The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-11-27
One Night ian a Gaming House.
By AN Ex.PoLICE OFFICER.

A little more than year after the periot
when adverse circumstances-chief1y the re
suit Of my reckless foies-compellel me tc
enter the ranks of the metropolitan police
as the sole means left me of procuring food
and raiment, the attention of one of the prin.
cipal chiefs Of the force was attracted towards
me by the ingenuity and boldness which /
was supposed to have manifested in hitting
upon and unraveling clue, which ultimately
lei to the detection and punishment of an
artistically ccntrived fraud upon an eminent
tradesman of the west end of London. The
chief sent for me- and after somewhat
heightened conversation, not only expressed
admiration of my conduct in the particular
matter under discussion, but hinted that he
might shortly need my service in other affairs
requiring intelligence and resolution.
I think have met you before he re
marked with meaning smile, on disnissing
Inc, when you occupied a different position
from your present one. Do not alarm your
self have no wish to pry unnecessarily
into other mems secrets. Waters is n,me
common enough in all ranks of society. and
may, you know here the cold smile deep
enei into an ironical expression 'be mlsta-
ken. At all events, the testimony of the
gentleman whose recommendation obtained
your admission to the force-I have looked
into the matter since heard of your behav-
Tor in the late business-is a sufficient guar
antce that nothing more serious than imprr-
dence and folly can be laid to your charge
| have neither right mar inclination to in
qlre further. Tomorrow, in all probability,
I shall send for you
came to the conclusion, ms I walked
homewards, that the chiefs intimation of
having previously met me IN another sphere
oflife was random and unfounded one, as
! had seldom visited London in my p, osper-
Gus days, and still more rarely mingled il
it society. My wife, however, to whom I,
of course, related the substance Of the con-
verSalion, reminded me that he had once
been at Doncaster during the races, and sug
gcstcd that he might possibly have seen me
there. This was sufficiently probable ex-
PLANTATION Of the hint, but whether the cor
rect one or not cannot decide, as he never
afterwards alluded TO the subject, and | had
not the slightest wish to renew it. Three
days elapsed before received the expected
summons. On waiting on him, was agree
ably startled to find that was to be at once
al ,h,ch tha
guine and experienced detective officers
would have felt honored to undertake
Here is written description OF the per-
sons Of this gang of blacklegs, swindlers ard
forsers,' concluded the commissioner, sum-
ming up his Instructions 1T will be your
object to discover their private haunts and
secure legal evidence of their notorious prac-
tices. We have been hitherto batfied, prin-
cipally, think, through the too hasty zeal
ofthe officers employed -you must ESPECIALLY
avoid that error. They are practiced scoun-
drels and it will require considerable prac-
tice, as we'll as acumen to unkennel and
bring them to justice. One of their more
recent victims is a young Mr.. Merton, son,
by former marriage, Of the dowager Lady
Everton. Her ladyship has applied TO us
to extricate him from the tolls in which he
is meshed. You will call on her at five
o'clock this afternoon--in plain clothes of
coursc.and obtain whatever infornaation on
the subject she may be able to afford. Re
member to communicate directly with me
i r -.
and any assistance you may require shall be
promptly rendered
With thes,, and a few more minor direct
ions, needless. to recapitulate, to task which,
difficult and possibly perilous as it might
prove, hailea as delightful relief from the
very monotony and dull roatins Of ordina-
ry duty. FASTENED home, and after dress
ing with great care--the best part Of my
wardrobe had been fortunately saved by
Emily from the wreck Of my fortune-I
proceeded to Lady Everton's mansion.
was immediately mar shaIed to the drawing
room, where found her ladyship and her
daughter-a beautiful fair looking girl
awaiting my arrival. Lady Everton appeared
greatly surprised at my appearance, differing
as ! dare say it altogether did, from her alb
stract idea of a policeman, however attired
or disguised anG it was not until she had
perused the note Of which was the bearer,
that her naughty and incredulous stare be-
came inltigated to glance Of lofty conde-
scendent civility.
BE seated Mr.. Waters, said her ladyship,
waiving me to chair. This note informs
me that you have been selected for the duty
Of ofendeavoring to extricate my son from, the
perilous entanglements in which he has un
happily involved himself
| was about to reply-for was silly
enough to feel somewhat nett'ed at the nobl.
lady's haughtiness Of manner that l wa.
engaged in the public service Of extripatine
gang of ofswinders with whom her son had
involved himself, and was there to procur,
from her ladyship any information she nigh
be possessed Of likely to forward so desirabl,
aresnlt but, fortunately, ahe rcmembranc'
ofmy actual position, spite of my gentle
man's attirs, flashed wildly upon my mind