MIDDLEBURG POST.
Frankison' Plot.
By C AITCHI50N.
A. FEU" days apo my friend Rob
son, late Kimerinlemlt'iit of the
det-tcctive department of a large city
in the North, was entertaining me
with a few reminiscences of his past
career.
You nsk nie, lie replied to a ques
tion I hud put to him, if it is not the
rase that some person having a
knowledge of an unpunished crime
often uses the power his knowledge
gives him to compel the offender to
execute deeds he previously would not
have dreamed of. Such may be the
cose in n good many instances, though
in my opinion the average criminal
has natural propensities which gener
ally enable li i in to circumvent the
intimidutor and relieve himself of the
threatened d auger without incurring
further risks. Such a propensity is, 1
think, in the possession of every man,
and unless the will-power has been
utterly wrecked by dissipation, it is
impossible for anyone to be forced
against his will into committing an
offense against the laws. I recollect
ense bearing on the subject, which
I will ghe you. As it wus purely a
family nlTair, and the persons in
terested were unwilling to create a
scandal, the facts never became pub
lic property.
About ten years ago a man named
Crimes returned to M , after serv
ing a term for some olTense, the
nature of which I have forgotten.
He was, without exception, the most
daring, cunning, and resourceful
scoundrel that ever breathed. Orig
inally an actor, he was a past mas
ter in the art of disguises; in fact the
time, of his downfall dated from the
duy on which he impersonated t lie
manager of the company he traveled
with, ami iihecondcd with the treas
ury. Somehow, other people's clothes
seemed to have a fascination for him,
which naturally created a hsrLv
amount of ill-feeling on the part of
the true owner, and a lot of work
for us.
Soon after his arrival he received
u letter from a gentleman giving the
name of i'rankison, making an ap
point incut for the following night,
and having nothing better to do he
called upon him.
For a lime i'rankison confined
his conversation to commonplace
matters, as though afraid of intro
ducing the subject for which the in
terview hail been arranged. Seeing
this, tirimes, who had on several oc
casions previously engaged on shady
jobs by gentlemen cipial in position
to the one who stood before -Ji' in,
proceeded to enuinerat oftii,
most daring eases Vs had been em
ployed upon, at,. successfully carried
nrouglht-viicji J lie necessary reward
was forriicoming. This had the de
sired elTei'6. -
"I noticed your case in the pa- "
commenced I'rankison, "and ju.c . J
when you came out of your tem
porary confinement to offer you a po
bition in which you could not only
be a swell, but probably settle down
.11 III .ind become a ' -i fill member
of the community."
!rinws thanked him, but mM.-d that
if it was intended to try ami reform
liim it was a hopeless tusk, lie loved
the profession too much to settle
clown ;nto the dull, monotonous round
of a respectable existence.
"lint this ense," returned I'ranki
son. "offers excitement sufficient for
the most daring." Crimes nodded his
satisfaction.
"How would you like to get mar
ried?" continued Frnnkison. "Say, to
a lovely girl with an income of about
2,0l)U a year?"
"I'd like that immensely," said
Crimes, with a grin. "l!ut unfortun
ately I have already got two wives
living, and it's as much as I can pos
sibly do to keep out of their way."
"Hut this one," replied Frankison,
"will only lie loo pleased to make you
u handsome allowance to leave her."
"Then what on earth does she want
to marry me for!" questioned Grimes,
Frankison smiled at his astonish
ment, and handed him a photo or
an exceedingly pretty girl. Grimes
held it at arm's length for u few
moments, without speaking.
"it's no use," he said, with a sigh;
"a young lttdy so good-looking as she
will have no difficulty in obtaining
lovers enough, without having to
descend to take on well, a gaolbird,
Out with it; I suppose you have some
job or other on hand."
Frankison sat down and swallowed
a ttitf glass of whisky, then, after
u momentary hesitation, commenced
to unfold his scheme.
"The young lady whose photo I
have just shown you is my cousin.
From a child she has been of a deli
cate nature, and is even now recov
ering but slowly from the effects of
a dangerous illness. This illness, I
ruuy tell you, was the cnuse of her
wedding being postponed. Now that
ehe is convalescent, howevtr, her lov.
er insists upon the marriage taking
place at once, in order that he may
take her abroad to try and regain
her health. This wedding must not
take place.'.'
"Why?"
"Because," he continued, drawing
hi chair closer and lowering hie
Toice, "because in the event of her
dying before marriage, her property
In accordance with her father's will,
reverts to me. If she marries, ehe
la perfectly at liberty to dispose of
It as she thinks fit."
"And, naturally, you intend to get
the money," returned Grimes. "But
how ? I'll tell you candidly I'm no
good at murders."
"Well, I want you," continued
I'rankison, "to put this fellow. Thomp
son out of the way lue mgni bcx--tha
ceremony. You will then take
his place at the church next morn
ing, disguising yourself, in the man
ner you understand so- well, to puns
for him, and get married to the
young lady. Immediately after the
affair la over you will niake Boms
excuse for retiring a few moments
and clear off. Your absence will prob
ably have the effect I require without
resorting to further measures, but
to make assurances doubly certain
you will take care to acquaint her, by
letter, with the exact state of af
fairs, laying particular stress on the
fact that you have more than a pass
ing acquaintance with the inside of a
prison. The latter portion of your
letter will make you particularly ob
jectionable in her eyes, and will
doubtless make her agree to ytmr
terms for silence. The false position
she will be placed in and the scandal
likely to accrue from the publication
of the true facts of the case
will to her mind, assume such
fearful proportions that they will, I
am certain, preclude the possibility of
any action being taken to declare the
marriage null, or of prosecuting you.
Nevertheless, her grief and mortifica
tion will be none the less poignant,
and eventually prey upon her mind
to such an extent, even if she sur
vives the shock of your disclosures,
that I shall soon be the richer by
about 2,000 a year. For your part
in the matter. 1 propose to pay you
the sum of 500."
Grimes held out his hand dramati
cally. "Shake," he said, "if I ad- '
mire anything, it is n man good at.
his business. I've seen a good many
villlnns. but, man, you could give
them all points. Nevertheless," he
continued, adopting a familiar tone,
now that I'rankison had divulged his
secret, "this is a matter that re
quires thoroughly reviewing, old
chap. You want me to engage my
self In the most cold-blooded scheme
ever concocted, take all the risks,
do away with a fellow (who, for any- I
thing 1 know, will probably cause a
lot of trouble), get married the at-
tendant risks of which are, under the
best of circumstances, worth more
thi:ii the amount you so generously j
offer morally, if not legally, murder
a girl, and leave the country it can't j
de done for 500." j
Frankison eyed him savagely, i
n ml paced the room in thought.
He resented the familiarity in
tiie mini's voice. "Six hundred," he
exclaimed, at last. Grimes shook his
head negatively.
I'rankison sat down white with an
ger. "Suppose 1 tell you a little
story," lo' commenced; and without
n answer proceeded. "A
a young swell entered
ineipal banks in London
check for a fairly large
'i was, of course, dis
' a forgery. A few
ward he attempted the
but with disastrous re-
wniting f
few year.
one of tin
end cash',
annum; .
covered '
months
'ume t:
Ki-lt lie was immediately reeog
r I, um;oiig-h frrt ft-certain extent
i . 0'uised, and detained. He. accoin
ilished his escape, however, by half
killing his captor. No doubt you
know the man." He censed, and
smiled grimly at the confusion plain
ly shorving itself on Grimes' features.
"I do not think you have been
continued. "Shall we say fiiM); it is
charged with that nr.itter yet," he
a good price to pay for what cannot
be called other than a little decep
tion." Grimes swore horribly. The story
cast n reflection on his professional
capabilities that affected his mind
more than the danger he wos men
aced with. Before leaving the house,
however, he had been forced into giv
ing a reluctant consent, ond received
final instructions. The course of ac
tion wus left entirely to him, so long
as he kept to the main details of the
plot.
His first procedure was to obtain
nn introduction to the same club thnt
Thompson frequented, and once there
his insinuating, pleasing exterior
soon won him nn acquaintance with
the person he desired. This soon
ripened into a friendship so close
that an oliserver would have been
under the impression they had
known each other for years.
After a fortnight's time Grimes
conceived the iden of testing his
power to carry through the scheme
successfully, and with this object in
view called upon Frankison in dis
guise. The deception wns complete.
He was received and entertained for
over an hour without his disguise be
ing penet rated, nnd whatever doubts
Frunkison had of the ultimate suc
cess of his plot they were dispelled
when Grimes revealed himself.
On several occasions afterwards he
called to report, as requested some
times disguised and at others not.
So exceedingly clever was the man.
and so well had he studied the char
acter of the man he intended to per
sonate, that these visits completely
mystified his employer, who, in or
der to disarm suspicion, outwardly
evinced the warmest friendship for
the man he intended to so cruelly
wrong, and wifa, therefore, always at u
loss to know whether he was receiv
ing the real Thompson or Grimes in.
disguise.
At length the night prior to the
Tunrriuge arrived. Frankison nerv
ously paced his rooms, waiting im
patiently for an indication of the
successful issue of the first part. As
the time passed slowly on the sus
pense become terrible. The fearful
consequences of failure and exposure
took possession of his brain until at
last he could bear it no longer, and,
seizing his hat, he rushed into the
street. He had not gone many yards
before his arm was grasped by a man
coming from the opposite direction.
It wis Grimes.
"Quick tell me," he Bald, In
houm whiipar. 11 i
Grimes laughed at the terror be
trayed in his voice before replying.
"Of course it is."
Frankison grasped his hand w'ta a
sigh of relief. The. chief difficulty
had been overcome success " was
practically certain. Returning to his
rooms he listened eagerly to a re
cital of Thompson's ' capture, and
gave expression to his satisfaction
by presenting Grimes with a cheque
for half the amount agreed upon.
Next morning, as an invited guest,
he joined the wedding party, and in
due time arrived at the church. Not
a sign was to be seen of his confed
erate, but presently the bride entered
and took up her position by the altar
rails. She looked fearfully ill, and
leaned heavily on the arm of an old
gentleman, a friend of the family,
who was to give her away. Frank
ison gazed upon her with an almost
satnnic look, upon his features, and
saw with intense satisfaction the sur
prised expression on her face give
way to one of absolute poin as the
time passed nnd no bridegroom ap
peared, lie himself had tasted sus
pense the night previously, nnd cal
culated to a degree the effect it wns
having upon her. The whispered ex
pectancy of the congregation lapsed
into a low murmur of consolation
and sympathy for the bride, nnd
even Frankison began to anticipate
failure.
Suddenly the sound of a carriage
being driven rapidly in the direction
of the church was heard, nnd an nu
dihle "At last!" went round the
building as the bridegroom, flushed
with hnste nnd excitement, appeared.
As he hurried up the nisle his eyes
sought those of Frankison, nnd the
prearranged signal of success wns
given.
The ceremony wns nt once proceed
ed with, and soon the assumed bride
grotvin led his almost fainting bride
awny.
Arrived nt home, ns soon as it was
decently possible Frankison gave
Grimes the sign to retire, nnd after
apologizing to his guests he dill so.
Frankison would have enjoyed "the
sight of the newly-made bride's j
ngony on being made acquainted with
her true position, but considering
the possibility of danger arising he
denied himself the pleasure, nnd soon
afterwards departed.
Grimes, who had removed his dis
guise, was waiting his arrival nt the
place nppointed, with the news that
the letter hud already been dis
patched. After congratulating him
upon the success of the plot Frank
ison handed him n cheque for :1S0,
being, with the amount already re
ceived 50 more than the total
agreed upon.
He could afford to be generous;
the manner in which the suspense
in the church hnd aueeted his cousin
convinced him he would not have to
wait long for his increased income,
nnd, moreover, the fact that Gripies
nd nlr'fTnrnhnap hi lleVet aid
inirt arrangements for leaving the
country thnt day wns worth more
than the extrn nmount he hnd given,
for now that the scheme hnd been
curried through he felt nn aversion
akin to fear of his accomplice.
ridding Grimes farewell he sought
his club, nnd afterwards joined a
music hall pnrty. It was early morn
ing when he arrived nt home. His
first thought was the gratifying- one
that Grimes would by that time be
on the sea. Obtaining n light he wns
surprised to find two letters await
ing him. Tearing open the first he
rend as follows:
Dear Sir: It will probably Interest you
to know that Grimes, the man you em
ployed, decoyed me Into a house last
night, hut Instead of making ms a pris
oner, as you desired, entertained me with
an account of your diabolical scheme.
I am at a loss to know the reason ot
this confession probably his better man
hood prevullcd we will hope so. Acting
upon his suggestion, for neither of us
doubted thnt you would resort to more
extreme measures If you had the slightest
suspicion he had turned Informer, I
stayed with him all night and never
found a more entertaining host. The
arrangements for keeping up the decep
tion we Intended practicing uaon you
were the cause of my lnte arrival at
church this morning. When I obeyed
your signal and left my wife, I simply
retired until you had departed.
I understand you have had a large call
upon your purse of late, and would sug
gest the advisability of your recouping the
stock In other regions, otherwise I must
request my friend. Detective Superin
tendent Robson, to whom I have commu
nicated the whole facts, to call upon you
In his official capacity. Yours truly,
WILLIAM THOMPSON.
The second letter wns from
Grimes:
Dear Sir: In future I would advise you
never, under any circumstances, to en
deavor to Intimidate a man with more
L-rnlns than yourself. If you want to
succeed In our profession, be less of a
coward, take equal risks with your ac
complice, and for a tlmo operate only on
such fools ns yourself.
The reaction was too much for
I'rankison. The rapid change from
anticipated success to complete fail
ure stunned him. For a time he sat
speechless with surprise, and when
at last he recovered some of his scat'
tered senses he took the advice con
tained in the first letter, and made
speedy preparations or a departure
to a more congenial climate. London
Tit-Bits.
The new entrances In the white
house will not make it any easier for
one to get into it as president of the
United States. In fact, it is consid
erably harder to tie i hoseu for that
honor from among sn.nnonon people
than from a population one-fifth as
large. The real door to the white
house wili grow gradually more diffi
cult to reach an the generations puss,
no muster how many entrances ma
be added for the casual visitor.
A queer case came up before a
Brooklyn magistrate the other day.
A deaf and dumb boy was arretted,
charged with stealing a gosling from
a neighbor. He wrote his answer to
the charge and declared that he had
a chicken which had sat on nn egg
in the neighbor's yard and hatched
the gosling. He therefore considered
that he had some claim to the gosling.
FURNITURE ....
A Chicago man pounded his wife
with a leg of lamb. He might have '
used a mahogany table leg. It '
wouldn't have cost any more and ,
would perhaps have been more fetch- i
ing. !
An Anti-Profanity league has been
organized by the young women in
Bertha, Neb. Nothing, indeed, is so
unladylike ns profanity. I
IJ "" re iu need of Furniture, Carpels,
Mattings, lings, Oilcloth, LinoIeumLace
Curtains, Windcw Shade, Pictures, and
ricture Frames, give us a call. We can
suit you in '
Style and in
Prices.......
Our stock is new and up-to-date. It is
no trouble to show goods and quote prices.
REPAIRING neatly aud promptly done.
Lewistown Furniture Go,,
No. 12-14 Valley St.
Felix Block
The Village Mfe-Saver.
"There seems to be considerable ex
citement in your town to-day," said
the visitor.
"Yes," answered the native. "Sev
eral o' the fellers ia presentin' a life
savin' medal to Henry Filler."
"What sort of a hero is Piller? Did
he rescue some .one from a burning
building, stop a1 runaway, or drag
a drowning person from the raging
"Tope j nothin' like that. ." You see,
our town has been local option for
nigh onto a year, an' Piller runs the
only drug store we have." Judge, j
1 ' JjB si
How Can I Keep Up with
the Times ?
t
IT is pretty hard to keep well informed on the
political news, the scientific news, the literary
news, the educational movements, the great
business developments, the hundreds of interesting
and valuable articles in the hundreds of excellent
magazines. About the only way it can be done by
the average busy man and woman is to read a
magazine like " The Review of Reviews," and, as
it is the only magazine of the sort, it is a good
thing to send $2.50 for a year's subscription.
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT says:
" I know that through its columns views have been pre
sented to me that I could not otherwise have had access to ;
because all earnest and thoughtful men, no matter how widely
their ideas diverge, are given free utterance in its columns."
Z.X-PRE3IDENT GROVER CLEVELAND says:
" I consider it very valuable addition to my library,"
The Review of Reviews Co.
13 Astor Place, New York
Read The Review of Reviews
hi. Itecnlleellon Sot clear.
"The charge against you," the po
lice justice said, "is that you were up
roariously drunk uml cavorting about
town, wanting to fight everybody you
met. What have you to say? Are
you guilty or not guilty?"
"I don't know, your honor," an
swered the battered apecimen of hu
manity in the prisoner's hex, "unfit
I hear the evidence." Chicago Tri-
Tliequestioii of occupation:, lor wom
en is one of individual intercut, as well
a of economic
Work fur Women,
ruirmlnit a. a
importance, a 11 (1
therefore the re
marks of one spcaKer at the Farmer'
congress recently held in Macon, (ia.,
have attracted especial attention. He
urged, according to the Youth's Com
panion, that women thoulil consider
farming as a life-work, and he made
out a good ense. The old-fashioned
farmer guided hinuelf by tradition
largely, and conducted moist of his op
erations by main strength. Successful
farming at the present da,y is a matter
of machinery and method. Much of the
work a farmer does is as easy as many
industrial processes. A woman who
could tend a loom or run a sewing ma
chine can guide a harvester! and be the
better for it physically. A precedent
in this field was established long ago.
Women have succeeded as farmers.
When they have figured as fruit-growers,
florists, bee keepers or poultry
raisers no one has intimated that
theirs was not "women's work," and
there is little disposition to belittle the
achievements of widows or daughters
who have made wise use of an inherit
ed farm. In no way is the good old pro
fession of agriculture fenced in, and it
seems to offer a special welcome to
the self-supporting women who long
for that free and wholesome life which
no city can afford. Such women might
regenerate. many a rural community
that seems now to be going down hill.
The telephone, . the trolley and free
mail delivery provide them with re
sources that were unknown to the last
generation, and with the help of these
they can invigorate the social life of
any region, and thus become public
benefactors, probably to be recognized
and honored as such. But, that aside,
the happiness they would find in
health and independence would be
their own sufficient reward. .
Color.
Examiner (rending from list of
printed questions) What were the
so-ealhd blue laws?
1 Applicant (for civil office) I guess
they were the laws that was passed
for makin' the milk pure.
Examiner Tfcrre isn't any answer
here, but I tU'.nU -that's right. Chi
cago Tribune.
Another I'runll Ion.
"I'm in misery, .Miggins."
"What's the trouble?"
"Well, I started smoking to show
my boys what a miserable habit it ia
nnd how 1: hurt onto its victim."
"Yen."
"And now I'm trying to show them
what an easy thing it is to quit."
Baltimore Xews.
CouriRrDia by Iroxr.
Employer Well, what did he say
when you railed for that money?
Clerk That he would break every
bone in my body and throw me out
of the window if I showed my face
there again.
Employer Then go back at once
and tell him he can't frighten me
with his violence. Tit-Bits.
A ThoDKblfot Walter.
Irate Individual Confound it, wait
er, didn't I tell you I wns in a hurry,
and only wanted one egg? Why the
dickens did you bring me two?
Waiter (rather hurt) I thought, as
you was in a hurry, sir, I'd bring twfl,
'cos one of 'em might be bad!
Punch.
DR. FENNER'S
KIDNEY and
Backache
Notice
Special Goat Sal:
At the NEW STORE,
We lmve decided to make 1
duction on all Ladies (oats l
the holidays, so os to give
Isnly u chance to buy a brand
eont before Christmas at a rd
juice. This sale will p into t
to-day. We will surprise our J
customers when they learn
prices.
Uemcmber, every coat is In
new and the styles are beautiful
Special burcuins in JV(I lilaJ
Comfortables, Underwear, auJM
Goods. Come in ami sir.
trouble to how (roods.
A specially grand lot of stock
make selections iroin.
H. F. Clenime
44G Market St., SUNT.UUY.S
Three doors east of tb Market Ej
-
Do you need any furniture!
If so, don't fail lo conic loon
6tore and get our price.
We can suit youli
style and prices,
from the cheap
est to the better
grade.
li
Is
Hard wood, golden oak finish
Only $12.50
Mattresses - $1.90
Bedsprings - $1.2
Good "WHite;
3 uamolEodi
witla Spring"
ss.oo
Chain, Rockers, Couches, Side
boards, Ksncy and cheap K
tension Tables, Haby Carrlaa
nd tio-carta. .
M. HARTMAN FURNITtRECO.
Hlflllnbiirg.rt
Maffasine Inlreenriei. j
"Have you - Caper's MagaiiJ
asked the railway jmssenger d 1
trnin naiifcKutt
li lit art ttl
xcs, sir, rcpi;ru uie j
merchant briskly; "will you M"i
"What on earth is the expurrf
edition?" J
"It hna nil lm rnrset adverw
ments cut out." Town Topics.
Prolonging the Aaoor
All diteaiei of Kldneyi,
Dia.aaer, urinary organs.
A I .... Dh.M.,l. ) .
...... p IMlVHIURUIIUi 0flV
&ch,HeartDlsaaa.OraTl,
uropsy, emai TrouDisi.
CURE
Onpger How did you like
rifle-til in lnctt nlfrlii 9
.-v u.h . . ..J.J
Crittick Well, I didn't Wn
took proper advantage of yourofr
tunltieg. .,
Gagyer You c" In't think so.J
I vt..ti . .1 -....rfll owr
vmucK so, j ii nnu r"
ooner than you did.- Vb'"
t'ress.
Don't bteomo dlioooraf sd. Thar) la a
euro for yon. If necaiwary writ Dr. Fenner.
lie haa spent a life time curing Just such
caaes as jours. All Consultations Fro.
"I had severe case of kidney disease and
rheumatism, discharging bloody matter.
Suffered Intense pain. My wife was seriously
affected with fomale troubles. Dr. Fenner t
Kidney and Backache Cure cured us both. .
F. M. WUEELEK. Randolph, la."
Druggist. 60c.. II. Ask for Cook Book 7TM,
ST. VITIIS'tlllf M S,u CureClrcularDj
Fanner. FredonlaH.X
Art r-de Ear
aiw. Bweetbreau i neur ,
tudying art. Do you find it in"1",
Ingr? j
Mrs. WelUn'gton-DelightfW ,
I've found a perfectly BPleB,1ftJ
on the eubject. It tells just wJ
turea one ought to admire at .
I find it auch a help when
art falleriea. Chicago Amcnc j