The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-05-22
AnAdyenture in London.

An Adventure in London.
/ went to Coyenl Garden Theatre one
night last season We we're let out o,
IL and set off to nv lodgings. II
knocked there was no answer. KNOCK
ed again; 3 window was thrown up and
my landlady's head appeared.
"Who are you ?" she screamed.
Lets in, please; it's me" answer. |
ed
"Then, Mr.. Me, il you don't come
home before 10 you may stay out dill
mornin', never wait up for my dodgers
my door is closed at l0!" and then
the window closed with hang.
mo go!" thinks /, 81 have no money.
I'll go to railway-station and wait IN
the waiting-room till morning." which
resolution Iprocesded to carry out by
walking briskly for the Bank
turned into Moorgate street and was
just thinking whether should 90 to
London, Brighton and South Coast or
the London Bridge Station. stopped
to think. There was q confectioner's
shop jus in front OF me. o.! that it
were open! l had threepence left.
Just at this moment a tall. broad
shoudered man came up to me and
viewed me from top to toe | looked
at in. He was dressed in dark clothes,
pea Jacket and clap-trap cloth hat, with
peak lying level on the forehead, that
gave me telling of awe. The thought
forced itself upon me that he was q
garotier. He spoke first =
you're Mr.. Sam ?" and he laid his
finger on his nose. - ~
you've gusse,l it," said I, thinking it
best to agree with him, althoug my
name was Tom.
"Then COME along!" and away we
went ~.
"Did Butler give ye e'er q pistol ?"
he asked. ,Ie4
"No," said I, heeining to tremble
"He said he wanted them himself"
"Just like him. He told me I'd find
YOU standing in Moorgate street, between
IL shd L, opposite the confectioner g,
with your right hand in your pocket"
I'm in for it," thinks I. "but l must
60 through with it. But whatever will
1t come TO at all, ut all 2" s.ss7sl
He led me through lsbyrinth OF
streets, walking rather fast, Till we emerg-
ed upon the city road Then he made
straight. for the Angel and from thence
took cab for Fleet str ct. What, OH
iect be had in doing this I cannot say.
He did not offer to explain; in fact, not
a word passed between us till we got
out at the top OF Ludgate Hill.
From thence we went into back street
and out of that into another, no matter
which, and suddenly STOPPING opposite
shop be exclaimed:
"There's our crib!" ...s, -.
.,Is i ?" says L.
Whereupon he produced from his
pocket rule. The shop was evidently
a tailor's as it had bars standing out
like the rungs Of jacobs ladder, from
each de Of the door, to exhibit stock
upon NY friend steppea on the first Of
these, which was three feet from the
ground, and speedily measured the
height of large glass fanlight over the
door; then. stepping down again, he
measured the breadth OF the door, and
as the fsallght was square he muttered
10 me by way OF giving me its dimen-
sion.
"Three and half by two hight" and
chuckled quietly.
Then he crossed the road and l fol.
lowed. he explaining that we must watt
till the policeman passed He hove inI
81 hit about len minutes afterwards,
while we walked past him. Then wei
waited TIL he returned. This time wel
did not pass him, but watched from al
corner st a distance.
Twenty minutes and half between
going aud coming" exclaimed my com
panion. sand handy heat; for. he
comes up to the corner there" pointing to
one little beyond the shop-""and goes
down this street next ours" llsA<
The impression began to steal over
me that was committing, or helping TO
commit, a felony, and that II caught /
might get into trouble. l thought Of
running for it; but the remark nv COM
panion made at that moment, to the ef-
feet that it would be short run If I
deserted him { for he seemed to see i
didn't like the job), deferred me. ]
dared not explain that he had made
mistake, for felt sure that he must
have mistaken me for some ally 6zhis
own 81 must 60 through with il"
thinks "He'Il leave me outside to
watch and Ill hook it then" So ]
went on.
He crossed the street again the mo-
ment the policeman was past interfering
with us, and producing piece Of stout
black cloth he applied the rule thereto,
I holding it against the shutters, while
he set ont "three and half by two"
thereon. This done, be cut 1t within
two inches of the measurement all
round and then producing treacle pot
from his pocket, he smothered one side
OF the cloth with treacle, and, desiring
me to hold it. he mounted the shop
door. so to speak, again; l gave him
the cloth, which he Immediately clapped
on the skylight, the ;reacle max ng It
adhere firmly to .he glass. Then,: look
ing at bis watch, he cried:
sBy gosh! he'll be here this minute!"
and away we walked. A glance behind
US, as we turned the next corner. Not
yet in sight! We stopped and waited,
bat the policeman came not. My friend
muttered an oath, adding. an go.
Come along; but keep your weather-eye
open" And of we went.
''Perhaps be is watching u.s." 1 sug-
gested But the idea was discarded as
not in the nature of policeman "like
that one we saw" at
We arrived at the shop. He mount
ed again and drove string throught a
hole in the cloth. Then he ran dia-
mond round the edge of the glass. A
gentle pat aad it gave way Now saw
the use of the cloth and string. He
could hold the glass by the string; and
he slowly lei it down into the shop, and
producing a long-sbaped pad, he laid it
along the bottom of the fanlight to COW
er the glass edge and threw one leg into
the opening and got astride of it.
: "Follow me, be muttered, and ducked