The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-11-04
DAVENPORT, SCOTT CO., IOWA; THURSDAY, NOVEMBER

louc hot tuG tttcIDI. ] Iuuiu w uO IIOT
The rogue had been too cunning to leave
trail behind him, and, unless acciden
should turn him up, had effectually give
justice the slip. Meanwhile, other event
occurred Of more stirring interest, whic
drove him entire Y out Of my mind, and th
affair soon vanished from my recollection
About three years afterwards, the de
lightfuI city Of Bath was honored with th
lprcsence of certain sciOns OF royalty am
The elite of the fashionable world, who al
AT once took il into their heads that tn
hot springs, once so refreshing to the pig
Of King Bladnd, might prove equally in
ygoraling to the blood royal. A full sea
son was expected, and a full Sc ason there
was. Together with the nobility of tht
Icapilal, down came the invariable attend
ants in those days upon wealth md fashion
q huge shoal, TO wit, Of gamblers, sharpers
and the swe'lmob, who calculated, not
without reason, upon reaping good har
ves, among the uns lphistcated citizens ol
s'tbe west countree.n But the authorities
at Bow street, who were perfectly vel
ware Of what was going on. not willing Il
let them have all the fun to themselves, re-
solved 10 have hand in the game, aud tc
seize the opportunity ofihinning the ranks
Of the pickpockets especially, and Of send.
ing batch Of the old offenders upon their
travels for the good Of the country. II
would have been easy to Tighten then
back TO London, by allowing few Of my
London colleagues to show their wei
known faces in the streets Of Bath. i
was Judged better to take the worst Of the
rascaIs, il it could be managed, in fagraat,
delicto, and rid the realm Of them at once
as warning to the rest. For this purpose
| |, as knew the town, and was known tc
many oi the inhabitants in consequence ol
my investigations on the subject OF the
post-ofiice robbery, was sent down TO take
what measures chose for the speedy cap
,ure OF the light fingered race. Having
communicated my plan, and made some
necessary arrangements with the corpora
lion officers, walked forth, the day after
my arrival, rugged out as the very model oi
4 gentleman farmer, and with eyes, mouth
and pockets wide open, and stout god
headed cane in my hand, strolled leisnrel>
| through The fashionable thoroughiafes, the
pump room, and The assembly rooms, like h
tat goose waiting to be plucked. wore a
pair Of ellow gloves well waadea, 10 save
mo from falling, through n moments nad.
rertency, into my own snare, which snare
consisted Of about fifty fish hooks. large
black hackes, firmly sewn, barb down,
wards, into each Of the pockets of my bran
new leather breeches. The most blnnder-
ing "prig" alive nigh, have easily got hls
hand TO The bottom Of my pockets, but Il
get il out sgaiu, wiihou, tearing every par.
licle OF flesh from the bones, was sheer
lmpossbilily. As !ounged staring about
took care never to SEQ any OF my old
customers until the convulsive tug at one
or other of the pockets announced the cap
lure OF a thief. | then cooiiy linked my
arm in that Of The prisoner, told him in a
confidential whisper who ! was, and pro.
tsssed to wonder that he did not know me
assured him did no, wish to hurt his feel
logs by exposure, as he was Bit Of gen
lietnan; aud, walking him off 10 private
receptacle IN Orange Grove, where my co
adjutors were in waiting, released hIm
from hook 10 be consigned TO the tender
mercies Of Crook, who was then magIs-
,ru,e OF The city. should, perhaps, be
accused OF boaslng if declared bow many
head Of game bagged The FIRST day. Doe
circumstance made me laugh in spite 81
~, self: as | was walking of with he tirsl
victim. we came bolt upon his pal" VINO
seeing me arm in arm with his fellow. ma
turaIl, supposed | was a pcked.up pigeon
aud, eager for his share of the plucking
actually walked with us into the trap with
out being hooked. The second days
sport was much less productive than the
first; The ruse had somehow got wind, ans
the rogues had taken panic. On tht
third day | showed myself in my true col
ours, and, in company with the town po
lice, secured out the dens Of the evildoers,
and warned all that yet remained OF The
London practitioners to quit the town
within twelve hours. This, aud the sci
zure Of couple Of gambling gangs. will
their apparatus, in house in Nilsson
street, etiectually dispersed the cloud OF
viIlainy that had settled upon the city, anc
II began, before week had elapsed, Il
think of returning home. Accordingly,
took place in the mail which left the Yorl
house at nine o'clock, and amused mysel
in the interim by walking about the towr
and gossiping occasionally with such 9
the inhabitants with whom ] had formed ;
temporary acquaintance.
4 was standing at the corner of Nilsson
street, near Loger's music shop, and laugh
ling with the Rev Mr., officiating Gu
rate of - Church, when we were jolne'
by gen,lemanly man, who shook hand
with the curate, and inquired the snbJec
of our mirth, bowing politely to me. Mr.
- introduced us 10 each other, when
: upon locking in the strangers face, an un
detinabIe something secretly told me tina
Though | did not know him, and tha
though could not recollect having eve
seen him before, yet that ! ought 10 hay
known him, and mast know him, and al
abou, him, by some means or other, too
good notice of his counensnce and hgure
and my conviction of some as yet unac
coun,able connection between him aud m
! grew momentarily stronger and stronger
He did not once look me in the face, and