The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-08-24

speedily returned with the required ar
ticles
Taking the coat, spread it over the
copper, which, having been recently
white washed, showed 1t up nicely. /
then fastened the end of the reel of
thread to the back buttons of the coat,
spreading the latter out as if it had
been put there to dry. g"
"Now, Harry" l said, "you must
keep the women away from the pass
age as much as possible. There is a
seat OH the bar by the door of the
passage | must have it; so If any
one is there using it make some excuse
to get them out. Now l will unwind
some of this cotton and place it on the
floor, as you shall see. If you carry
out my orders to the letter, | warrant
we shall land our fish tonight. If
not, l shall be deeply disappointed"
| laid out the line, taking care not
to leave too much slack, passed it un-
der both of the doors, and holding the
reel in my hand sank into the appoint
ed seat, which luckily was vacant,
with the air of tired man.
w'll do the job for you, MASTER" /
said, as if still conversing about the
business, "and be grateful. Let me
rest little while"
"Do it when you get up tomorrow"
said Harry. "Here is pot of beer for
you"
Well, there l sat, and smoked, and
drank, appearing every now and then
to fall off fast asleep and to wake up
with start. This went on for three
hours, when suddenly felt a slight
tug at the thread. ...
The fish was nibbling, but dared
not be in hurry. Presently l felt
different movement of the cotton, and
knew that the thief was putting the
coat on.
Cautiously l put my pipe IN my
pocket and then snapped the cotton off
close by the reel You will wonder
why l did that? Well, how could l
tell that number of the low fellows
in the bar might not have been his
pals, and if I had been quick enough
to open the door, dash down the pass
age, open the second door and arrest
him, they would have made rescue
and most likely smashed the whole bar.
Again, l should not have been quick
enough to arrest him. He would have
bolted, and thieves are generally good
runners; he would have had good
start of me, and l made little doubt
that he knew the country thoroughly,
which l did not, and 80 would have
been sure of escape. That would not
have done for me-I meant to make
sure of my man.
So, staggering from the chair, / sly
ly showed Harry the reel, and growl-
ing out, "Ill be back directly, Guv-
nor" rolled out of the house in the
manner of a drunken man.
Once clear of the door, | turned
down the lane which have des cribed
as running to the river, for ! knew that
the thief, having got clear of the house
would make for the bridge, come
quickly down the lane, cut through
the main road, and make his way down
some lanes into the middle of the
Seven Sisters road, where, in crowd,
it would be difficult to catch trace of
him. ! was not mistaken. There was
my man coming surging along at a
good pace. A perfect giant. knew
him directly. There was no mistaking
the immensely broad shoulders, long
legs and bullet head, or the huge
strides he took 1t was Arthur Blen
del, a we'll known thief, as bad vaga.
bond as ever walked. He was cele-
brated for boxing and wrestling, and
was known to carry dagger knife
with him, which he swore he would
use on any policeman who attemted to
arrest him. The fellow could run
like a stag, so if l raised au alarm he
would have been off like a shot. If
attempted to arrest him he would kill
me for a certainty, for l was no mattel
for him-uo, nor three such as me
How he ever managed to get Balmer
coat on was mystery to met
must have been because Balmer is very
fat.
l scarcely knew what to do, but
was not to lose my man, so, going ~
to him, said:
"Hello, Arthur, what are you doing
up here'"
He started, for he knew my voice il
an instant, and then said, in the regu
| lar thieves whine:
"Hello, Mr.. Fox! think l shoult
ask you what you are doing up here
and in that disguise, too!"
"There has been burglary at tn
Ferus down there-Major Crawford
house-and I'm on about it,"
"You don't suspect met" he growl
ed, as he stepped back pace or two
49, help me, ! have been miles away
| "Yes, yes; l know that. This ha
been done by country hands in colt
sion with one of the maids. fancy
have clew to the matter. But d
you know that you are wanted, Al
thur q
"Me ! what precious put-up have yo
policemen made now? S'help me,
poor fellow can't work honest for tn
perlice, But l won't DE taken fo
nothing so l tell you, Charlie Fox, L
sooner be hanged for murder tha
quodded So look out, Charlie! y
As he spoke | saw the gleam of
knife in his hand, and | did not fe
comfortable
"Don't be a fool, Arthur" said
am not in the case. The put-up,
you call it, this time is for bigamy,"
"Bigamyl" he shouted, with ros
of laughter, as he shut his knife, muc
TO my relief "Why, l never was ma
ried in my life. You know that NJ
Fox ?"
swell, so said when | heard u
charge, but the women swore to it, al
each have their certificates,
"Women Ha, ha, ha, ha! An
who are these blessed beauties 7"
"Sal Boyd-the Irish girl-and Ma
Grew, ! happened to call at the poll
station as | was coming out, and the
they were at it, hammer aud tongs,
bet they are both there now, If "
take my advice you will 60 at on
and face the matter. Ill 90 with v,