Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-06-22
FILL FOR THE DETECTIVES.


When Fergus Bethany left Wolver-
hampton with portmanteau which was
so heavy that it took the united strength
of three porters to lift it into the luggage
van, the local Superintendent of Police
felt it to be his duty to communicate by
telegraph with his superiors at Scotland
Yard. For Fergus had only been ut
Wolverhampton few days, and no one
knew from whence he came or what his
business was. Even in the biliard-room
Of second-rate hotel, where he spent his
evenings, he proved himself to be an I'M
sociable fellow. Not only did he answer
in monosyllables such commonplace re-
marks as were addressed to him, but he so
far omitted the ordinary courtesies of the
place that he never offered to treat the
marker to a drink or cigar. Possibly it
was on this account that that official pro-
phetically observed, as Bellamy drove off
to the railway station. Hell never be
no good to no one, I'll bet bob"
On reaching st. Pancras, Fergus evinc-
cd great anxiety that due care should be
taken of his portmanteau, and no wonder,
for it WAS apparently brand new, and bore
his initials in large green letters. If the
value of its contents could be judged by
its weight rather than by the gre tuity
was precious indeed. After seeing it de-
posted on the roof of four wheeled cab,
and discovering from n timetable that
the train from Birmingham was due in
ten minutes the traveller devoted him
self to obtaining all the news of the day
in strictly economical manner by read
ing the contents bills of the papers that
were exposed on the book STALL
Within q few mimi tpa of tho nlyaIt iapl
hour the Birmingham train arrived, and
rs Bellamy stepped forward to greet the
acquaintance for whom he had evidently
been waiting, he was unaware of the I'M
mediate proximity of Inspector Grab
ham, of the Detective Department, and
of the interest that experienced officer
was taking in his movements. Nor did
he notice that the inspector was taking
care not to miss Il word of the following
conversation
"What message from master?' asked
Bellamy, in somewhat excited tone.
Nothing more but that he'll be up the
day after tomorrow. 1t muse be done
before then. You have the materials, and
the papers are here" replied the other,
glancing downward at small carpet-bag
that evidently comprised all his luggage.
eve must join n. Ct. at once"
With reciprocal wink the two into the
cab, which had been waiting, and the
driver was ordered to go to the Sprig of
Shillelagh. Inspector Graham followed
in hanson at reasonable distance.
The hotel selected by the friends was
but a very humble hostelry at Islington.
Its proprietor, an Irishman named O'Fla-
herty, carried on fairly prosperous trade
during the cattle show and Derby weeks,
but at the arrival of three new visitors in
one day in the off season he was consider
ably surprised. His establishment abated
little when he found that they were all
of one party, for the boots were told tc
inform Mr.. Nathaniel Gavan that Mr..
Bellamy and Mr.. Isom had arrived. The
first named came at once from the private
sitting-room he had engaged and cordial
ly welcomed the others. More than this
he Hospitality manifested deep interest
in the welfare of Bellamy's portmanteau
which, after consultation among the three
was ordered to be taken to Mr.. Gavan'i
private sitting room, fact Immediately
noted by the watchful detective, who by
this time was consuming with remarka
BILE deliberation bottle of ginger beer a
the hotel bar.
Had Fergus Bellamy, David Isom ant
Nathaniel Gavan known that the hilari
GUS gentlemen who dined at an adjacen
table were Inspector Graham and tw,
other detectives, whose duty it was t,
watch their every action and remembe
every word they spoke, it is probable tina
they would have eaten in privacy up
stairs rather than in the public coffee
Certainly they would not have accepte,
the hospitality of their neighbors bu
drink is responsible for many an acquaint
anceship, and when the beefsteak an,
Welsh rarebit which constituted thei
modest meal was demolished, and Ison
ordered "three WHISTLES hot" it was bu
natural that they should feel grateful TO
Inspector Graham's offer made in
North country accent) to partake of
bottle of OFlaherty's Oldest port. Thi
was not beverage to be despised, for
ever since the bankruptcy of grocer i
the next street, when the landlord of til
Sprig of Shillelagh had purchased til
whole remaining stock of seventeen bot
ties for thirty shillings.,
After the first glass around had bee
held up to the light, submitted to til
nasal test and disposed of, the zealou
police officer opened out his heart to hi
guests.
81 have just come up from Bradford
travelling in the dry goods line. Maybe
Mr., l have not the pleasure of you
name. Thank you, Mr.. Bellamy. May
be you know the town. I'm going aroun
Lincoln tomorrow 10 some of our cit
houses. Can l be Of any service to you
or perhaps you are at the same game, eh {
The inspector might have spared himse
the trouble trying to extract informatio
either by straightforward questions {