The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-01-12
hi j 8 ella Q O u q.
" LITTLE JINKS."
BY A LONDON DETECTIVE.

never could be harsh with any one
having Il real love for his mother; more
The moment that saw that his case was a
deserving one. l was ready to exert my.
self to tie utmost to help him out IF the
mire. Ny own mother had u hard strug-
gle to keep her harum scurum boy in order
but sooner than cause tear 10 gather in
her eye. would have chopped off my right
hand. She was my idol whom | used tn
worship in secret; and many time when
she thought me fast asleep ] have been
peepmg out from under the blankets,
watchin her sewing and wishing that
were strong enough and big enough tn
work for her myself But let me explain.
received the following note one morning
as entered the office:
IL missed my purse when l reached
home, so my pocket must have been picked
between the Mansion House and Finsbury
square"
This brief communication was signed by
a well-Known banker, ii jolly old bachelor,
living in Finsbury square. He was little
man and inclined to be fat; but he had Il
large, warm heart-as | had discovered
long before and seemed to live in a kind
of genial atmosphere, liked by everybody
and envied by none. l even felt momen.
tary surprise that thief had found it in
his heart to victimize such man.
Calling at his house, the following en-
sued
1t is not so much the money that con-
Germs me-" he said; though the loss of
that would be serious to poor man, but
in the inner pocket | had slowed away
some papers and an old memorandum
which / shall miss very much. If you just
get me Them you can let the poor wretch
keep the money"
This proposal was against all law and
order. and he must have known it: but |
had to remind him of the fact.
"Ah, yes, know" he said, in his quick
why, with merry smile. ITS against
the law of course, but you detectives can
easily stretch point when you have IL
mind to, aud, besides, only throw out
the hint Get the contents of the inner
pocket-the rest also if you can"
You did not feel yourself tugged or
stled anywh here on your way homer"
" No, felt nothing, ard did not miss
the purse until came here"
After eliciting all the facts | could in
connection with the matter returned to
the office, determined to work with will
to trace his purse and its contents.
But l did not even hear of it. No one
among my numerous acquaintances seemed
particularly flush of money; the empty
purse was not picked up anywhere or
brought in and began to fear that it
had left London, and the thief with it.
t., IL, h,,u 7 ,i,t
A little before 10 O'Clock next morning.
while we were chatting away, a slim NOR
sci OF boy made his appearance, with his
eyes all red and sweled with crying, and
asked if this was the detectiv, office We
all started round and gazed at the little in.
truder. The strangest thing about him was
his skinnyness he was mere shadow
nf a boy, though he had prepossessing
little face, in spite of the clearing effect of
the crying.
Being answered in the affirmative he
remained IA moment silent, during which ]
could see, 10y the quivering of his lip, that
he was struggling hard to appear manly
and firm while making his next speech
he then suddenly produced the purse Of
Mr. s., the banker, and hastily got out
the words:
"lf you please, I'm thief--and mother
is ead-and I've come for you to put me
in Jail"
He WAS choking and shaking all over as
lie got the words out, but it was no use.
A binding rush Vt tears came to his eyes,
and the heavy purse dropped ut his feet.
There was II strange silence in the room.
Nubody rushed forward with u pair OF
handouts, or grasped him by the collar to
hustle him off to cell. He was b. small
30 iorlorn and pitiful looking.
touched him gently on the shoulder.
whats your name z" asked; but |
was not prepared for the change the siniple
question produced. His face flushed up
and every tear burst out of his eyes, as ht
said:
my name is Willie Bell, but they al
call me Little links now. That's why
ran away from the Home But lpitched
into them before left-not for that but
Tor something else.' And the recollection
seemed to afford the-httle man u kind Of
fierce pleasure.
''Oh, SO you ran away from the Home.
/ suppose your mother was pretty poor
Willle-not well off-eh 2"
That's it, sir" he cried, with sudden
intelligence flashing out OF his fearful eyes.
That's how she died-Im sure of it-be
cause she hadn't enough to cut. l tried
to save her by stealing the purse after
ran away from til Home; but when | vol
home-she couldn't eat-and she d1ed
without knowing what | had doue. d.