The Shasta courier., 1862-02-15
SH ASIA COURIER.
Recollec.ions of London Detective
THE CLOSEST sHArs OF xY LIFE.

and leeked somewhat closely into their meth
ods Of management and discipline, and have
often. seen much to approve; but the prison
at D surpasses all the rest. Visitors,
of whom. very properly but few are admit
tod are amazed at the regularity, the order,
and most singular of all, the air Of security
and exceeding quiet that prevails.
As we wandered through the chambers in
the freer part of the prison, we came to one
from the window of which a man was looking
40 anxiously that be did not hear as enter.
When he turned round, his eyes were glist-
eniug with tears. The warden said he did
nothing but stand at that window at all
times when he was unoccupied. He was a
sailor, we learned, whose offense was that he
bad beaten almost to death comrade for
speaking siightingly about his wife. He was
In for three years, six months OF which had
rassed, and he was one of the best men
about the prison, They had found out that
he was accomplished-that there was no bet
ter barber anywhere SO he was elevated
above his fellows, to the extent Of a dignifed
position and the responsibility of razors.
g lie has shaved me many time better
than~I could do it myself. Would you like
a prison shave, gentlemen?'' said the war
den
ing in the idea, and acknowledged myself to
be touched favorably with the proposition.
johnson, you will shave this gentleman,
said the warden.
! threw off my coat, and settled myself
comfortably in the big chair. johnson made
grave preparations.
always hated razor, it is a villainous
necessity / wonder if anybody thinks it
delightful. that kissing of the sharp steel over
the cheek, and that slow scrape over the
shroat,. with the skin drawn drum tight.
When my face was shining with the soap,
the warden said
g We will leave you for five minutes, Mr..
-. Is tnat time enough, johnson?
.'Quite time enough" answered John
son.
The prisoner and were left alone. My
companions went away in another direction
fl ON that we had been pursuing, and the
warden swung the door wide open as he
passed through, leaving it unclosed. From
nv position saw them walk along thetop of
the wall, until they came to corner, where
they spoke little with the officer in charge.
Then they moved on, officer and all, out of
sight
Upon each corner of the prison wall
guard is always stationed, well armed, to
watch that no attempts at escape are made.
The moment this one disappeared, felt a
sort Of faint shiver of the razor against my
lip. Immediately after my barber ceased
operations, walked leisurely to the door and
looked out, and returning. paused an instant
at the window where we hadfound him when
we entered Then he came back to me and
resumed his work. felt vaguely alarmed.
''Do you hear me, sir?'' he asked.
Eyes" said /.
s'It's ticklish thing, this shaving, isn't
it - said he. 6 But my hand is always stea-
dy. / can do what please with asrazor-
just what please Be good enough to keep
still, very still Just now I'm close to large
vein, you see right in your neck Keep very
still, and don't stir. know what would
happen, and so DO you, if you stirred or
spoke word"
Good Heavens These were hideous words,
but the glare of the mans eye, as he came
around in front Of me, was appalling. l
could not have uttered syllable if ! had
died otherwise.
. Now said he, "listen, but don 'tmove,"
and he pressed the fiat blade against my
throat, as if by way of warning. II don't
like this. can't stand it. I'm going. And
SO help me God, if you lift finger to stop
me, or make any noise, both of US will have
to die! l would little rather not hurt
you, but-remember.
lie sprang away and caught up my coat
and hat, which lay near, still keeping the
razor in his hand The moment its frightful
contact was removed, my inertness vanished.
Ileaped up, seized the chair on which had
been sitting, and shouted Justify. He turned
upon me like tiger.
'.Ah, you will have it, then - he cried,
and rushed towards me.
thrust him aside with the heavy chair,
aud lifting it high in the air, brought it
down crashing upor him. lie sank for Sc
eond, but quickly rose again. He was heav-
Ter than |, and twice as strong, suppose
Persons who have thus been in positions of
great danger, will not be astonished to hear
that | forgot, after my first cry, to call out
at all. | thought only of defending myself.
Tais state of things did not last quarter
Of minute. He would have beaten me down
soon enough had not. in sheer desperation,
made use of trick which had seen once
before successfully employed. moved my
eyes suddenly from him, and stared wildly
into the space behind him, pointing at the
same time and in the same dire ton with my
arm. By lucky chance POINTED to the
window
He stopped, irresolute, glanced at the win
dow, flung his hands above his head, gasped
as If he were choking. and. dashing the razor
against the stone wall, fell trembling upon
his knees. As stepped swiftly across the
floor, he called out to me:
Don't go, don't go. Stand there. at the
door, il yy5u choose, but waiis minute. It's
all over now; and perhaps, if you hear me,
you won't wonder that was driven mad"
hardly knew how to act but as / invol-
UNFAIRLY checked my steps, he continued:
Look out at that window, sir, and you II
see Just over the road woman with child
in her arms, standing in doorway. That's
my wife and bahy-my poor wife and baby
She doesn't know I'm here, thank God for
that. came here under wrong name, and
she supposes I'm far away ut sea. am sure
it would break her heart to know the truth.
Well. sir, that is my home. I've seen 1t and
I've seen her every day now these three
months. 1t used to make me crazy, but |
bear it better now. But this chance-this
great chance was too much for me. And to
think that l came near losing all hope of
ever seeing her again
Could doubt these strugghng sobs and
tearss There was truth in every tone?
looked through the window, and saw, as he
told me, woman standing on a threshold
opposite, with little child. She tossed it