Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-10-02

MT. MOSnelm!"
'That is my name"
mine Is Roberts, and am under sheriff
of Caerlonshire."
81 didn't come to make your acquaint-
ance, Mr. Mosheim. but to make some ar
rangement with you as to an unfortunate
accident which has happened to me in my
official capacity"
Mosheim bowed grimly.
"You are, believe, acting on behalf of
the creditors of Capt. Potts"
Certain clients OF mine have claims
against that gentleman. Wells"
"a Ca. sa., taken out by your firm, has
been with me for execution"
Precisely"
"Well, Mr. Potts has escaped"
What an excessively disagreeable Incl
dent for you, sirr'
"Now, what | propose tc de is this: |
undertake to pay you $500 in a week, if
you will give me a full release"
Il think Mr-Jones didyou say ?-that
the total Of the detainers is lather more
than that. You know the exact figure,
perhaps?'
"You know the figure as well as do,
Mr.. Mosheim. Six shillings in the pound,
or thereabout, my offer would give your
clients. You wouldn't have got Cd. in the
pound out or Potts.
"You appear to know more of Potts
than | do In reply to your proposal, we
decline it. Your sheriff is good for the
whole amount"
you absolutely decline it?"
"Decidedly."
As walked down Bishopgate street l
felt more comfortable; l knew the worst.
After all, ruin is not so bad in reality as
in anticipation. l had plenty of money
in my pocket, and it didn't matter now
how | spent it. would stay in town
that night and go and hear Robson, who
was then in great force; he might make
me forget my troubles. In the meantime
| would go and get steak in a place
that knew in Fleet street, where | used
to dine when | was serving out my time
in London. As | walked through the
city changed my mind again; the roar
of London troubled me. | would get
home as speedily as possible. But as l
passed the narrow court in Fleet street,
the accustomed but long forgotten habit
or was it the hand of Providence that
turned me drew me up the court and
into the well known precincts of "Stilton."
| went into box and ordered a rump-
steak and pint of stout.
dare say-its sanded floor and wooden
benches, its fire place and immense kettles
One side of the room is divided into
boxes. In the corner of the farthest box
from the door, where | was invisible, eX-
cept to person standing by the fire
place, / took my seat, and, sitting there,
waiting for my steak, heard number
of men enter the room. They made more
noise than the quiet legal men who
formed the rest Of the company.
Tie voices of the newcomers rose in
loud and CHEEKY tones above the noise of
the chop-house. l guessed that the two
loudest takers were military men, proba
bly, just returned from India, and the mu-
tiny was ended. The two heroes were
asking about lots of friends; but | didn't
pay any attention to their conversation till
| heard the name of Potts. Then, indeed,
| listened with bated breath, every nerve
on the stretch.
"Where's Billy Potts, now? l heard he
came to grief"
'Oh! Billy's down in Wales, hard up,
as usual. l have just heard from him.
Such fun The Jews found him out. He
was at Clansomething, nice little Welsh
town. a ca. Sa. was issued, and poor
Billy was nabbed, and the buns took him
Here the waiter slammed down my
dishes and tankard with a tremendous
clatter, drowning the mellifiuous voice of
the templar. l ground my teeth in de
spair; "trap-dOor" was the only word |
could catch, and the next moment loud
gutfaw from the military told me the story
was ended.
Captain Captain and he's in the same
house still?"
Yes; but he'll slip away as soon as the
coast is clear"
Very good, by Jove! Billy's match
for Moses or Tatfy."
| had heard enough. | had the clew. l
remembered that there was a trap-door in
the room of the Prince Llewellyn, open
ing, probably into loft. 1t was too high
for any ordinary man to reach without
assistance; but, of course, Potts was in
the highest favor with all the lassies at
the hotel. Nothing would be easier than
to open the trap from above and let down
a rope or ladder; and he might be there
still!
l looked at the clock; it was $50. l
had barely time to catch the O'Clock
express from Paddington, but it might be
done. | left my steak and stout untasted
unpaid for, had not the vigllant head
waiter intercepted me. | flung down
half crown, and, without waiting for
change, bolted down Fleet street. A
hanson was passing, jumped IN, telling
the driver he should have a sovereign If
he got me in time tor the train. Fortune
favored me; fortune, did / say? Let me
humbly and gratefully thank kind
Providence for saving me and mine from
ruin. As we reached PaddingtOn station,
the clock was on the stroke of three.
One of the big doors had been slammed
to, and the porter was closing the
second. With a howl that frightened
the stolid porter, / threw myself against
the closing door l dashed through the
ticket office on to the platform. The guard
had blown his whistle, and the train was
gliding gently away Policemen and port.
ers barred my way in vain. Life or
deathn' hoarsely roared, grasping pass
ing handle, | flung myself into first-class
carriage The cabman, unpaid, was run
ming along the platform after his receding
fare | threw him q sovereign, which he
caught, and his face assumed a beatifc
expression as Paddington station passed
from my gaze
By one o'clock in the morning | had
reached Llanwyn. The moon was shining
brightly, and Llanwyn was in quiet re-
pose | stopped the car just outside the
town and walked to the police station. [
reused Inspector Williams, and asked him
to send two constables TO watch the Prince
Llewellyn, and also to wake the two bai-
lifFs and set them, on glard I walked TO