The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-12-05
The very firstlings of my heart shall be
The firstlings of my hand"


That was fine; only, not to deceive you,
had often repeated this high resolve with
great fervor and sincerity; and then gone on
prOcrastinating.
In Glasgow 1 made strict enquiries after
James Lambert; asked tie landlord, and
all the walters; went to every tradesman
knew in the city. Not one soul had ever
heard ofhim nor of his exploits. This con-
firmed my fear that he had gone to a better
world, while 1 was busy ,postponing here be-
low. However, my tardy blood was up at
last; SO took cab, and drove to the police
chambers, and asked for the chief. The re-
quest had TO make was unusual; therefore
prefaced the matter after this fashion: Sir,
most people come here to ask you 10 find out
some malefactor come hunting an honest
man, and man of great merit, one James
Lambert, who saved many lives in the Clyde,
Yeas ago. can bear nothing of him, alive
or dead. If you will assist me with your ma
chinery, shall be truly obliged to you.'' 10
Now, they say the Scotch are not so quick
to take new idea as the English. That may
be; but they are also not so quick to reject
one. An English chief constable would prob
ably have said at once, "That is quite out of
our line; you should go 10 the parochial cler-
gy,"but after twenty minutes discussion would
have relented. and given me every assistance.
The Scottish chief, on the contrary, though
manifestly taken aback, thought before he
spoke; thought without disguise, for full
thirty seconds. "Well, Sirr,". said he, very
slowly, 81 see-no-objection- that"
Then be turned to tube and said, in hol-
low voice, "Send me q detective"
This done, he took down my name and ad-
dfess in Glasgow, and what I knew about
James Lambert. sl5tl III @a-
Ones idea of a detective is-a keen, lean
man, with little glittering eyes-a human
weasel. The door opened, and in walked mod
elofsrength and youthful beauty, that made
me stare. He was about twenty-five years
old; at least six feet four in height, and the
breadth, and, above all, the depth of
chest, incredible. Until saw John Heenan
strip, and reveal his buging back and
breast, with every inch of his satin skin
mapped with muscles, 1 took for granted the
old sculptors had exaggerated. and carved
ideal demigods, not real men. Nude Heenan
showed me that they had not exaggerated.
but selected; and this detective confirmed the
proof; for he was a much finer man than
Keenan, yet not bit fleshy; and, instead of
prize fighters features, comely, manly,
blooming face, and high, smooth forehead,
white as snow ITSELF 1 know no lady in the
South with forehead so white and delicate.
This Hercules-Apollo- Scotch name /
have forgotten-stood at the door and, draw
ing himself up, saluted his chief respectfully.
~ y" said the chief, "this is Mr.. Redd,
fr' England. He is looking for an old man
called Lambert, that saved many lives in the
Clyde some years ago. Yell take means to
find him-and yell report to Mr.. Redd, at his
hotel. Ye understand now he's to be found
if he is alive. @ E.f
The detective saluted. but made no reply.
He took my address, and the particulars, and
went to work directly, as matter of course.
thanked the chief heartily, and retired to
ABOUT nine in the evening, Detective Her
cules-Apollo called on me. All he had de-
tected was brave man, called John Lam
bert, that had saved lives cut of a burning
ship in the port Greenock. declined JobS
Lambert-wth thanks.
Having now no serious hope of f,diro
James Lambert alive took the goods the gods
provided, and interviewed Hercules Apollo.
since he was to hand. questioned him, and
he told me he was often employed in captures.
SWELL" said l, "you are the man for it.
You don't often meet your match--eh?"
He blushed little, and smiled but it did
not make him bumptious, as it might life
guardsman, or drayman. He said, II as
DCry me to him, i. e., Cry right-lett-etc.. till
LIND him. r. III NJ