The Ripley advertiser. [volume] (Ripley, Miss.) 1843-1897, 1881-07-09

"One evening | was passing
along one vt the principal streetl
of Cincinnati, when | was over
whelmed with aRIOnishment Ia
meet Benjamin Bowles. lie war
disguised, but no. wilhstankirg that
l recognized HIM, andl knew in an
instant, from his manner, that he
was aware OF the fact that | had
penetrated bic deco ption. hur'
ried to the Chief OF Police and i'm
parted the information, hoping to
have him arrested; but he must
have Immediately fled, as the Off
GERS could not find him. ] hired a
detective to look for him, but after
working a month nothing was &C.
complished. But when ] tell you
to whom | am indebted for the
discovery OF BOwlss' hiding place,
l know You will be greatly aston.
ished. Do you see that little pale
faced, nckly.lOoking boy yOnder,
leaning over the banistersW
ayes"
GVery we'll; it is to that little he.
70 that | owe the great obligation.
His name is Robert Spratt, son of a
widow residing in Memphis; you
doubtless remember him, though
he has changed very much in his
personal appearance since he left
Memphis. They used to call him
hunch-back Bob, for his spine was
diseased, causing an ugly hump to
appear between his shoulders, and
seriously affecting his general
health, and as | think; greatly re.
tarded his growth. You will notice
that he is quite a child in statue,
but l can tell you he has the heart,
brain and soul of a man; he is a re-
ii gallant hero, and you could not
lind another such a good detective
anywhere. He is much older,
though, than HE little body would
indicate.
II prevailed on him to let mo
seAd him TO an infirmary at Cincin-
natl, where he was efEeCtually cur
ed, for which | p'id one thousand
dollars; ani.aS good luck would
have it, | met my little PRoTEGE on
the streets not more than ten min.
utes after | had net Bowles. l
was delighted to see that the ugly
had disappeared and that my
little friend was effectually cured.
! hurried;y' gave, him q description
OF BOwles and told him in which.
direction the murderer had gone,
reqaestiag him to follow and try
to find him. eI.dId. not see Robert
any more, Or hear a word from him
for two months, andT concluded
that he had'returned. to bis home
in Memphis; but not so-the noble
little hero was tracking the great
outlaw.
81 caunot command language to
describe the surprise as well as joy
l felt when l received a telegram
from my little hero, informing me
that Bowles was on his way to.
Mexico, and would probably stop a
few days at New Orleans, and ad-
vising me to come down there as
soon as l could. He also request
ed nae to inquire for a dispatch that
he would send to Memphis, which
meet me there on my way to
New Orleans. He was at Friar's.
Mississippi, where Bowles
had stopped TO wait for one Of his
pals who had agreed to meet him
there.
"Mr. Catherine kindly consented
to go with me to New Orleans, and
when | arrived at Memphis, 1 found
the promised telegram, which in.
formed me that BOwles was still at
Frar's Point. The white Rose
being the first boat that would
star, for New Orleans, We conclud.
ed to take passage on her, but learn.
ing that LOItie and Edward had
-heen married on the day before |
reached Memphis, and that they
were going on a bridal tour to the
Crescent City, | at once procured a
black domino and mask to wear in
order to keep them from know.
ing me. / am sure that l could
not have sufficiently disguised my
voice to have enabled me to de-
cleve Lottie, had it not been Tor a
severe cold, which, although quite
painful, / wac gladetn &ndnre as
long as il would aid me in the &C.
complishment of my purpose. II
was my intention % leave the BOAT
at Friar's Point, but soon after the
white Rose landed, | was delight.
ed to see my little detective come
n. e A..