The Portland daily press., 1874-09-19
happen to be masquerading here in company

puzzled look. "Oh, yes-I understand"
whereupon he proceeded to relate his connec-
ton with Jake and Obadiah, and their con-
nection with the diamond robbery 81 came
Eere," he continued, with sly glance at the
pair, "to keep my eye on these two gentle
men to see that they made no mistakes, and
it seems from what learn that it was a wise
precaution."
Obadiah and Jake said not word They
looked at each other with an expression of
baffied cunning and hopeless misery and de-
spair. For them the game was up. Sharp
sey knew their treachery and would throw
| them over of course.
"And now" said Sharpsey, 81 wish to
know where these importers are, who have
caused all this trouble. If you have let them
escape shall hold you personally response
| ble.''
"Give yourself no uneasiness, SIR" an
| swered the commandant. ct am responsible
for my acts assure you. Sergeant" turning
to the man, task the gentleman and lady to
| enter"
At this curious order, Sharpsey and the
two sailors glanced at each other in surprise,
and then watched the door eagerly, curious to
see the result.
In few moments man accompanied by
lady closely yelled entered the room, and in
an instant all three recognized Guacho Jack
| himself.
You are my prisoner, sir" cried Sharpsey
springing forward to claim his prize.
''No he amt, he's mig prisoner. I found
him. yelled Jake rushing in to intercept the
| detective.
| sits lie, he's mine," roared Obadiah
throwing himself violently on to the two men
and endeavoring to clutch the collar of the
robber.
| "Silence there. Stand back" shouted the
commandant, and in an instant the three
were hurled violently backward by the guard,
falling over each other in dire confusion.
''Now stand quiet while this gentleman ex-
| plains matters" continued the commandment,
cor I'll put you in irons, every one of YOU.
Now, sir" turning to Guacho Jack, slets
| have an end of this nonsense. If YOU have
any explanation to make-make it and done
| with t.''
Certainly, sir,' replied the robber with a
| pleasant smile. "But first allow me to make
some little alterations in my toilet" saying
which he Invested himself of wig and beard
which changed his appearance completely.
! "Hookem by jovev' cried Sharpsey in
amazement.
| "Your right Colonel" replied the man
| with smile of triumph, s'Hookem at your
service.''
''Do you know him ?" inquired the com
mandant.
| "Know him!' repeated Sharpsey; ct
should think had reason to know the only
detective in the country who ever beat me in
| CASE"
"Detectivep' cried Jake and Obadiah in a
breath.
"Yes gentlemen" said Hookem turning to
them. II have the honor to introduce myself
to yeu as a dete ctive. 1 would also state
that have watched your little game, and
Sharpsey's little game, and all your little
games, with great pleasure. Meantime 1
have bagged the parties you were in pursuit
of, also the iron box containing the plumber
| WA yOu Ady perhaps HAVE seen IN
my possession Capt. Skillins.'
Obadiah made no reply. A big idea was
fermenting in his brain and he was getting it
into shape. Wait bit.
sit now remains" continued Hookem.
"for me to introduce to you my assistant-to
whose mastery strategy 1 mainly owe my
success. Gentlemen-my wife Mrs. Annette
| Hookem.''
The lady raised her veil and greeted the
| party with sweet smile.
sThe devilp' cried Sharpsey $50 it was
you was it.''
eyes colonel, think it was" replied the
| quondam Charley sweetly.
| eff had only taken time to look you up,''
muttered the colonel.
Jake had regarded the lady with puzzled
look during his conversation and now light
dawned upon his memory. ''Wall swan to
man." he observed and subsidized into state
of more helpless bewilderment than before.
See here now you Hookem," broke out
Obadiah who had just succeeded in arranging
his ideas TO his satisfaction, 'sYou are the
fellow that boarded my vessel that night, and
acted so like burned pirate. That's about
what you be.'
s'True," SAID Hookem smiling.
"Wall sir" roared Obadiah, 'I want to
know what you meant by it."
"Well my friend, am willing to crafty
| you, if you'll listen moment You see nv
wife has kept me posted all along of what
Sharpsey was doing, and when learned that
the robbers were on the coast, took four
men and went down the bay. l picked up
Mrs. Hookem on the way, who was going
70 see her mother" Here he grinned at
Sharpsey who scowled in return. ''Wel, we
struck it just right and bagged the whole lot.
I took them to place of safety and then
started up the bay with the treasure. Among
the robber gang I found brother of my
wife's. She had not heard from him for
years as he had run away home when boy.
1 determined to take him up with us and
by my influence with the Governor get some
mitigation of his sentence. Well you know
how we got on board the schooner and
all that. When the cutter chased us the
young man came to me in great terror and
said he had deserted from that very vessel
two years before. I knew of course that if
they searched the schooner they would get
him, and then my efforts would be of no
avail, so determined upon the desperate
course ofseizing the schooner. The rest you
know"
81 will see that he gets his deserts,' said
Sharpsey.
''He has got his Deserts" said Hookem.
Opon our arrival in Baltimore he got into
drunken quarrel with one of nay men and
they both fell overheard and were drowned"
II saw 'em," said Jake reviying for mo-
ment.
81 suppose you sent me that photograph
among your other favors," said Sharpsey.
eyes," said Hookem. I believe YOU
thought Charley was pretty smart to get it
didn't you?"
Sharpsey's angry reply was cut short by
| Obadiah who had AGAIN loaded IN b;o bot