ARSON, MURDER, AND BURGLARY. PLANNED IN A RAILWAY CARRIAGE. The Old Man Overhears All.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 240, 4 February 1888, Page 7

ARSON, MURDER, AND BURGLARY. PLANNED IN A RAILWAY CARRIAGE. The Old Man Overhears All.

It never transpired whether the little old gentleman lived at Churchford or whether he was only going there for a holiday, but unnoticed by two individuals who wore the only other occupants of the carriage, and who were engaged in deep earnest conversation he seated himself in the next compartment, and soon became mentally buried in" The Largest Circulation in tho World." The train started, and foy a time all went ■well—not even an accident occurred. The suburban panorama of tumble-down tenements, tan-yards, and poverty were passed, and the fresh country air began to find its way in at tho window, rudely mffling the whito whiskers of the little old^gentleman, who changed his seat, sitting with his back to his fellow-passengers, and within hearing of their conversation. "It can't be done," he heard tho stouter of the two exclaim. "Alec wouldn't have pluck enough to commit forgery." " But Bob could present the cheque," the taller one replied. "We'd have him transported, and get rid of a nuisance." The little old gentleman started, turned slightly pale, and then buried his head iv the newspaper. "No, no,*' continued the other thoughtfully; "we'll at Ghurchford with a burglary." " And a murder," added the tall miscreant. The little old gentleman's florid countenance became white as driven snow, and he slipped off his watch and chain and hid them in his boots. Yes ; and then set the house on fire;" and they both laughed with a diabolical chuckle and curdled the blood of the listener, and compelled him, with feverish eagerness, to transfer his money to the lining of his hat. " Something must be settled to-day," said the stouter man, after a pause, "or somebody." The litfele old gentleman shuddered, and thought of his wife and children, for his life insurance was overdue; but his heart seemed to sink into his boots and join his watch, when one of the scoundrels sprang to his feet, and exclaimed, "I've got it — iie'll kill the old maw." With a cry of anguish, the unhappy passenger arose and made a dash at the communicator, but alas ! (as usual) ifc was not in order. Surprised and startled, thetwo plotters turned, and, evidently disconcerted, rose when the train arrived in Churchford station, and the little old gentleman in defiance of the by-laws, opened the door and leaped upon the platform. "Here! Hi! Help!" he shouted. "Station-master, guard, porters, police 5" They all gathered round with the exception of the police, who maintained their reputation by " absence." "Arrest those murderous villains !" " What have they done?" "Come down heretocommit a burglary, and to burn a house down." The station-master started— he belonged to a building society, and had just received an allotment. " They were about to kill me ; and, oh ! what an escape I've had," the accuser exclaimed, as he took off the wrong boot to look for his watch. In the meanwhile the two culprits have alighted from the carriage, and the first advancing to the station-master, said with an impudent smile, "I confess, to the burglary and admit the arson. " *' And I'll own to killing the old man," added his companion. "But," continued the first, "it was only a matter of business. We are two dramatists, constructing a new play. We have come down here for a quite country ramble, and our names are — " George Conquest andHenry Pettitt. "