Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1882-09-30
4 SEDERE HEST.
a Siors Of The Melbourne Police.


a story Of The Melbourne Police.
Some years ngo--a good many more,
In fact. than | care TO recall now-I WINS
wandering very disconsolately through
one of tho main thoroughfarcs Of Mel
bourne, debating with myself the advisa-
bility of walking down to the quay and
offering my services ns steward 10 tho
Captain of the first homoward- bound yes.
rel ON which | might see the "blue-
peter hoisted. Things had gone very
badly with me I; every enterprise to
which had turned my attention had
either fallen through or resulted dis.
astrously to myself and, after vainly
trying my luck in the colony for over
three years, | came TO the conclusion
that the sooner l reconciled myself to
the utter failure of my attempts the bet
ter 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 De.
partment. intimating, in tersely official
language, that n few new hands were
needed-hands who were strong, vigor-
Gus, healthy, shrewd, good horsemen,
and rejoicing in the possession of such
other natural advantages "a would inev-
itably insure their success in any line
they chose to adopt l was good
horseman, healthy, and tolerably
strong my shrewdness / had begun to
doubt lately and, as for the rest of the
desiderata-well, I suppose 1 was as
well off rs most people.
Here, possibly, was n chance for me;
At any rate, it WAS only a few days delay
il nothing came Of it; would make my
application and chance it. returned to
my diggings, wrote an official applica-
ton as per directions, and, to make a
long story short, received, two days lat.
er, note desiring my attendance at the
station on the following day. Here,
after a rather stiff examination, physical
and mental, and such tests of horseman.
ship as taking five-barred gate with my
arms folded-which accomplished sue.
cessfully-I was told that everything
was tolerably satisfactory, and l might
expect an official notification of appoint.
ment at an early date. Meanwhile, 1t
would be desirable, was informed, that
i kept the matter, rs far as it had gone,
quite private; a stipulation had no diff.
ficulty in conforming to, since had not
single friend in the City.
On the evening of the following day
found at my quarters a second note from
Mr.. Superintendent, conspicuously
marked Private" and conveying the
very agreeable Intelligence that I was
temporarily engaged from that day. The
letter closed with request that would
call at once on the Superintendent.
Somewhat TO my dismay, found, on
presenting myself, that my permanent
appointment was conditioned upon my
satisfactorily carrying through special
job theu ON hand. II was an affair Of
some nicely and an old hand, from an
other station, would have been given the
work, but for being absent ON other
business. The matter would admit Of
no delay and it was imperatively neces-
sary that it was undertaken by some one
not, or seemingly not, belonging to the
Melbourne force. In short, Was to do
IT. The matter was briefly this: A
packet OF Government papess, OF high
Importance, had been stolen from the
messenger 10 whose care they were in
trusted aud. from information received,
II seemed pretty certain that their pres
ent possessor-a man fast becoming
notorious in the colony-would be walk
ing toward the city next afternoon and
TO prevent his intimate acquaintance
with the town enabling him TO escape,
or any confederates attempting his re.
lease. l was to wait by bridge ON the
line Of road. about ten miles ont Of Mel
bourne, and get the papers from him.
The man IVES by no means to be shot,
or If possible even hurt; but the papers
must be secured. Minute instructions
~ to his appearance were followed 10y
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
pes Of single handel encounter witha
man Of whose RESOURCES knew nothing,
and who might blow ,ay brains out be-
bore ! had chance a attack, was not
cheering. However, there WAS nothing