Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-03-27
Mrrtester Sally Spp.
IN A BOSTON FOG.
BY AN AMERICAN.

SSht ~ uIlIuuOuS III design,
though not severely artistic in execution.
Passing from the turbulent precincts OF Port
land and Causeway streets, he had entered
upon the solitudes of Green street, along which
he now dragged himself dreamily enough,
ever extracting consultations from lugubrious
cadences mournfully intonated. Very silent
was the neighborhood. Very dismal the
night. Very dreary and damp was Mr..
Smithers Tor vile fog had wrapped itself
around him, filing his body with moist mise
ry, and his mind with anticipated rheumatic
horrors Still he surged heavily along, tired
Nature with tuneful charms sweetly restoring
AS he wound off tender tribute 10 tile vir-
tues of the ancient Tray, ard was about
sounding the opening notes OF requiem over
the memory of the lost African Lily, sur
named Dale one o'clock was announced by
the bell of the Lynde street church. Mr..
Smithers S heart warmed a little at the thought
OF speedy respite from his midnight toll, aud
with Fastening step he approached Chambers
street, and came within range of his relief
post He paused moment upon the corner,
and gased around. 1t is the peculiar instinct
OF policeman to become suspicious at every
corner,
Nothing stirring. Silence everywhere. He
listens acutely. No sound. He strains his
eyes to penetrate the misty atmosphere He
is satisfied that order reigns. He prepares to
resume his march, and the measure of his
melancholy chant.
Three seconds more, and policeman Smith
ers is another being. Now his hand convul-
sively grasps his staff his foot fails lightly on
the pavement; his carol is changed TO quick
sharp inhalation OF the breath tor directly be-
fore him, just visible through the fog, figure
lightly clad, leans from a window close upon
the street, then chambers noiseessly upon the
Ill o,,l pI,,e a. 10,
street. disappearing in the darkness.
Gathering himself we'll together, in an in
stan:, MIR. Smthers is of aud away in pursuit.
His heavy rubber boots spatter over the bricks
with an echo that startles the sober residents
from their slumbers. Strong Of limb and not
wholly unaccustomed to such exercise, he
rapidly gains upon the fugitive, who, finding
himself so holly followed, utters a faint cry as
if unable to control his terror and suddenly
darts into one OF the numerous narrow passa-
ges which connect Chambers and Leverett
street.
Not prepared for his sharp dodge, Mr..
Smithers is for moment unable to check his
headlong plunges, and shoots past the opening
a yard or two before the wet sidewalk affords
him ioolhUld.
In great wrath he turns about and gropes
his way cautiously through the lane in the
narrow labyrinth OF which the fugitive has dis
appeared-al ways cautiously, Tor there are
precipitous descents in Hammond avenue,
and deep arched door ways, from which sud-
den onslaught might be dangerous But he
meets no interruption here. Emerging into
Leverett street, lie with difficulty describes a
white garment distantIy flutterng in the feeble
light OF a street lamp. Any other color would
have eluded him, but the way is clear now,
and it is IA mere question OF strength and speed.
He his teeth fOUptlpr talnS a tuli brpafh
and gives chase again.
Mr.. Smithers has now passed the limits OF
his own beat, and he fears his adventure may
be shared with some of his associates. For the
world he would not have this happen. Moth
ing could tempt him at this moment to swing
his rattle. His blood is reused, and he will
make this capture himself, alone, and without
aid.
He rapidly reconsiders the chances.
"This fellow does not know the turns, he
thinks, cor lie would have taken Cushman av-
enue, and then should have lost him"
This is in his favor. Or the other hand,
Mr.. Smithers action is impeded by his heavy
overcoat and rubber boots, and ne knows that
the pursued is unincumbered in all his move
ments,
1t is fierce, desperate struggle, that mad
race down Leverett street, at one o'clock on
Sunday morning.
At each corner, the street lamps throw
dull red haze around, revealing the fugitive's
slender form as lie PUSHES wildly through
Another moIuent, and the friendly log shelters
and conceals HIM from view
Breath!ess, painting, sobbing, he ere long is
forced to relax his speed. The policeman,
who has held his best energies in reserve, now
puts forth his utmost strength.
Presently he gains upon the runaway SO
that he can detect the white feet pattering
along The red bricks, risin. and falling quite
noiselessly He elects imprecations upon his
own stout boots, which not only fail to tasten
themselves firmly to the slippery pavement,
but continually betray by their noisy splash.
ing his exact position.
AS they pass the next lamp, Mr.. Smithers
sees plainly enough that the end is near. The
fugitive touches the ground with only the
balls OF his feet, as if each step were torture,
and expels his breath with fascinating vic
lence He does not gasp or pant-he groans,
Just at the bend i'll Leverett street, leading
to the bridge, there lisa dark and hali-bidden
aperture among the ill-assorted houses. Into
this as torlorn hope, the fugitive endeavors
to fling himself. But the game is up Here,
at last he is overhauled by Mr. Smithers,
who, dropping heavy hand upon his shout
ders, whlrls him violently to the ground.
Having accomplished this exploit with rare
dexterity, he forthwith proceeds to sci the
captive on his feet again, and to shake him
about with sprightly vigor, according to es.
tabished usage.
Mr.. Smlther next makes rapid but close
examination OF his prize, who, hewdered with
the tall, stares Vacantly around, and speaks
not a word. lie was a young man, apparently
about twenty years old, with nothing peculiar
in appearance except an unreasonable tleficien.
cy in clothing. Coat, waistcoat, trousers.
boots, hat, he had none shirt, drawers, and
stockings, made up his scanty raiment MIR.
Smithers set aside the suspicion of burglary
which he had originally entertained, in favor
of domestic disorder. The symptoms did
not, to his mind, point towards delirium tire.
mems.
Suddenly recovering consciousness, the
youth was seized with fit OF trembling so vi.
client that he with difficulty stood upright, and
cried out in piteous tones =
"For Gods sake, lei me go! let me gOW
Mr. Smithers answered by gruflly ordering
the prisoner TO move along with him.
BY some species of inspiration-ior, as the
era of police uniforms had not then dawned, il
could have been nothing else--the young
man conceived the CORE Il idea of the func.
ton of his custodian, and, after verifying
his belief protested himself satisfied
Ali his perturbation seemed to vanish at the
moment.
The affair was getting too deep for Mr.
Smthers, who could not ialhom the idea OF a
midnight maefactor becoming jubiant over
his arrest. So he gave no ear to the torrent
of excited explanations that hurst Upon him,
but silently took the direct route to the sta
ton.
Here he resigned his charge to Capt Nor.
rilPs care, aud after narrating the circum.
stances, went forth again, attended by two
choice spirits, to continue Investigations On