Nebraska advertiser., 1881-08-18

markable persistence. Under his long
eyelashes there shone very bright eyes,
but whose brilliancy he could suppress
at will. AT this moment he showed
some signs of impotence, going, COM
ing, unable TO remain in one spot.
The name of this man was Fix. and
he was one of the detectives, or agents
of the English police, that had been
sent to the various seaports after the
robbery committed upon the Bank of
England. This Fix was to watch, with
the greatest care, all travellers taking
the Suez route. and if one of them
seemed suspicious TO him, to follow
him up whilst waiting for warrant of
arrest. just two days before Fix had
received from the Commissioner of the
Metropolitan Police the description of
the supposed robber. 1t was that of
the distinguished and well-dressed gen.
tleman who had been noticed in the
paying room of the bank. The detect
i've, evidently much excited by the
large reward promised in case of sue
cess, was waiting then, with an impa-
thence easy to understand, the arrival
of the Mongolia.
"And you say, Consul" he asked, for
the tenth time, that this vessel can not
be behind time?"
"No, Mr. Fix" replied the Consul.
"She was signaled Yesterday of Port
! Said, and the one hundred and sixty
kilometers of the canal are of no
moment for such saier. | repeat to
| you that the Mongolia has always OBJ
| tanned the reward of twenty-five pounds
] 4
gain of twenty-four hours over the
regulation time"
This steamer comes directly from
Brndisi?" asked Fix.
directly from Brindisi, where it
took on the India mail; from Brindisi,
which it left on Saturday, at five o clock
p. NJ. So have patience; it can not be
behindhand in arriving. But really |
do not see how, with the description
you have received, you could recognize
your man, if he is on board the Mon
golia."
Consul replied Fix, 1--WE feel
these people rather than know them.
| You must have scent for them, and
the scent is like special sense in which
are united hearing, sight and smell. |
have in my life arrested more than one
of these gentlemen, and, provided that
my robber is on board, | will venture
that he will not slip through my
hands"
Il hope so, Mr. Fix, for it is very
heavy robbery"
"A magnificent robbery" replied
the enthusiastic detective. FIFTY five
thousand pounds! We don't often have
such wndfalls! The robbers are be-
coming mean fellows. The race of
Jack Sheppard is dying out. They are
hung now for few shillings."
"Mr. Fix" replied the Consul, ''you
speak in such a way that | earnestly
wish you to succeed; but / repeat to
you that. from the circumstances in
which you find yourself, ] fear that il
will be difficult. Doyou not know that,
according to the description you have
received, this robber resembles an hon.
est man eXactlyN "
Consul replied the detective. dog
matically, ''great robbers always re-
semble honest people. You understand
that those who have rogues' faces have
but one course to take, to remain hon
est, otherwise they would he arrested.
Honest physiognomies are the very ones
that must be unmasked. 1t is diff
cult task, | admit; and it is not trade
so much rs an art"
1t is seen that the aforesaid Fix was
not wanting in certain amount of self.
conceit
In the meantime the wharf was be-
coming lively little by little. Sailors OF
various nationalities, merchants, ship
brokers, porters and fellahs were com
ing together in large numbers. The
arrival OF the steamer was evidently
near. The weather was quite fine, but
the atmosphere was cold from the east
wind. A few minarets lowered above
the town in the pale rays of the sun.
Towards the south, jetty of about two
thousand yards long extended like an
arm into the Suez roadstead Several
fishing and coasting vessels were toss
ing upon the surface of the Red Sea,
some of which preserved in their style
the elegant shape of the ancient galley.
Moving among this crowd, Fix, from
the habit of his profession, was care
fully examining the passers-by with a
rapid glance.
1t was then half past ten. r
''But this steamer will never arriver'
he exclaimed, on hearing the port clock
strike.
"She can not be far Off" replied the
Consul si #aaF
How long will She stop at SuezP"
asked Fix. ... t..r Lao
-Four hours. Time enough to take
in coal. From Suez to Alden, at
the other end of the Red Sea, is reckoned
thirteen hundred and ten miles, and il
is necessary to lay in fuel.
"And from Suez this vessel goes
directly to Bombay"