The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-09-14

pleAlly On my lace.
"' What are you thinking of doing,
Mr. Inspector?' | asked
Why, take this predatory indivi-
dual-this pike among gudgeons-to
the station (they'll have no mercy on
him this time); and you must accom-
pany us thither. I'll take
care of these bits of paper; as in like
manner I'll be the safe custodian of the
artifully contrived wedding present.
Saying which, he deposited the notes,
the check, and the diamonds in the
breast-pocket of his over-coat.
There was no help for it; of course
| must go to the station. So calling
my assistant from the back room, |
instructed him to get cab and look
after business during my absence. OF
course | did not tell him the errand |
was bound on; and as luck would
have it, he appeared not to notice that
anything was wrong. 1t would, must
confess, have been difficult for Thomas,
my then shopman, to have seen the
| hand-cutfed wrists of the pious-looking
gentleman; for, to his credit be it said,
I the trapped fox had contrived to fasten
| bllC DOJuOIIl VI Ills
long-tailed frock-coat, and placing his
hands beneath, had thus managed to
kaSp the iron bracelets out of sight.
| Still, there was a decidedly awkward
appearance about him, and the heavily
limbed inspector certainly did not by
his attitude and manner at all resemble
a man bent on buying my wares or
selling me his; however, Thomas
seemed oblivious to what was taking
place under his very nose, and hied
him for cab.
1.-The cab brought, the two entered
first, while remained behind for a few
moments to give instructions to my
shopman. Then got inside the cab,
and we started for Moor Lane Police
Station, Fore Street. | hadn't been
seated long before | found that the
prisoner hands were free.
"'That's all right the inspector
said, noting my look of surprise. He's
promised me to behave himself: and
between ourselves, l don't like to iron
a man if | can get him to give IN
quietly. Besides our designing friend,
with all his cunning. knows who he's
got to deal with-that l am more than
a match for him. Don't you fear, sir;
he won't easily slip through my
fngers'
"Well, at length we arrived at the
station house. | was the first to alight
from the cab, and was about to enter
the station. The inspector, still seated
with his prisoner, called to me with
evident ANNOYANCE: There's no light
in the superintendent room; Wen
have to wait little. However, there's
no help for it. You 90 into that room
there, the first door on the right; you'll
find newspapers and records there.
Amuse yourself. I'll cage my bird
put him under lock and key (safe bind,
safe find, you know, and then rn
come to you. I'll be here in a few
minutes. If remain away any length
of time, ask for Inspector John Tricklet.
Pray, do not mention our
business to any living SOUL
I Like a fool and the transporting
Riot / wds, 1 did as 1 was bid /
turned the handle of the door and en-
tered the room, a square, dreary apart
ment possessed of nothing to speak of
save a huge deal table, four spindle
legged chairs, a map of London and an
almanac; and excepting life-boat,
making slow progress over a boiling
sea, the walls were bare of pictures
In my then state of mind the place
seemed horribly monotonous. How
ever, | took up the only newspaper the
room boosted of and seated myself to
wait for the end.
''1t speedily came. | hadn't been
seated long before | heard the cab
drive away. 'Ah,' l said to myself,
the man in blue is too economical to
let 'cabby' wait; l suppose l shall be
detained here some time. Was there
ever anything so disagreeable?'
Fifteen minutes passed. During
that time tidgeted about There is no
Disgusting the matter; was terribly
perturbed. The most idiotic thoughts
passed through my brain. What if
| found myself asking, this sham
clergyman should eventually prove my
destruction? What if, after serving
his punishment, he should out of re-
venge come to my shop and blow out
my brains? What But | thought
all manner of things which I won't
bother you with. Suffice it that an
ouner HIteen minutes passed. L rose
from my seat, but before | could move
a yard towards the door, it opened, and
a tine-looking old gentleman, evidently
the superintendent, stood before me.
We were soon on good terms; gave
him my name and explained my adj
vent and why | was cooped up in
what he called his private inquiry
office He seemed, when l had finish
ed, to labor hard to keep down laugh.
"' WE'LL he said at length, you've
been done nicely! But you have this
consolation, that others have been bit,
and to a pretty tidy tune, too. You
say you are waiting for Inspector j ohm
Tricklet.' There's no such party of
that name connected with this station.
They've carried on similar game,
varied little, very successfully in all
the large towns in Ireland, Scotland
and Wales, to say nothing about what
they've done abroad. Trick
let! All, avery apt name! The games
been contrived by trick-and he
they-have let you in the hole. -
You mustn't suppose me a Jobs COM
forter when | say that dozens have
| hepn SWindled by these two clever Vul-