The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1852-06-25
THE GAMBLERS DEN.
ny A LONDON POLICE OFFICER.

A little more than year after the peri
cd when adverse circumstances chiehy
the result Of my own reckless follics--
compelled me TO enter the ranks OF The
metropolitan police, as the sole mean
left me Of procuring food and raiment
the attention Of one of the principa
chiefs of the force was attracted towards
me by The ingenuity and boldness which
was supposed 10 have manifested il
biting upon and uGravelling clue which
ultimately led 10 the detection and pun
isbment Of the perpetrators of an ariisii-
cslly contrived fraud upon an eminen
,radesman Of the West End OF London
The chief sent for me, and after a some
what lengttened conversation, not only
expressed appreciation Of my conduct il
the particular matter under discussion
but limited that he nigh, shortly need my
services in other affairs requiring ntelli
gence and resolution. ......,
81 thing have met you BEFORE" he
remarked, with a winning smile, or
dismissing me, "when you occupied Q
different position from your present one
Do not alarm, yourself; | have no wish to
pry unnecessarily into other mems Sc
crets. Waters is a name common enough
in all ranks af society, and may, tou
know"-here The cold smile deepened
in ironical expre.sion--"be mistaken.
At ali events, the testimony OF the gen.
tleman whose Recommendation obtained
your admission TO the force-I have
looked into the matter since | heard OF
your behavior in the late business-is a
sufficient guarantee that nothing more
serious than imprudence and folly can he
laid to your charge. have neither right
nor inclination 10 inquire further. To-
morrow, in all probability, shall send for
YOU"
! came 10 the conclusion, as walked
home wards, that The chiefs inlimaiion Of
having previously met me in another
sphere of life was ra ndom and unfound
ed one, as had seldom visited London
in my prosperous days, and still more
rarely mingled in its society. My wife.
however, to whom Of course related
the substance of the conversation, re-
minded me tha, he had once been at
Duncaster during the races; and suggest.
ed lha, he miga, have seen and noticed
me there. This was suffic; c;ent probable
explanation of the hint, bu, whether the
correct one or not, cannot decide, ss he
never afterwards alluded to the subjec,
and | have NOT the slightest wish to re-
newt.
Three days elapsed before received
the expected summons. On waiting on
him, was agreeably startled TO find that
| was 10 be a, once employed on a miss
ion Which the most sagacious and expert.
euce Of deieciived Afficers would have
felt Eonored TO undertake.
"Here is a written description Of the
persons of this gang Of blacklegs, swind-
lers, and forgers," concluded the com.
missioner, summonine up his ins'ruc.
tions. at will be your object 10 discover
their private haunis, and legal evidence
oc their nefarious practices. We have
hitherto been baffled, principally, ! think,
through the too hasty zeal Of the officers
employed; you must especially avoid
that error. They are praciced scound-
rels: and il will require considerable pa
,ience, as we'll as acnmen TO bring 'hem
to Justice. One of their more recent vic
Tins is young Mr.. Mercer, son, by for.
mer marriage, ofthc Dowager Lady Ever
ton. Her Ladyshir has applied TO US .or
assistance in extricaline him from the
tolls in which he is mesbed. You will
call on her a, FIVE o'clock this afternoon
in plain clothes Of course-and obtain
whatever information OIL the subject she
may be able TO afford. Remember lirect
" TO communic,e with me; and any as
sistance you mOy require shall be prompt
" rendered." With these and few
other minor directions, needless 10 recap.
ltulate, was dismissed 10 task which,
Difficult, and possibly perilous as IT might
prove, I hailed as delightful relief from
wearing monoiony and dull routine Of
ordinary duty.
FASTENED home; and after dressing
with great care--the best'part ofmy ward
rope had been fortunately saved by Emf
ly from the wreck ofmy fortunes-I pro-
ceeded 10 Lady Everlon's mansion. l
was Immediately marshaled to the draw
ing room; where found her ladyship
and her daughter beautiful fairy-lookinp
girl-awaiting my arrival. Lady Ever.
ion appeared greatly surprised at my ap.
peayapce, differing, as dare say it alto
ce,ber did from the abstract idea Of the
policeman, however .at,ired or disguised;
and il was not till she had persued the
note Of which was the bearer, that her
naughty and incredulous stare became
to glance Of lofty, conde-
scendent civilty.
sBe seated, Mr., Waters" said her
ladyship, waving me to,a chair. "This
note informs me that you have been Sc
lected for the duty Of endeavoring to
exiricate my son from lhe perilous en-