Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-07-27
eivinr tl:r letter from my hand


heard his heavy tramp rctrcating.
After another delay. anl ii soun,i
of lighter footsteps. the door WAS
again opened. and a youngish looking
man. in garb. as revealed by the
imperfect light. which appeared
more ilashy than genteel. stood be
fore me.
Sorry to've KEEP. you waiting. Mr..
Harley" he said, seizing my hand
cordially Have read Bridg's letter
capital fellow, Bridg. Any friend
If his always welcome. just going
to dine with a few friends. Must
JOIN us. Good way to Introduce You
Come. come. Die" turning to his
srr] y servant run ahead. and tell
them to put another name IN the
pot"
Cutting short my Acknowledgements.
MIR. Fitz QuagS took my arm. and
we sauntered leisurely along. As We
turned corner to go down street
less inviting. if anything. than the
one we had left caught a glimpse,
l fancied, of form OH the other side
of the way, much resembling the
burly figure of Mac(irumlie.
We stopped, at length. before a
door at which my companion knocked
peculiarly. We were at once ad-
mitted, and Mr.. Fitz Quagg led the
way to a room lighted by a dim lamp.
where. half invisible in an atmosphere
of smoke, sat three of his familiar
spirits. each with pipe in his
mouth.
Il say, Dick" said Fitz Quagg. the
ceremony Of introduction over, "fill
up the glasses while we're waiting for
the solids"
Soon each man had tumbler of
punch before him.
Here's to our better acquaintance
no heeltaps, mind" called out the
hilarious Fitz Quagg, rising, and
draining his joram in honor Of the
sentiment.
Ont of sheer politeness | swallowed
the abominable stuff. though the
taste half sickened me. In few
seconds my head began to whirl.
Fitz Quagg and his friends seemed
to be spinning round the room. The
clouds of smoke thickened. My
temples throbbed A dull heaviness
settled on my brain, and then came
unconsciousness.
How long it was before Try facul
ties returned, l do not know; but
whom they did, my companions had
disappeared. l felt for my watch to
note the time. 1t was gone, and my
pocket book and money with it. The
truth flashed upon me.
'Drugged and robbed" l ex
claimed.
you've hit it exactly" answered a
voice which l had heard before; and,
turning around, my eyes fell on the
impassive face of the gruff Mac
Grumlio.
Never mind" he continued; "your
property and the robbers are both
safe at the station house he fellow
you parted with this morning is a
poted thief, whose face having grown
too familiar in London, he has been
plying his trade on the Continent of
late. Ascertaining, probably, that
You had large sum about you, he
came across the Channel in your
company, but finding no safe chance
to pick your pocket by the way, and
not daring to follow You farther. he
commended you to the kind offices of
his city friends, trusting to their
honor to remit him his share of the
spoil.
"As an old detective, 1 had little
difficulty in fathoming his scheme.
as soon as I had learned lie had
given you letter. SO kept close
watch on Your movements from the
moment you left the cab, which 1
dismissed Immediately after Then,
waiting till things had gone far
enough to insure the rogues a good
term of penal servitude, l summoned
assistance and pounced upon them
before they could make off with their
plunder.