Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-12-21


as his The notes and cheques could never be
traced home. But don't think retained this
thought long. Do you ever consider how much
resolution and force of will it takes to initiate
course of crime and deception? I'd neither the
one nor the other; | should have broken down
at once. | couldn't have met that fellows eye
and told him had never had his money.
woke nv wie-she'd slept through all the
trouble. MARY" I said, "we're runed-there's
been a robbery"
"a robberv| cried she, clasping her hands
"and are the men gomez
yes / said.
ooh, thank heaven" she said, "then we're
safe! Never mind the rest, Jack, as long as our
lives are safe. But there's my wafer proof
Jack i-oh, do run and see if they've taken
that"
Then told her the story of the TWENTY-FIVE
thousand pounds. She wouldn't believe me at
, first; but when she heard the whole story she
was frightened enough. Yet she had wits about
her more Than had,
You must run of to the town hall, Jack, y
she said, land set the police to work. They
must telegraph to all the stations, to London,
and everywherei Oh, do go at once, Jack, this
very moment Every second lost may be ruin
TO u.s."
Away went to the town hall. This was a
big classic place, with an immense porticO and
huge flight of steps; but You didn't 90 into
the portico TO get 10 the police office, but to the
SIDE, WHICH WISH CldSSlCdl Ut all; Dui VI tue
rudimentary style OF architecture, and you went
along number of echoing stone passages before
You reached the superintendeDI's office.
When Id told the superintendent the story
"Ah," he said, 81 think know who did that
job"
conf said /, chow thankful am. Then you
can put your hands upon him and get back the
money. | want the money back, Mr.. Superin-
tendcnt-never mind him. | wouldn't mind,
indeed, rewarding him for his trouble, if could
only yet the money back"
"Sirl" said the superintendent, severely; "the
police amt sent into the world TO get people S
money back nothng of the sort. We aren't
going 10 encourage composition Of felony; and
as for putting our hands on FIashy Joe-ior he
did the job, mark you-well what do you think
the liberty OF the subject is iorf Where's your
eyidenceY
was obliged to confess hadn't any; whereat
the superintendent looked at me contemptu-
ouslv.
"Now, let's see into this matter" said he af.
ter he'd made some notes on bit of paper.
GLOW came they to know you'd got the money
in your coatP
said didn't know
"Ah, but know" said the superintendent,
| "IOu went TO get glass of ale after you left
| the bank, young manp
was Obliged to confess had done so.
CHATS how property gets stolen" said he
looking at me severely. "And what's more
YOU had a GLASS with friend ?-Ah knew you
had And perhaps you got talking 10 this
friend OF yours p
Yes, indeed l had"
every well; and mentioned about the money
you'd Just took ~
VERY likely"
Then TINS Joe, depend upon it, was in the
crib at the time, and he heard you; and he fol.
lowed you back TO the bank; and you haven't
got blinds, but a wire netting over the window
| and anybody outside can see you counting GU
the gold and silver"
That's true" | said.
dyes. l see it all" said the superintendent;
| Gust as Joe saw it. He follows you up from
here 10 youder, and he sees you put your money
into your coat pocket, and then he follows you
| home, and when all is quiet he cracks the crib
| Oh, its all in nutshell; and that's bow proper
| ty goes. And then you come to the police"
"But il you know its Joe, why don't you
send after him and catch him2"
| ION, we kuQw our own business, sir; yoU
leave it all to us; we shall have Joe tigh
enough, if not for this Job, anyhow for thu
| next. Wen give him bit of rope, like"
couldn't put any fire into the man, do wha
l could; he was civil, that is for Yorkshire
man; impassiye; he'd do what was right, II
| given the information; very well, all the res
was his business.
So / came home miserable, despairng. L
| was just day light bv this time, and as | opened
|
| yeaed; the lees OF the lobster salad the picket
| bones of the chickens, the melted reSiduum 0
| the jeliies; whilst about everything hung thu
| faint smell OF sour wine. | sat down amid al
| this wretched mess, and leaned my head on M
| arms in dull, miserable lethargy. Then spran!
| up, and as did so caught sight of myself il
| the looking glass. Good heavens was thi
wretched, hangdog fellow myself? Did a few
hours misery change man like this? Why,
| was very ielOu in appearance; and so Shoul
| be thought to be- Who would believe this stor
Of a robbery? Why, the police didn't beev
in it, else they'd have taken a different tone
| No; 1 should be looked upon as a thief by al
the world.
Then my wife came down stairs, and, with
few touches, restored a little order aud sanity
both TO outward matters AMI my mad. Sh
brOu1ht me some coffee and an egg and som
bread and butter, and alter [ had eaten ant
| drunk didn't feel quite SO bad.
| Jack" she SAID, you must 30 to London a
once, and see the directors. Have the frs
word, and tell them ali about it-ail the parIiC
ulars. IL was only Il little nit OF carelessneSs
after all, and perhaps they'll look over II"
Eyes; that's all very wei" 1 said. "But hoy
am to Get there? I've got no money Thi
wIetcheG party bias cleared US right OUT
borrow some OF Cousins"
HE asked me TO lend him a sovereign las
night, and l couldn't"
Now, you'll say: "aere's a man without re
source. Why didn't he pawn his walch~ I
| tell YOU the truth, that's what did the week bt
fore, and the money was all zone. ether
| und these circumstances, you'll add, at wa
immoral to give party" Bur, you'll bear i
mind, the invitations had been out for a for
night and then we were IN funds.
"Weil, Jack" said my wife, "yUu must get til
man-the T. BIO give you some more none
ON the watch. Sell It him right out. 1t mu;
be worth at least ten pounds for il cost thirty
nd M ~ f,rNly haI f1tr., - S,tI -,
ticket"
Yes; but where was the ticket? Why, in tn
little cash pocket oil my br Iwn great coat. Still
] had heard, that if you'd lost Il ticket, you coul
make the man give you another; and Brooks til
pawnblOker, was respectable fellow, who pc
haps would help me out of my difficulty. / wer
TO MN anyhOW, on my way 10 the station l fel
like a ticket-oi-leave man as went INTO hi
shop, but put good face upon it.
| "BIooks,' l said that watch-you know tn
ticket-it's stolen"
Brooks gave most portentous wink He wa
a slow SPECIFIED man, with red face, and a TT,
mendousAc orporation.
may he says, "mY lad; thou'rt wron
there"
"What do you meant [ said, coloring II
furiously. Every one suspected me, it seemed
"WnoI, it might ha' been stolen once, but
aren't now; ave goi it here. This is how
were. cadging sort o chap comes in and |
says: Master, whafl you give me for tins hei
ticketF Now, you know the hact don't allo
us 10 give nought in that kind of way, but
says to the chap; Let's have look at III; an
then | saw ii was yours, and said to the maj
My lad, you aren't come honest by this"
And you gave him into custody, he's
prison? Old Brooks, what capital fellow yo
aIep
Nay" he said; 81 knowcd better nor tina
Do you think I'd heXpose Il customer? | kno
you gents don't care about these little matte
getting abroad; and SO slaps my fist on IL
counter, and saws: Hook itP just like tina
And away he went like lamp-ighter"
sank down on the counter oYerpOwered wit
emotion.
And what's more" went on Brooks, "a
never took up the money I'd lent him Tor IL
coat"
"What coat?" cried.
"A very nice brown coat he put ND wit
me. About fiji you, should think See, he
it is"
1t was my identical brown greatcoat, wrappc
up in bundle, aud tied round with my ow
handkerchief | made a dart at it, opened
plunged my hand into the breast pocket-the
was The roll OF money, there were the twent
two thousand pounds.
How did 20 to the bank that morning, G
legs or wings2 And how did | get home,
soon as | had put the money sale away
Mary knew by my face it was all right; al
didn't we have dance Of joy all round Il
house?
My burglar had been only sort of snea
alter all, who got in at an open window az
bolted with the spOils Of the hall; but il he hi