Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1882-04-19
A SEVERE TEST.
A story of he Melbourne Police.

Some years ago-a good many more,
in fact, than care to recall now-I was
wandering very disconsolately through
one of the main thoroughfares of Mel
bourne, debating with myself the advisa-
bility of walking down TO the quay and
offering my services as steward to the
Captain Of the first homeward-boundy yes-
sci on which L might see the "blue-
peter" hoisted. Things had gone very
badly with me; every enterprise to
which i 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, l came TO the conclusion
that the sooner / reconciled myself to
the utter failure OF my attempts the bet
ter it would be both for my peace of
mind aud my constitution.
In this dismal mood was listlessly
reading over the shipping announce
ments posted on an anadiacent wall, when I
came across notice from the Police De-
psrtment, intimating, in tersely official
language, that few new hands were
needed--hands who were strong, vigor-
ous, healthy, shrewd, good horsemen,
and rejoicing in the possession OF such
other natural advantages as would inev-
itably insure their success in any Line
they chose to adopt. / was a good
horseman, healthy, and tolerably
strong my shrewdness j had begun to
doubt lately and, as for the rest OF the
desiderata--well, 1 suppose l was as
we'll off as most people.
Here, possibly, was chance for me;
at any rate, it was only few days delay
il nothing came of it; would make my
application and chance it. Ireturned TO
my diggings, wrote an official applica-
tion 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 rather stiff examination, physical
and mentol, and such tests of horseman-
ship as taking five barred gate with my
arms folded which accomplished snc-
cessfully-I was told that everything
was tolerably satisfactory, ana i might
expect an off :ial notification OF appoint
ment at an early date. Meanwhile, II
would be desirable, / was informed, that
kept the matter, as far as it had gone,
quite private; stipulation l had no diff.
hculty in conforming TO, since had not
single friend in the city.
On the evening Of the following day
found at my quarters second note from
Mr.. Superintendent, conspicuousiy
marked Private" and conveying the
very agreeable intelligence that / wa'
temporarily engaged from that day. The
letter closed with request that would
call at once on the Superintendent.
Somewhat to my dismay, found, or
presenting myself, that my permanent
appointment was conditioned upon my
satisfactorily carrying through specia
Job then ON hand. 1t was an affair O
some nicely and an old hand, from an
other station, would have been giventh'
work, but for being absent on othel
business. The matter would admit 0
no delay I; and it was imperatively neces
sary that it was undertaken by some one
not, or seemingly not, belonging to th'
Melbourne force. In short, / WAS to d'
1t. The matter was briefly this: a
packet of Government papers, OF higf
Importance, had been stolen from tn
messenger to whose care they were IN
trusted T; aud. from information received
IL 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 ant
70 prevent his intimate acquaintance
with the town enabling him 10 escape
or any confederates attempting his re
'easc l was to wait by q bridge on tn
hne OF road, about ten miles out OF Mel
bourne, and get the papers from him