The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-09-03

-h''Ni ~ ~" tJiI DlllHcIltS 10 lle D0rmuiI
SergcantGumps(whO had ofcJurso, been
all this time in plain clothcs) suggested
that it was time TO go. Egerton assented
ana as the two strolled towards Eyer
tons hotel, the sergeant aud he wer,
full of questions and answer.
"Wcll, sir" said the sergeant, "diu
you see anything or anybody in par
ticular?n
WELL" answered Egerton, 81 saw
an awful lot of ruffians, and the worst ia
look at was a brute with knobhy stick
in his hand; and patch over one eve. )"
"lla, hal ~ laughed the sergeant {;
THAT was one of my mates. He does
make up beautiful but didn't see the
man we were looking for"
"Aro you sure ?" asked the sergeant
silly. "What made you jump up and
nearly cry out, ell ?"
because | fancied | did see him. -
answered Egerton; "but though |
thought could swear to the mans gen
eral look and expression, 1t couldn't
have been he"
"Why not?' inquired the sergeant.
81 rather believe in general expression
myself"
"Why, the man rowcd over the riv.
er was white. faced man, whereas this
WIS as brown as"---
"a great deal can be done with wal
nutjuicc," interrupted the sergeant
quietly.
"The man / rowcd over the river,n
said Egerton, chad long, snake-likc e
hair, whereas this mans hair was''--
"There are plenty of barbeis," inter
rupted the sergeant again, "who can cut
and dye, and do all sorts Of things to
the hair.n
"rhe man | rowcd over the river,''
continued Egerton angrily, chad lost
two front teeth, and had an anchor tat
tooed on his left wrist, whereas this had
all the front teeth to show, and"----
"a great piece Of sticking plaster on
his left wrist,' once more interrupted
the sergeant; "you didn't see that, Mr..
Egerton, did you? 1 did, sir; and let
me tell you, l have heard of Il dentist
in this town who lately put in two front
teeth for a common looking man."
81 was going to say / couldn't get a
good look ut his wrist" said Egerton
pettishly, "but you interrupted me-"
81 beg your pardon, sir" rejoined
tiW sergeant.
"Then you think" said Egerton snap
pishly, "the man was 80 much struck
with was the man? ?"
"Oh, don't think anything about it,
sir" said the sergeant, "All 1 want to
know is, whether you saw anybody
you could swear to as being, or being
very like, the man you rowed over the
Cam"
Egerton was silent for moment or
two, and then he said. at would be q
frightful thing to take the wrong man. y
"Certainly," assented the rgeant.
"And tomorrow is the last chance p
, asked EgertOn with veXatiJn.
"You heard him say yourself, sir
answered the sergeant, in tone of re.
monstrance, Chat he would give his
farewell supper to his mates tomorrow
night, and start the next morning for
Australia"
Egcrton reflected little, and then
said, in determined voice: "LOok here
Sergeant Gumps, will go into The An.
gter tomorrow night, and into the tap.
room at the time this man gives his
!
whether he is or is not the man row.
ed across the Cam. What do you say
to that?"
"It will be dangerous job, sir" an
swered the sergeant, quietly. "It's q
dangerous set of villains he is going tc
stand supper to; but he has invited my
mate, who will, OF course, be on youl
side, and | shall be in the bar, anG
thore'll be several more of US within
hail; so | think, If you don't minG
walking into the taprOom when sup
per's over, and gros is going on, you
might make things tolerably certain. II
it is the man think, he'll know you,
and show it, whether you can recognise
him or not"
every well; I'll be there at ten
o'clock," said Egerton; 'and you may
depend upon it I'll find out whether il
is our man or not"
The next night, at a little before ten
Egerton walked into the taproOm ut
The AHgler. The man hc wanted I,
see was there, ladling out punch to five
as ugly looking rullians Including the
police Ollicer) as Egerton had ever seen
There We're two or three other custom
ers scattered singly about the room.
As Egerton, who had put ON his boat
ing clothes, not only rs being best suit.
ed to the place he was going to visit,
but also as being most likely to lead tc
his early recognition by the man ht
had rowed over the Cam, entered the
room, he heard one of the punch drink
ers say: "Friends, toast. | aim
much Of Al chap to jaw, so I'll give il
short and sweet-'Luck to Bob Jelfreys
the giver of the feast, and may he have
Il good time in Australia"
The toast was duly hOnored and a
the man called Bob Jeflreys prepared t.
return thanks, and looked about him il
search Of ideas, he caught Egerton'
eye, dropped his lower jaw, and stareC
with all his might.
GLOW are you?" said Egerton, nod
ding in Il friendly way. ~ think Tv
seen you somewhere before"
"Servant, sir" growled Bob Joti'rcys
Though can't say rs | know you"
"P'rap5 the gcntl'man III jine Us, i
t he's friend % yourn, Bob, - said on
of the rutiiuns, making room.
Egcrton advanced to the table wit
, alacrity, and the police officer with tn
knuhby stick managed to iutcrpo>