Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1875-10-22

again caught sight of the boys, still run
ming. Presently two men met them; they
spoke together, the boys waved their hand
excitedly i'm my direction, then all adj
vanced toward me- /, in my turn, moved
toward them, and as | approached / saw
one was coast-guardsman, the other
policeman. AS we neared each other th,
bows fell back behind the men, and th,
men themselves halted, seemingly hest
tating end irresolute.
But | went on, and as soon as [ wa:
close enough to speak said to the police
man. "Ah! you are just the man
wantedr'
Funny, isn't it? You're just the mar
we wanted, 2 was the reply, and in anoth
er second the coast guardsman had seized
me by the arms, while his companion had
slipped pair of handouts on my wrists
before was well aware that it was done
In my confusion and surprise the truth
did not as yet dawn upon me. This strange
treatment added only another mystery tc
the affair; but well remember that, in
spite of my perplexity, was diverted by
the behavior of the boys as with yell OF
| triumph, they scampered back in the di-
rection which they had come. What fol-
lowed next is less distinct in my recollec-
ton. / only know that | protested, re-
monstrated and begged my captors to ex-
plain. 1t was in vain-the sailors lips
seemed Theoretically sealed and all I
could elicit from the policeman was dry
"All right; push on, or we shan't get to
Portland before it's closed for the nigh"
| | was evidently taken for an escaped
convict, and, ooking at my dress, there
were grounds for the supposition. Of
course | protested against such belief,
| told who / was and mentioned how it was
my clothes were stolen while bathing. All
was in vain; was only laughed at, and
heard that reward OF five pounds was
offered for my recovery.
"We've got you and will keep YOU"
said the policeman. {" Here comes the
chaise to pick us up" So into the chaise
l was put, in spite pf all remonstrance.
| Now, | am mai of patient disposition,
and my temper is not easily ruffied; al
though, in my present position, there was
much to annoy; although the personal in
| dignity of my arres and the mystery that
hung over my immediate future might
make even the most stolid philosopher I'M
easy, there were some crumbs of comfort
to be got from the ldicrous absurdity of
the whole affair. Happily, in this out-of-
|
me as the branded felOn borne back in
letters to the prison from which I had es-
capped. If the chief in Criticized Friars
were close athand, Cr even the melancholy
interesting young Idly whose chances had
| pierced my blue spctacles, [ might have
hung my head, but [ knew that, after all,
this was only case Of temporary inconven-
fence; could not fail, sooner or later,
to succeed in proving my identity, and
| that | must then be at once set free. Bar
ring the personal discomforts, the loss of
| good suit of clothes, ETC., and the escape
| of some hardened wretch, thanks to my
unconscious assistance, the present was a
curious experience, which few were likely
to compass. In this way [ argued myself
| into laughing almosI at this excellent
practical joke, in whid Self was the prin-
cipal sufferer, and theend of which, for
all | knew, might still. be indefinitely de-
| layed.
Away, in the twilight cleaning, over
| the downs for mile or two, and along
the white, winding chalk roads, to the
| more level and wooded country; then past
farms, and between tall hedgerows and
| Struggling villages, until we reached the
| outskirts of Weymeuth then through the
lighted streets and larades of the fashion
| able watering places alive with gay COM
| pany and merry music; treading our way
across the bridge, amongst docks and
wharves and shippins, till at length we
| emerged upon the long, flat causeway that
tops the Chesil Bank and joins Portland
to the mainland. Tie night had fallen,
but the glory of fullmoon flooded every
thing with light. On each side of the
ridge slept the quit sea, beneath the
twinkling stars, and light in front doomed
the massive promortory OF Portland,
couched like a lioI against the moon
lit sky.
Miles high it seemed, that hill, a
terrible ascent, steep as the climb that
faces many who have also travelled this
road if, when once again free, they seek
to struggle from crime to honesty. My
courage sank somewhat during the long
gradient, and by me time we reached the
gloomy portals of the prison it was at its
lowest ebb. The place was lonely and
silent as the tomb; a solitary lamp flick
cred above the heavy gates, touching with
spots of luster the tips of the steel nails
that studded all their panels. One of my
escort jumped out and touched deep
toned bell, and the next minute little
window, some six inches square, was
opened in the door, and through it / saw
the CLEAN of two white eyeballs, belong
ing doubtless to the same head from which
now came very gruff and threatening:
"Well?n
"We've gothim!''
Instantly the voice changed. Itwas clear
the escape was the source of deep anxiety
to all at Portland, and that this was joyful
news.
"What. Raschkoff? For these and all
other mercies, the Lords name be
praised" AS if /, in my character of Rasch-
koff was a very excellent dinner about to
be digested.
With solemn, Changing sound the
heavy doors swung back upon the hinges
and was inside. Almost like clock-work
they closed again behind me, and, although
/ knew my incarceration was certain to be
short. [ felt quite as if hope were al
ready extinguished from my breast. At
that moment | would gladly have pur-
chased immediate release at any price:
and asked Indignantly to see the Gov
ernor at once.
"He says he's Mr.. John Wray, of
Criticized Frlars, said the policeman, with
grin.
always was tn artfullest villain OUT
replied the gate-keeper, pointing to me
menacing1y with his heavy key. &c It's
not the first time he's done it. neither;
calls himself gentleman because he was
convicted of some genteel crime, forgery,
or like that He was away six months
last time, but we nabbed him then, just
as you have now. But he made his
guy again this morning in fog, and
got away again as smooth as butter. It's
here to-day with him and gone to-mor-
row"
cay, and back again at night, said the
sailor, profoundly.