Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-08-16
A NIGHT IN A GAMING HOUSE
BY AN Ex-poLIoE OFFICER.

circumstances-chiehy the result of my
own reckless follies-compelled me tC
enter the ranks of the Metropolitan Po
lice, as the sole means left me OF procur.
} ing food and raiment, the attention of one
of the principal chiefs of the force was
attracted towards me by the ingenuity
and boldness which | was supposed to
have manifested in hitting upon and un-
raveling a clue which ultimately led to
the detection, and punishment, Of the per-
petrators Of an srtistically contrived fraud
upon an eminent tradesman Of the west
end of London. The chief sent for me /;
and, after a somewhat heightened con.
versation, not only expressed admiration
Of my conduct in the particular matter
under consideration, but hinted that he
might shortly need my services in other
affairs requiring intelligence and resolu-
ton.
81 think l have met you before" he
remarked with a meaning smile on dis
missing me, "when you occupied diff
ferent 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 of society, and may, you
know'--here the cold smile deepened in
to an ironlcal expression" be mistaken.
At all events, the testimony of the gen
tleman whose recommendation obtained
your admission to the force-I have look
ed into the matter since l heard of your
behavior in the late business-is sufficient
guarantee that nothing more serious than
imprudenee and folly can be laid to your
charge. have neither right or inclina-
alton to enquire further. Tomorrow, in
all probability, shall send for you"
/ came to the the conclusion, as l walk /
ed homewards, that the chiefs intma-
ton of having previously met me in an
other sphere Of life was a random and
one, as l seldom visited Lon.
don in my more prosperous days, and still
more rarely mingled in its society. My |
wife, however, to whom l, of course, re-
lated the substance of the conversation,
reminded me that he had once been at
Doncaster during the races, and suggested
that he might have possibly seen and no.
ticed me there. This was sufficiently /
probable explanation of the hint; but
the correct cue or not, / cannot
decide, for he never afterwards alluded
to the subject, and had not the slightest
wish to renew it.
Three days elapsed before l received {
he expected summons. On waiting on
him, | was agreeably startled to find that
was to be at once employed on a mis-
sion which the most experienced OF de- t
ective officers would have felt honored I
% undertake.
Here is written description of the |
persons of this gang Of blacklegs, swim
Hers, and forgers,' concluded the COM !
summoning up his instructions. {
1t will be your object to discover their q
private haunts, and secure legal evidence q
If their nefarious practices. We have 4
,een hitherto bafiled, principally, think,
through the too hasty zeal Of the officers r
employed ; you must especially avoid !
hat error. They are practiced scoun- r
lrels and it will require considerable ,
as well as acumen, to unkennel :;
md bring them to justice. One of their a
more recent victims is young Mr.. Mer- .
on, son, by former marriage of the ,,
Oowager Lady Everton.* Her ladyship q
las applied to US for assistance in extri- \
ating him from the tolls in which he is
neshed. You will call on her at five =
,'clock this afteruoon--in plain clothes, h
# course-and obtain whatever infor- :,
nation on the subject she may be able to 4
ford. Remember to communicate d. .
ectly with me; and any assistance you h
nay require shall be promptly rendered"
With these, and few other minor direc-
ions needless to recapituiate, l was dis
missed to a task which, difficult or dan I
erous as it might prove, hailed as de- G
ghtful relief from the wearying monot- r
ny and dull routine of ordinary duty.
l hastened home, and after dressing >,
With great care-the best part of my ;,
wardrobe had fortunately been saved by :,
emily from the wreck of my fortune-I
to Lady Everton's mansion. l ;,
vas Immediately marshalled to the draw =,
1g room where l found her ladyship and -,
er daughter-a beautiful, fairy-looking .,
my arrival. Lady Ever y
IN appeared to be greatly surprised at .,
ny appearance, differing, as dare say
altogether did, from her abstract idea
{ n policeman. however attired or dis -