The Argosy, Vol. 81, No. 4 — page 191: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

COCHRANE’S AUSTRALIAN STUNT. tion. I suppose you realize what you’re doing.” “Constable, isn’t it your duty to warn this man that anything he says will be used against him?” Gaynor demanded hotly, turning his back on Cochrane with a fine scorn of the criminal classes. Cochrane laughed. “All right. I’ve warned you. Now take the consequences,” he said. “I’ve an ap- pointment at four o’clock this aftefnoon. I can just make it. Do I understand that I’m under arrest? Very good. If I’m not there I shall suffer a serious pecuniary loss. I shall know where to look for redress.” “Here, young felly, go aisy on thim long wurruds, fer Oi’ve got to raypoort on whut ye ses at th’ toime av arrist, an’ how th’ hill can Oi folly thim ‘pecumery lorsses’ an’ sich? Ye’d betther hould yer whisht, as Misther Gaynor ses.” The cab arrived and the party, got into it and drove to the nearest police station, where a charge was preferred against Coch- rane. Bail was unattainable, but Cochrane made his protest against arrest, averring that he had paid for the goods, and pro- fessing not to understand his treatment. “Was the check dishonored at the bank?” he asked Gaynor. “Dishonored! You cunning rascal. You didn’t give us the check ’till after banking hours and well you calculated on the start that would give you!” Cochrane explained the necessity for his keeping his appointment at four o’clock, which hour had now passed, and with many complaints bewailed his loss at missing it. Gaynor laughed, and it was with difficulty that Cochrane obtained permission to tele- phone to the Australia to ask if any mes- sage had come for him. He was told one had, and he thereupon directed them to forward it at once by special messenger to the police station. The charge took some time to formulate, and the discussion into which Cochrane led Gaynor lasted until the letter arrived. Cochrane tore it open excitedly, and hav- ing read the few lines inscribed thereon, passed it to Gaynor with the bitter words: ~ €Yhere, that’s your work, and by Heavens you'll pay for it.” Gaynor read the note, which was brief. “DEAR Sir: “Your option expired at four o’clock to- day. As you were aware, there were other 767 applicants for the property at enhanced rates, so that in default of your acceptance I have closed the deal elsewhere. Yours faithfully, THomas LuxTon.” For a moment Gaynor was assailed with doubts, then he rallied. ‘So we weren’t the only ones you were trying to take down, eh?” he _ sneered. “Lucky we were quick on the scent. Prob- ably saved this Luxtofi as well as our- ‘ selves.” And with a reminder from the sergeant to be ready when required he departed with the little salesman, whose erect back more than compensated for its erstwhile supple- ness in the service of this unmasked crim- inal. The night passed slowly in the little cell in which Cochrane slept, but it was not so appreciably different from his Castlereagh street quarters as to cause damage other- wise than to the feelings of the prisoner. In the morning, Cochrane asked that the consul general of the United States be sent for. That official could not come, but an understrapper did, and in the presence of the inspector and the sergeant, Cochrane disclosed the fact of his relationship to the great Edward Cochrane, the Shipping King of the Pacific Coast, and owner of sev- eral tramps in the Australian trade—a name to conjure with in the big shipping port of Sydney. : His story was simple. He had meant to close a deal in real estate at four o’clock, leave the city at five for a day or two to inspect some more property he had an eye on, and, finding himself in a town where he knew no one, after banking hours, with no loose money, he had, eccentrically perhaps, been willing to sacrifice a small sum to ob- tain command of sufficient funds to see him through his immediate business. “Sounds thin,” said the consular repre- sentative. “Ts thin,” agreed the inspector, emphatic- ally. “The banks are open now and they'll find their mistake,” announced Cochrane. “Will it be thin, then?” The understrapper shook hands with the nephew of the shipping monarch, wished him luck, eyed him doubtfully, then fled back to make a bad report, and to guard other American interests. The inspector talked of Broadway night life, which he had once seen afar off in three visits to Maxim’s, — CONniecoooxx<s (E@)