rest. You know there can be too much rehearsal. Dur- ing the interval, I roughly sketched the first act of ‘Secret Service,’ and, meet- ing Mr. Frohman, who was on the eve of going to Europe, told him that I thought I had a good idea for a war play. He took the manuscript and | presently handed it back, saying in his impetuous manner, “Why, that is splen- did! Write me the next act as quickly as possible.” I did so, and then he | called for the third act to be rushed. | draft of the play, and thus, after so| | long a period of mental preparation, it was put on paper at last in a great hurry.” “Very much,” it was suggested, “as Sardou is said data and suggestions appropriate to some theme, and then, after seven or eight years, boiling this matter together into one of his startling plays.” “I had never read anything about his method of work, but am glad to know that I have unconsciously followed such a model in this particular. Sardou | is a great master of situation and se- cures wonderful effects. The difficulty is to keep an audience interested through suspense, and then the audi- ence must be informed of many things the stage characters do not know and altogether play-making is quite a puzzle. If all the pleces do not fit ac- curately the puzzle does not make just the right impression and is liable to be a failure.” 4 —ee————— General Wheeler’s proposition that it fice to the Revolutionary War and | So I rushed right through the first 11s the duty of the colleges and univer- to work—pigeonholing | |ing of the trustees of Williams College, sities of the country to assist in the education and civilization of the Cuban patriots is a practical one, alike credit- able to the head and heart of the old soldier, and liKely to receive consider- able hospitality among the higher in- stitutions of the country. As has been stated, Boston University has fallen into line, the trustees stating that they would be pleased to take such action as would eive them an onportunity to express friendly interest in the Cu- ban people. At the regular fall meet- held Friday, the same question came before them, and it was voted to take care of and educate two young Cubans of General Wheeler's appointment if the conditions should be satisfactory to the committee on scholarships. It is not-entirely a new thing for Cubans to be educated in the United States. For some time Cubans of the educated class have enjoyed a more thorough equip- ment than the so-called educated Span- From the Great Telegraph Scene in “‘Secret Service.’™ iards, because they rarely, if at all, acquired their training in the mother country, but many of them in this country. Probably Gneral Wheeler's selections will be made more with ref- erence to the quality of the student than the class to which he may belong. The leaven of American universities would be a good thing to spread through Cuba.—Boston Transcript. FAMOUS what morbid, fascination attach- ing to gigantic jewel robberies— like that, for instance, recently perpetrated at the expense of the Dow- ager Duchess of Sutherland. That a man showld coolly walk into a railway carriage and in less than one minute annex a fortune, such as not one person in ten thousand-attains after a lifetime of toil, is sufficiently startling. But the thing becomes amazing when one re- flects upon the time, patience, thor- oughness and resourcefulness expended upon the successful carrying out of these colossal criminal coups. Take, for example, the theft of the Countess of Dudley’s jewels at Pad- dington Station in December, 1874, This case was almost on all fours with the Duchess of Sutherland’s, and although the thieves were never captured it was proved conclusively that the robbery had heen planned six months pre- viously, and that during that entire period the Duchess had been shadowed, night and day, by one or other of the confederates engaged in it. The value of the gems was at first stated to be $250,000, but subsequently this was re- duced by about one-half. On January 15, 1871, all London was talking of a remarkable outrage and robbery perpetrated on the previous day. A Mr. Parkes, employed by the great jewelry firm.of London & Ryder, proceeded, by appointment, to a house in Upper Berkeley street with about $30,000 worth of gems in a bag. Di- rectly he entered he was set upon by two persons, a man and a woman, who seized, bound and chloroformed him and decamped with the . valuables. Luckily the victim recovered his senses an hour or two later and a hue and cry were at once raised. Both culprits were eventually ar- rested and the man received a sentence of eight years’ penal servitude. The woman, his wife, was acquitted, mainly owing to the eloquence of Montagu ‘Williams, who defended her. Only about $4000 worth of the stolen property was ever recovered. A somewhat simi- lar robbery, it will be remembered, was planned last year at a hotel in Brighton. Luckily it was unsuccessful. Hatton Garden, as may well be imag- ined, has been the seat of several no- torious diamond robberies. One of the earliest and biggest occurred on March 26, 1876, when Messrs. Williams & Son, manufacturing jewelers, lost gems to the value of $125,000. The thieves ob- tained entrance to the premises at dusk on a Saturday evening, opened the safes with duplicate keys and carried away all the most costly articles, things of lesser value being left untouched. Many people will.doubtless be able to recall the daring robbery per- petrated at Hatton Garden Postoffice, on November 16, 1881. Shortly after dusk, and while what was then known | &8 the “Continental Diamond Mall” THERE is a remarkable, if some- JEWEL { was being made up, the gas was sud- denly turned o* at the meter and the whole place plunged in d.rkness. At first it was thought to be an accident. But, on lights being brought, it was seen that the two registered mail bags, containing cut and uncut stones to the total value of $200,000, had dicappeared. The robbery was skilfully planned and cleverly cxecuted, and all subse- quent efforts to recover the diamonds or apprehend the thieves proved fruit- | less. | with the “Garden” took place on Sep- tember 13, 1894, when Herr Spyzer, an Antwerp diamond merchant, was de- coyed into a L gus office, attacked by three men, chloroformed and robbed of gems valued a‘ $100,000. Early in February, 1877, occurred the great jewel robbery at Battle Abbey, Sussex, when gems to the value of be- tween $40,000 and $50,000, the property of the Duchess of Cleveland, were car- ried away. In this case the coup was effected while his Grace and the Duchess were in the drawing-room en- tertaining a few friends, and the serv- ants were in the kitchen at supper. The articles stolen were chiefly pres- being a gift of the Queen to the Duchess, who vas a bridesmaid at her Majesty’s vedding. Curiously enough, one case of jewelry, containing gems tr.»fktax- greater value than any of those aken away, was overlooked b: robbers in their hurry. e e On the 19th of iovember of the same year a peculiarly heartless robbery was perpetrated at Halstead Place, near Sevenoaks. The newly married Earl aad Countess of Aberdeen had gone there on tleir loneymoon, taking with them the whole of their beautiful bridal presents. The published descrip- tions of the costliness of these had evidently attracted the thieves, for hardly had the young couple reached their destination ere the bulk of the offerings, valued at about $25,000, were anvexed by burglars, who forced an entignce while the Earleand Countess were at dinner. Reference has already been made to the Hatton Garden Postoffice robbery, which took place on November 16, 1881. Just eighteen days later, on a Sunday, the biggest jewel robbery of this cen- tury was effected at Brynkinalt, the Seat of Lord Hill Trevor, near Chirk, North Wales. The coup was brought off while the family were at church, and the total value of the property car- ried away exceeded $300,000. In this case two servants were arrested, but they were discharged almost immedi- ately, and the mystery remains un- elucidated to this day. Another valuable haul was that made at Leigh Court, near Bristol, the seat of Sir Philip Miles, on December 18, 1892. In this case the family were at dinner. The jewels, worth $150,000, were safe at 7 o’clock. An hour later L(hey had vanished. Yet another “din- ner-hour robbery” was that effected at the expense of Baron Schroeder o The last great robbery associated | ents; one of them, a magnificent neck- | lace of diamonds, rubies and emeralds, | CRCICICROJOJOJORCCCIORORORORORORCRONOJOIORORCOOROJOJOfOfollojofofoel o ofofofojoJ oo oY oRofoJoJofofotooYoYoYototoo Yoo Jolorore o Tootoreroreereroreietorerooo ol ofofofofoYoFoyoYoYo Yo Yo YoXoRoRoR XIO) WROTE "SE‘CRE‘T SERVICE.” ROBBERIES IN ENGLAND | Woolerton House, Cheshire, where $15,000 worth were taken. This occurred on March 16, 183, and on August 1 of the same year there took place at The Hatch, near Maidenhead, the extrao dinary and mysterious robbery which | deprived the Countess of Wilton of a | number of priceless heirlooms and family relics. Most people can recall the dircum- stances surrounding the theft, by a trick, of Mrs. Langtry’s jewels. A man presented at her bankers a forged | order for their delivery, walked away | with the box and was never seen or heard of again. But, after all is said and done, all modern jewel robberies sink into utter insignificance when compared with the | theft of the world-famous Tavernier diamond. It was valued, at a moderate estimate, at $10,000,000, and was stolen from the Garde Meuble, Paris, tn 1792. What became of it is a mystery. But it is generally believed to have been cut into two or three pleces, each being afterward sold as a separate diamond. —_———— YALE'S BAD DEBT AGENCY. | Collegians are furious because, they | say, an attempt is being made to sully the fair name of their Alma Mater. It is well known that a college man spends considerable money. A Yale man as a rule spends more rather than less. Yale men, even those who have large allowances, are prone to spend their incomes before the month is half over. Then it is either borrow from friends or _resort to the money-lenders. It is easy enough for Yale students to borrow money or to get goods on credit. 1 Sometimes, often, it is said, it s not so0 easy for tradesmen and lenders to collect their due. To fill a long-felt want a Yale Bad Debt Collecting Agency has been estab- | lished. This is to the disgust of lhe' collegians, and, moreover, to their hor- | ror, it is to be managed exclusively by | Yale men. Here is the scheme: To collect ac- counts given' up as utterly hopeless by tradesmen and ordinarily placed in a lawyer’s hands; to collect of Yale men and to be collected by Yale men. | The collectors are poor students who hope by personal appeals to the debt- |- ors to persuade them to settle their bills. They are to receive a commis- gion on all they collect, and hope in this way to earn enough to pay their own way through college. | This_catchpenny plan has created a hubbub among the rich young spend- thrifts of the college, and they are go- ing about breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the Yale collect- ors who shall dare dun them. e A watch was stolen in the pit of a the- ater in Paris. The loser complained in a loud voice and said: “It is just nine, in a The few minutes my watch will strike. sound is strong, and b shall instantly ascertain where it is." thief, terrified at this, endeavoredsto calDLe. but by his agitation discover: sel