The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-06-17
Stltctto MisftIIanp.
MISSED HIM.
BYA REAL DETECTIVE.

him: said I'd tn. wouldn't promise
no, I'd only say I'd try.
tried. His offence was nothing-mere-
y what is commonly called Railway
Plant" It succeeded though, and my gen.
tleman was s'wanted.
companion. He, told me his hsunts and
his habits, but he wouldn't aid mein catch
inc him. I determined to do it myself
was green hand then. No matter, had
the viii. found the way. He was to be
at a tea-party on that Thursday night.
was invited. Shall take two policemen
in disguise and arrest him? No; all his
friends would rescue him. will go alone,
1 went I left my little house, four
roomed dwelling-at SIX. L locked the
front door, and off I went to Mrs. Joness
tea party.
1t was the month of December. We had
great fun at that tea-party. There was a
gentleman there that I believed 10 by my
man. despite the fact that, when was in
troduced to him, was informed that he
had lust come from the Continent. We
fell into conversation. He began to pump
me. This was what wanted. was de-
termined to play the simple, and tel him
all he asked.
knew nne-perhaps he did not. He was
peculiar man, with short black hair, clean
shaved face (parish priests and pickpock-
cts are alike clean-shaved-strange COIN
cidenceiD dressed in q suit of very light
grey. He looked smart. might safely
have shouted s.All hands to pump ship!
for he pumped in most barefaced man
ner. - sT.st
He asked me where lived. I told him
IS. I saw no use in deceiving him; besides, i
had little plan IN yiew-I might invite
40 NV h0uca and min him.
Had any company? None. ANY one
else In the house? No. l was bachelor;
prefefred to live alone. And then, in the
= most ouiet and insinuating way, heasked
me did shoof2" he did; he had been
shooting lately-last week he was shooting
in Suffolk BE went down there for day
or two. Ali and remarked in very in
nocent way, looking up benignly at him.
that thought that understood he had
inst come from the Continent. I
He started. pretended to besurprised,
and he assured me- in fact, he had been to
the Continent since! But about the shoot
inc? No: I didn't shoot; l was timid about
firearms: the sight only, I assured him, Of
a loaded gun, made me tremble (pass me
here. reader; there is loaded gun always
hanging over my chimney-plece IN the par
lor) Had no hrearmsi de mad a beau
tiful gun. No, I had none. Tten ne re-
tuTuoQ 10 bQ0 AOu6C AOOce4OAA- DAN oAOSR
on the ground hoor2 No. Where thenr
AT the top of the house-it was two storeys
bioh. OH back o. front? Back. He was
yery inouisitive, thought, but seemed
to enioy telling him all could. He thought
he was duping me, poor devil! Then he
asked me, as if casually, did 1 approve of
keeping money at home, or did send 1t to
the bank? / started. l began to think
this was too good. No matter, would go
T. 4 L., 1s.a,. y,
why not tell another-ay, why noR kept
NV money at home. Banks were unsafe;
but assured him felt uneasy 'Just then,
: because 1 happened to have more than
usual. and It wasn't mine. Five hundred
mounds ready money, think told him.
No: it was sfFive hundred pounds innOteS"
hal hal hal Five pence in coppers would
have been nearer the mark. But no mat
ter; poverty is no sin.
Yes. 1 kept It in the house; and he
thought it strange 1 had no arms. Here
stopped him, and begged his pardon; had
arms. He turned pale. had arms; yes,
had so. What were they, might he ask
He might. My arm was boiler-stiek with
two ounces of leads let into the top OF 1t
Oh!-he seemed greatly relieved.
- ] told him the doors and windows had
bolts on them, and were all well barred
al but one. He pricked up his ears. and
a family murmured "WhichT led me on,
and gave me hope. / thought 1t best TO
- encourage him-an but one. The frent
window on the ground floor, said, had no
bar on the shutter. They had all bells L
told him, It had bell. 1t was very safe
Thieves never think of getting into house
by the front, you know. And there was no
area, or garden. The door opened on to
the pavement. Yes, 1t was very safe
wasn't it? Yes, ne thought it was Then
he talked about politics, ETC.; and then he
got up tn go-so soon2 and Mrs. Jones beg
0ed him to stay, and begged him to
Give me call some night, for-ah!
really. he was very-that is, his COM
panT was very-ahl Uery agreeable, hal ha!
hal He was going my way, would 1 go
with him? or would he wait for me9 No;
would stay an hour longer atleast, and
then see the Misses Browne to their home.
p Hal hal hal what notion l had Of 1t!
He thought nae very simple no doubt
he thought all said was true. often
wonder, now, whether he ever suspected
that the quiet individual who did not shoo'
or mt his money in the BAN, and slept II
the house alone, and put bells on the doors
and windows. was q detective, who would
do his best to see him safely sin quod" be,
fore twelve hours were over. ia! "a
We shall see what We shall see-so We shalL
He is cone. He shuts the hall door. He
looks wildly about him, and then sets on
In the direction of my lodgings. an
watching him from the window. Oh!
forget to tell him. ALL really must go
Good evening, Mrs. Jones; ia tai L vii
clap on my hat and follow him. 1shut tn
hall door quietly, and start in the same oil
rection. Hal thought SO.
There he Is In the dark, round the cor
ner He does not think any one sees him
Here is low wall-how handy Ill Jus
oet behind if and watch him. His position
is well chosen; no enc can see him, unles
Just where am.
Look what he is at. Well, I'm blowed
He puIls out coat from goodness know
where. It is quite black. He puts 1t OF
over his other coats, and he even pulls o.
his trousers. Ah! he has others on unde
them-they are black too. And then h
takes off his tall hat, and slows all his trap
30 where the coat came from. His hat is re
placed by glengarry. Then out comes
oreat black beard and moustache, whic
are carefully adjusted. My yahl Iwouldn
. know him again.
look again, he is examining somethin
in his hand; il shines as he turns 1t ov'
If oiyes a faint click, click, as he holds
mn Hal / thought so; it is pistol ID
puts it into his breast, and then looks aool
him. l creep closer IN 70 the wall
does not see me, although he is COMM
this way. He passes me, and walks on
whistle tune, and step after him roun
the corner. am coming up to him.
asks me the time. 1 tell him, and ask, dl
a gentleman in light suit pass that wa.
Yes; he went up on street smoking
cigar-good night sir Hal hai good mgh R
But surely he is following me! 1es, tne
will ortwit him. reach the corner; ne
ter; Yards behind me, or more. 1set
at run down the street till reach II
next corner; round it fly. Aglance bac
ward-he has not entered the street yet
enter a half open door. The next mlnu
I hear his steps; he is running for dea
and life, one would think He reaches Il
corner, too, and stops. he is not va
from me, and / grinning at him throue
the door which is about six inches ope