The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-10-01


my robber is on board, l will venture
that he will not slip through my
hands.
Il hope so, Mr.. Fix, for it is very
heavy robbery"
"A magnificent robbery" replied
the enthusiastic detective. "Fifty-five
thousand pounds! We don't often have
such windfalls! The robbers are be-
coming mean fellows. The race of
Jack Sheppard is dying out! They are
hung now for few shillings. p"
MIR Fix" replied the Consul, ''you
speak in such a way that | earnestly
wish you to succeed; but | repeat to
you that, from the circumstances in
which you find yourself, ! fear that it
will be difficult. Doyou not know that,
according to the description you have
received, this robber resembles an hon
est man exactlyP"
consul" replied the detective, dog
matically, great robbers always re-
semble honest people. You understand
that those who have rogues' faces have
but one course to take, to remain hon
est, otherwise they would be arrested.
Honest physiognomies are the very ones
that must be unmasked. 1t is a diff
cult task, l admit; and it is not trade
50 much as an art.
1t is seen that the aforesaid Fix was
not wanting in acertain amount of self
conceit.
In the meantime the wharf was be-
coming lively little by little. Sailors of
various nationalities, merchants, ship
brokers, porters and fellahs were com
ing together in large numbers. The
arrival of the steamer was evidently
near. The weather was quite fine, but
the atmosphere was cold from the east
wind. A few minarets lowered above
the town in the pale rays of the sun.
Towards the south, jetty of about two
thousand yards long extended like an
arm into the Suez roadstead. Several
fishing and coasting vessels were toss
ing upon the surface of the Red Sea,
some of which preserved in their style
the elegant shape of the ancient galley.
Moving among this crowd, Fix, from
the habit of mis- profession, was care
fully examining the passers-by with a
rapid glance.
1t was then half past ten.
"But this steamer will never arrived"
he exclaimed. on hearing the pert clock
strike.
"She can not be far of" replied the
| Consul.
"How long will she stop at Suez?'
asked Fix.
-Four hours. Time enough to take
in coal From Suez to Alden, at
the other end of the Red Sea, is reckoned
thirteen hundred and ten miles, and it
is necessary to lay in fuel.
And from Suez this vessel goes
directly to Bombay"
Directly, without breaking bulk"
"Well, then" said Fix, elf the rob-
Der has taken this route and this vessel.
it must be in his plan to disembark at
Suez, in order to reach by another
route the Dutch or French possessions
of Asia. He must know very well that
he would not be safe in India, which is
an English country"
Unless he is very shrewd man."
replied the Consul. You know that
an English criminal is always better
| concealed in London than he would be
abroad
After this idea. which gave the de-
tective much food for reelection, the
| Consul returned to his Office, situated
at short distance. The detective re-
manned alone, affected by certain
nervous Impotence, having the rather
singular presentiment that his robber
was to be found aboard the Mongolia
and truly, if this rascal had left England
with the intention of reaching the New
World, the East India route, beng
watched less, or more difficult to watch
than that of the Atlantic, ought to
have had his preference.
Fix was not long left to his rehec-
tons. Sharp whistles announced the
arrival of the steamer. The entire
horde of porters and fellahs rushed to-
wards the. wharf In hustle, somewhat
mountaineering the limbs and the cloth
NO of the passengers. A dozen boats
put OFF from the shore to meet the Mon
golia. Soon was seen the enormous
hull of the Mongolia passing between
the shores of the canal, and eleven
o'clock was striking when the steamer
came to anchor in the roadstead, while
the escaping OF the steam made great
noise, There was quite a number of
passengers aboard. Some remained on
the spar-deck. contemplating the pictur-
esque panorama of the town; but the
most of them came ashore in the boats
which had gone to hail the Mongolia.
Fix was examining carefully all those
that landed, when one of them ap-
preached him, after having vigorously
pushed back the fe!lahs who over
whelmed him with their offers of serv-
ice, and asked him very politely if he
could show him the Office of the English
Consular agent. And at the same time
this passenger presented passport up
on which he doubtless desired to have
| the British UiSs. Fix instinctiyely took
the passport, and at q glance read the
description in it, An involuntary move
ment almost escaped him. The sheet
trembled in his hand. The description
contained in the passport was identical
with that which he had received from
the Commissioner of the Metropolitan
| Police.
This passport is not yours?" he said
to the passenger.
No" replied the latter, sit is nv
master passport"
| land your masterP"
Remained on board"
But" continued the detective, she
must present himself in person at the
Consul's Office to establish his iden.
tity.'
''What, is that necessary"
Indispensable"
And where is the Officer
There at the corner of the square, 81
replied the detective, pointing out s
house two hundred PAGES off.
Then must go for my master, who
will not be pleased to have his plans
derangedn'
ThereupOn, the passenger bowed tC
Fix and returned aboard the steamer.
CHAPTER VII.
WHICH SHOWS ONCE MORE THE USELEssNESs
OF PASSPORTS IN POLICE MATTERS.
The detective left the wharf anC
| turned 0uicklv toward tibet 1Onsul's office