The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-03-01

in their beds and asleep, when We were
to steal in and try to handcuff them be-
fore they could wake up. - ,.aa .
We had to wait many weary hours
for this time to arrive, but at last the
snoring commenced in earnest and TINS
was our signal. Handouts in hand the
detectives crept into the adjoining tent.
l followed them, with my revolver lev
eled, in case that one or both the rascals
should wake up and be too quick LOT
them. They did not wake up, and Inc
irons were clasped around and locked
on their wrists without their even twink
ling an eyelid. .. 49,,
But now they were roughly awakened,
and the senior officer said, Tom jack
son and Ben Wilton, I arrest you for
willful murder. You must both Of you
get up and come along with US. ! am
detective Sinclair, Of the New Soath
Wales police" - Is. :,
Inever saw two men 30 struck win
CONSERVATION and surprise as were these
two worthless. Atlast one OF them gasPea
out, Murder! Willfl murder De-
tective Sinclair! Why, You must all De
mad!
"The evidence OF your crimes IS IN
this tent, remember" l said to Sinclair
nudsing him with my elbow. Let US
search for the limbs Of their last slansh-
tered victim.
The hint was promptly acted upon.
We seized spades and picks, and in ten
minutes every inch Of the ground COW
cred BY the tent was turned over 10
yard in depth. ,
No old mans legs were found; but we
were not TO be daunted, and proceeded
to ransack the tent all over, still without
any old mans legs turning up. though
we spied two fine hind legs ola kangaroo
hanging up in an obscure corner:
"Well, are YOU satisfied" asked one
of the prisoners. Are you convinced
that YOU are on some wild-goose chase
If so, take these cursed irons off and be
gone. ~,
No, we are not so convinced" an
swered Sinclair, with some asperlty.
THAT worthy gentleman" pointing to
me, "heard you confess last night TO
having murdered no less than eight old
men, and such crimes will have to be
accounted for. He heard you confess,
too, to having hid the legs Of your last
victim in this tent; but doubtless you
have this day removed them to some
more secure hiding place
He told you that, did he ? the young
donkey !" screamed one of the accused,
with a hyena-like laugh. And so we
have, too-old men kangaroos-and
there are the legs we spoke OF hanging
= up in that corner ready for tomorrow 5
pie. All ha! ha he has brought you
on fool 8 errand, sure enough, and the
roars OF laughter the two men INDUCED
in fairly shook the tent
Both detectives looked fearfulIy an
noyed, and yet they could not help
laughing. Without word to me they
took the handouts off the men and re-
turned them to their pockets. Then
Sinclair said, What will you take to
keep this matter a secret? You see
through this unfortunate new chum
blunder we shall get laughed off the
diggings unless you choose to be merci-
ful. III give you five. pound note out OF
my own pocket if you will keep this
unfortunate affair dark.
81 will supplement Snclairs offer
with the largest of the nuggets that |
dug up to day" said, feeling that if be-
: ing laughed at was the general dread, l
stood in the worst position Of the trio
Hang your brides" was the retort
Il would not give up the chance Of cir
culating so glorious yarn for ten times
the value Of what you offer. However,
| will tell it as leniently as possible.
And as for this new chum,' turning to
me, when | first came to the colony,
| and nv mate here were both Of us
green enough to have made just as stupid
a blunder; so can blame him. Come,
let us sit down and have drink all
around of real old Jamaica rum, Of
which we have an unbroached key in
stock"
The invitation was readily accepted
and we kept it up until daybreak, with
grog, songs, and toasts.
So ended the tragedy of "killing an
old man, which | now learned was
name universally bestowed on large
male kangaroo. These animals, when
attacked, are very ferocious, and if they
cannot get away, and are engaged at
close quarters, will clasp you with their
short tore legs, and. pressing YOU tightly
against their chest, will raise one OF
their strong hind legs, which is armed
with a terribly long, strong and knife
shaped spur, and rip you right down
with it, causing almost instant death.
When hunted with dogs the "old man"
will generally, when once at bay, disem.
bowel two or three OF his canine
adversaries before he is dragged down
and despatched, and the human foe is
sometimes served in the same manner.
These two terrible murderers, as /
thought them, turned out to be two right
good fellows; one had been cornet in
a crack cavalry regiment at home, the
other a curate of the church Of England
We soon became sworn friends and part
ners in what turned out afterwards to
be well-paying claim, and in the year
1867 we all returned to old England rich
men.
J. S. B.