A GIRL’S STRATEGEM!

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1636, 8 July 1903, Page 6

A GIRL’S STRATEGEM!

(By Persis Penrose.)

"Jimmy the Cat” he was oalied because lie was such a slick Avorker, never using saws or skeleton keys, but Avalk-in-g into a house in broad daylight under some bold and ingenious pretence. One morning Jimmy read in a newspaper that a certain Mr Archibald, a wealthy man, was endeavouring to get possession of certain valuable property, and by advice of counsel was refusing an order of the Court to produce certain papers connected with the case. It occurred to Jimmy to go to Mr Archibald’s house in the guise of a. coni stable ,and make a search, ostensibly for the papers, really for the plunder. It did not occur tct him that such papers would likely be in the hands of Mr Archibald's attorney. Indeed, he didn’t care where they were. After executing a neat piece of penmanship in the shape of a search, warrant, andi manufacturing a constable's badge, he went to the house, rang the bell and was admitted. There were no men in the house at the said Jimmy, "but I’ve a warrant to young girl of seventeen, answered the summons. - “I am sorry to trouble you, puss/’ said Jimmy, "but I’ve a warrant to search thei house for certain, papers in the case of Fairleigh versus Archibald.” "If you’ll wait a moment I’ll telephone my father, who will come home immediately.” Jimmy preferred to make the search without the presence of the head ,of the house, but he didn’t wish to appear to fore© matters. "I’d be glad] to accommodate you, miss, but the court’s waitin’. The judge ordered me to make the search and git back before 2 o’clock, when it meets after the noon recess.” The young lady pondered. Finally she said reluctantly: "We have an invalid in. the house, and! don't want any disturbance, so I suppose I may as well give you the papers. If you wait a minute, I’ll go and get them.” This unexpected proposition was rather startling to Jimmy, but he was equal to the occasion. "I’ll have to go- with you, miss. If you should get away with the papers I’d be Maimed by the Court.” - "Certainly,” said the girl. ‘T can understand that. You’d be very remiss to take such a risk. I don’t know exactly where father keeps them-, but ve can search together.”

Jimmy assented to this, leaving it to be decided as he proceeded what action he would take. The young lady ledi him upstairs to an unoccupied bedroom, where she began a protracted hunt. Jimmy, to show his delicacy, sat down on a, chair andi left the matter entirely to her. He saw her take a box of jewels from a drawer and put it back again. When she was albout to leave the room for another apartment. Jimmy said: '‘l’m sure such a pretty young lady couldn’t play a game on a poor constable who’s only doing his duty. Just you go on searchin’ and! I’ll wait here. “That’s very considerate of you,” she said, showing two dimples and 1 two rows of white teeth in. a smile. Jiinmy was much pleased at the success of his artifice. As soon as Miss Archibald departed, he stepped to the bureau, took out the jewel box, saw that it contained articles of value, and slipped it into his pocket-

“The dear little fool,” he said. “I never met anyone so soft. But after all she's only a child.” Presently he . heard Miss Archibald call ■ ...

“What luck!” remarked Jimmy to himself. ‘‘Things is wo r kin' beautiful.”

“I'll tell you the combination, and you turn the knob,” said Miss Daisy when she came up. The numbers were given, the bolts turned, and Jimmy found himself at the open entrance of a vault large enough to admit him standing upright. “Please go and get me a light,” he said, in order to* make an excuse to send Daisy away. “One moment,” she replied. “Look me in the face. "/‘Yes. you are honest. 1 know it. You -see, our most valuable jewels are in there, and I wouldn't like to let anyone .in unless I had perfect confidence in him. I'll bring you a lignt in a minute.”

When she returned with a lighted candle, Jimmy was in the vault, and had just slipped a bag of jewels in his pocket. In fact, lie had! finished the. job, and was about to come out, but for app.ear*ance he took the candle from Daisy and began to pull open certain drawers containing the silverware. Suddenly lie heard a clang behind, and bolts shot into sockets. He wag a prisoner. ...... A few minutes later, Mr Archibald, m his office, was called -to the telephone. “Papa, * dear,” came the soft voice ox his daughter, “a man came here to search for some papers. I locked, him m the silver vault.” “You locked a man m ~ “Yes. Come home at once. I m afraid he'll suffocate.''

Air Archibald made hasty inquiries by telephone, and learned that no -search had" been ordered. Then ,taking two policemen with him, he went home. it- _ The vault was -opened, and. Jimmy, half dead, was dragged out. “Ah, ha. Jimmy!” said one of the policemen. * “Caught at last, eh r . “I don't mind the catchm , said Jimmy, ruefully, “so much as bein done by a pinafore. The child's slick rnoiip. to- make a> bloomin' murderer snivel!”

Jinnniy got ten years and Daisy gay a gold watch studded with diamonds.— tot. World.”