Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-07-21
MIR. SCPERINTENDENT'S TEST.
A story of the MeibOurne Police.

Mhs SCIENlN IENDENE y iESls
story of the MeibOurne Police.
Some years agO-a good many more,
In fact, than l care TO recall now-I
waS wandering very disconsoately
through one Of the main thorouyhfarrs
of Melbourne. debating with myself
the advisabiiity of walking down TO
the quay and offering my services as
steward to the captain OF the first home
ward-bound vessel on which l might
sec the "bluc-peter hosied. Things
had gone very badly with me; every
enterprise to which I had turned nv
attention had either fallen through
or resulted disastrouslyto myself;
and after vainly trying my luck
in the colony for over three years.
l came to the conclusion that
the sooner l reconciled myself to
the utter failure of my attempts, the
better it would be both for my peace
of mind and my constitution.
In this dismal mood | was listlessly
reading over the shipping announce
ments posted on an adjacent wall,
when came across notice from the
Police Department, intimating. in
tersely official language, that few new
hands were needed-hands who were
strong, vigorous, healthy, shrewd.
good hOrsemen, and rejoicing in the
possession of such other natural advan-
tages as would inevitably ensure thoir
success in any line they chose to adopt
Twas good horseman. healthy, and
tolerable strong; my shrewdness had
begun TO doubt lately, and as for the
n st of the desiderata suppose 1
was as well Oft as most people. Here
possibly was a chance for me; at any
rite, it was only few days delay if
nothing came of it; would make my
application and chance it. l returned
t, my diggings, wrote an official appli-
cation as per directions; and. to make a
long story short, received, two days
later, a note desiring my attendance at
he station on the following day. Here
fter rather stiff examination, physi-
al and mental. and such tests of horse
nanship as taking a five-barred gate
With my arms folded-which l accom-
everything was tolerably satisfactory,
lnh might expect an official notili-
cation of appointment at an early
da o. Meanwhile, it would be desirable,
I'yas informed, that keep the matter
As far as it had gone, quite private; a
st pulation l had no difficulty in con-
forming to. since l had not a single
;end in the city.
On the evening of the following day,
found at my quarters a second note
rom Mr.. Superintendent, conspicuous
marked "Private," and conveying
The very agreeable intelligence that
Has temporarily engaged from that
day. The letter closed with request
that | would call at once on the Super
intendent.
Somehow to my dismay, found. on
presenting myself. that my permanent
appointment was conditional upon nv
satisfactorily carrying through special
job then on hand. It was an affair of
s,me nicely, and an old hand, from
smother station, would have been given
the work but for being absent on other
BUSINESS. The matter would admit of
10 delay; and it was imperatively nee
,ssary that it was undertaken by some
onc not. or seemingly not, belonging
20 the Melbourne force. In short, |
was told to do it. The matter was
this: packet of government papers,
of high Importance, had been stolen
from the messenger to whose care they
had been intrusted; and from informa-
tion received. it seemed pretty certain
that their present pOssessOr-a man
fast becoming notorious in the colony
would be walking toward the city the
next afternoon and to prevent his
intimate acquaintance with the town
enabling him to escape, or any con-
federates attempting his release, was
to wait by bridge on the line of road,
about ten miles out of Melbourne. and
get the papers from him. Tho man
was by no means to be shot, or, if pos.
sible. even hurt but the papers must
be secured. Minute instructions as to
his appearance were followed by a
pretty plain implication that my career
in the force would very largely depend
upon my success.
l felt, as may be easily imagined, in
anything but high spirits. The pros
pect of single-handed encounter with a
man with whose resources l knew
nothing. and who might blow my brains
out before had chance of attack,
was not cheering. However, there was
nothing but to do it; it was my last
chance. and must embrace it without
shirking.
Next day, which was Sunday, l ac-
cordingly procured horse from the sta
tion. and, taking my revolver with me,
started out to try my luck as police
man; and about two o'clock in the after
noon came near the place mentioned.
Lett my horse at the nearest roadside
'''hotel," sauntered to the bridge, and.
leaning over the rail with no very dis
tinct notion of how was going to act,
waited for my man with what GOODNESS
could muster.
Two hours had passed; tie sun was
beginning to 60 down; and was just
preparing to console myself with the
notion that the man had got wind of
our intention, and gone by another
route, when l became aware of the ap-
proach OF solitary pedestrian. As he
came nearer ran over the description
OF the man 1 wanted-which | had
learned of by heart-and at once con.
siuded that this was the individual.