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

of fatigue, after discussing nothing but
the wine, the weather, and the extortion-
ate prices of London cabmen.
As O'Flaherty was closing his bar some
three hours after his guests had retired to
their respective rooms, he was surprised
by visit from police constable in uni
form, followed by Inspector Grabham
and another man. He recognized the two
latter as customers who had dined and
paid so well that evening, and assumed
that they required accommodation for the
night. However, he was soon undeceived,
and in a startling manner
1--WE are police officers of the Detective
Department. You have now in your
house--a licensed house-three danger
Gus characters" said the inspector, sharp
ly, mentioning their names. "When did
they arrive? Quick, we have no time to
lose"
O'Flaherty was terribly frightened, and
splutterod out words to the effect that
| Gavan had come first, and the others
later in the afternoon. Gavan evidently
had expected them, and had hired sit
ting-room. They all had luggage, and
| he knew no more, except that they had
dined and gone to bed early.
LEAD the way to the sitting-room,
replied the inspector. He then gave
some instructions to the constable, who
passed them ON to others waiting outside.
Graham and his companion followed
the landlord, who trembled rs though he
were the responsible culprit.
| The bedrooms being on an upper story,
the officers ran but little danger of being
disturbed in their search in the sitting
room. Some writing materials were on
the table, and by carefully reversing the
blotting- paper the inspector was able to
make ont that the following letter had
been written
| THE SrRIG OF Sn1LLELAGH, IsLINGToS. DEAR
| MAsTER:-So far all well. We have the materials
and Will go to work. Next day you shall hear from
Us, whether we are to sink or swim. n. G. arrived
Having deposited the blotting-paper in
his pocket, Grabham continued the search,
and, to his surprise and delight, found
that Bellamy's portmanteau was still in
the room. 1t was, however, securely
locked but the inspectors companion
was prepared for this contingency, and,
with the aid of skeleton keys, soon open
edit.
| "You scoundrels," muttered the in
spector, as, after turning over the con-
tents and pointing some of them out to
his subordinate, he quietly closed and
again locked the portmanteau. II think
we've got you this time. Now to find out
Master and Inspector Graham will be
Mr.. Superintendent, and have a money
reward, too, maybe. Come along; I'm
satisfied with this days work, anyhow"
| Grabham's junior was not equally
pleased. In fact, he was somewhat puz-
zled, for he did not understand why these
packages, if dangerous, were not taken
charge of by the police. But experience
had lately taught those more learned than
he in the art of trapping criminals, not
to strike too soon, but to track conspira-
tors so far as public safety would permit,
to the lair of the instigator, and, by
bringing him to book, destroy the root of
the plot.
| Next morning, after n frugal breakfast
| (conspirators never have enough money
to afford luxuries), Bellamy, Ison and
Gavan left their hotel, closely watched by
detectives, and, taking the omnibus from
the Angel, they We're set down at Charing
| Cross. Here they separated Bellainy
walked along the Strand, going cityward,
while Isom went up Parliament street,
and Gavan strolled toward Pail Mall.
| In a few hours the police officers en-
ployed on the special duty of watching
the suspected persons made their report.
| The first was as follows:
Watched Bellamy. He went up the
Strand, stopping to look in several shop
windows. Seemed particularly attracted
by one, cutters. He went in and in.
quired the price of an American bowie
knife, but did not buy it. Was long
while looking in the windows of an Opt
clan where there were portraits of men,
bers of Parliament and actresses.
thought he was going to turn back here,
FOR he wavered, but at last he went on.
| He paused for some time at Somerset
House, and walked out into the road to
get better view of the building. Passed
down Fleet street and up Ludgate hill
walked round st. Paul's Cathedral, stop
ping three times. Went up Cheapside,
where he spoke to constable OK. 007), and
asked to be directed to the Bank of Eng
land. Arriving there, walked round that,
viewing the bank from several positions.
Finally he appeared to select spot in the
northwest corner, and remained there
looking idly about him for some minutes.
He then went down Moorgatc street, call.
ed in tobacconist's shop, and purchased
a box of flaming fusees, then walked into
Goswell road, and on to the Sprig of Shil.
lelagh, where / was relieved, and came
directly here Scotland Yard and made
this report.
The reports of the other detectives
were very similar to this one. Isom had
strolled toward Westminster, and exam.
ined the Houses of Parliament as minute.
ly rs if lie were foreign architect while
Gavan had surveyed Buckingham Palace
as carefully as though he were going tc
make drawing of it from memory. Boil
had walked back to Islington by different
routes.
In the evening the three friends again
left their hotel. On this occasion each
took with him brown paper parcel, and
each proceeded toward the building il
which he had taken SO much interest il
the morning.
Inspector Graham and two other Off
GERS followed Gavan. That he was the
rlngleader of the gang the penetrating
officer had already decided in his owl
mind. Nor was his zeal unrewarded, fol
on reaching the gates which separate St
James Park from Buckingham Palace
the apparently heavy package he carried
could scarcely keep up with him. A sen
trybox close by was evidently the spot
fixed on for the preparation Of whatever
outrage was to be committed. Carefully
=, watching his time when the soldier OF
guard had turned to the right, IGavan de
/ posted his parcel in the shaded angle tc
the left of the box. Then, taking from
his pocket fusee, he struck it on til,
sole OF his boot, and-he found himsel
captured and handcuffed and thrust into
, a cab and driven away, he knew no
, where, before he had time to make an,
excuse. Inspector Grabham chuckled tt
/ himself as, after craftily waiting to see i
the brown nnner nnrcel would exnlnd,