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His Clever Ruse

His Clever Ruse image
Parent Issue
Day
18
Month
January
Year
1895
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Augustino Lafont vrasthe confidontial agent of a hirge banking house in Paris. Early in the spring of 1832 ho set out from Paris with bilis, notes, drafts, etc., to the aniount of 1,000,000 francs, for a house in (Jhaumont. Much secrecy had been observed in the preparations of his jonrney, as the kingdom was at that time infested by a secret organization of thieves. Lafont had the notes conccaled iu various parta of his dress, and taking the heavy diligence as the best mode of eonveyance he set oat on his misjsion. Nothiug worthy of note oceurred to arrest Lafont's attention until he had passed ncarly tlirough the dopartment of tho Seine-et-Marne, wfaen just at nightfall twó well dressed gentlemen hailed the diligence and claiuiod passagcv to Ohauinont. It was already too dark for the agent to distinguish the features of the newcomers, but yet frorn what little he could seeho at once made up his mii:d that their countenances were ïiot nnfamiliar to him, and having come to this conclusión he determined to watch their movements, for a vague suspioion tbat they had by some means become possessed of his secret business took possession of his inind. The diligence crossedthe SoineatNogent and thero remaiued for the night. As soon as Lafont had opportunity to examine the countenances of the strangers at the supper table he became satisfied that his first impressions were correct, for one of the traveltrs at least he had secn in Paris on the üzy before ]jis depaittire, and he could not but notice that they both eyed him with ruarked interest. After supper the agent, lighted his cigar and walked out on to the bridge, where he remaiued uearly half an hour, at the end of which time hestarted back toward the inn, and just as he arrived at the door he noticed his two companions entering tb e stable door. Prompted by a feeling of curiosity, he followed them, and as he carne round by the stable door he could just see the two men crouching away in au empty steil. With a stealthy, catlike tread he approached, and he was fortúnate enough to make out the gist of their conversation. When Lafont lef t tho stable, he knew that the two men had left Paris for the purpose of robbing him, and that they intended to put their plan in execution as soon as tho diligence should have entered the department of the Upper Marno. He returned to the inn, and after considerable reflection ho determined to procure a horse and secretly continue his jourui'j. Having come to this conclusión, he went to the driver of the diligence, and nnder the plea of having to remain in Kogent on special business for a day or two he settled his fare thua f ar. Then he went to the stable and ordered a horse to be in roadiness for him by 3 o'clock in the morniug, at the same time enjoining upon the garcon the strictest seorcey with regard to his movements. As soon as these arrangaments were made Lafont retired to his room. He of course knew that his secret had leaked out, and even in his proposed courso was not entirely free from danger. A milliou francs was a largo sum, and if the two Parisian robbers had set their hearts upon its possession he had yet some work to perform ere he would bo entirely free from them. Last of all, a new idea struck him, and obtaining a nuinber of papers he neatly f olded them in an envelope, which he strongly sealed and bound with a bluo ribbon. At 8 o'clock in the inorning, while it was yet very dark and before any one else was stirring, Lafont quietly descended from his room and went to the stablo. Tho giiroon was easily aroused, and in a few moments the agent was on his way to Chaumont. For two hours he rode on his way, but instead of pursuing the higbroad from Troves he again crossed the Seine and kept along by the banks of the Aube. Daylight was just begiuning to streak the hearens when Lafont thought he heard the sound of horses behind him, and it was not long ere he knew that he was being pursued, and in ten minutes ho was assured that tho two robbers were after him. In a moment the agent leaped from the saddle, and seizing a heavy stone he inflicted a severe braise upon one of his horse's fore legs. The animal reared and plunged, but Lafont mauaged to hold him, again ruonnted and rode on, but the horse limped and staggered neath the effecta of tho l!ov be had raI, and in : short time the robben up. "Ah, pood niornicg, gontlemivi, " said the o :it ns b ie l in his lama Bteed, ut li same tiuue íuising his hat with atïüble politenoss. "So, it seoms, yon, too, are tired of the lurnbering diligence. ' ' "Yes." replied the foreinost of the two rneu; "tha diligouuu did notexactly suit our convonieuco, so we took horses. ' ' "And yon are bound to Chaumont?" asked Lafont. "Yes, on important business." "That is fortúnate," said Lafont, with the utmost earnestness, "for you may, if you see fit, do me a great favor. I, too, have important business at Chaumont, but I fear that without assistance I shall not bo able to acoomplish it. I have, gentlemen, in my possession, a vast amount of valnable papers and lntended to have continuad on my way in the diligence, but at Nogeut I reoeivad tho intelligence that a plan was on foot to rob me. "Do not start, gentlemen, for what I toll you is true. And for that reason I set off thus alone, but my horse has met ■with n sad roishap, and I fear the robbers, who, I think, are yet at Nogeut, may overtake me. Now, if yon are going directly to Chaumont, porhaps you wóuld be willing to take my package iu your charge and deliver it to M. Augient at his office. Any one there will iel you where he is. Theu, if I ain ovorhauled, the robbers will find uothing, and of conrse you will not be suspected. If you will thus accommodate me, you shall be suitably rewarded. What say you, gentlemen?" The two men exchanged significant glances during theso remarks, and after a moment's hesitation one of them said: "Yon seem to be ready in trusting strangers, sir. " "Oh, not at all, sir, " retortsd Lafont, with a frauk smile, "I would nmch rather trust honest travelers than run the risk of meeting with robbers. You see just how I aiu situated, gentlemen, and if you will do me the favor I ask you shall not regret it. I shaJl stop at Arcio and chango my horse and then follow you. " "Well, "said one of the men, "we will do your wish and meet you at M. AuKicnt's oiEce. " "Tiion I thank you most heartily, " said Lafont, and as he spoke he took a closely sealed packet from his bosom and hamled it over. "Iu tliis, " ho said, "there ar9 vahiable papers, and I trust you will use all disoretiou in your care. Now the robbers may overhaul me as sooii as tbcy liko. ' ' After some further directions, given in au honest, coiiflding raanner, Lafont bade his iiew messongers godspeed, and ero long they were out of sight. Tbe agent trarned his horse's head back toward Nogeut, wliero ho arrived in safety, and on the uext mornlng he procured a gnard and once more took the diligence. The robbers stopped at the first convenient plaoe to examine their prize, but their chagrín can be better imagined than described Avlien they fonnd that they held only a socurely bonnd parcol of waste paper. They knew that they vrere suspected, and of course thev dared not push the matter further.

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Subjects
Ann Arbor Argus
Old News