Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-09-13

my vile anu youngsters 10 tOWu, dllu tllt
next morning placed the account before my
chief, asking to 60 down on the case TO-
few days. But l was disappointed, fo
fellow was sent.
The case was on caused me to be detained
in Liverpool for a month, and when [ hat
carried it out successfully, | returned tt
town, and the first thing inquired abou
was whether Harry Balmer's thief had beer
taken.
"No," said the inspector: that is queer
case. l sent Saunders down about it, but he
did no good. He watched the place care
fully for week, but could not discover any
thing, for while he was there nothing went
but the night of the day he left, basketful
of washing was stolen-something the next
night, and something the next, and so on
l sent him down again, and the thieves
stopped directly. 1 can't make it out"
"The thief knew Saunders" replied l,
risk. I have nothing to do now. I think
will have turn at it,"
"You can, if you like, Fox" said the in
spector; "but do not think you will make
much of it, Saunders took all sorts of dis
guises and failed, although he is not half SO
we'll known by the thieves of London, or OF
England, might say, as you are."
'Well, Ill have try, and if 1 do not catch
the fellow in four days I'll give the matter
up"
This being agreed upon, I wrote off at once
to Harry to tell him to prepare for me, and
then set about for disguise.
For that purpose l selected a navvy's cos
tume-namely, sealskin cap, with the ear
flaps pulled we'll down, coarse cotton shirt
with no collar, red wool comforter, a fus-
&C ~ 81, ,of ant with 10
bone buttons, long waistc0at with Tapped
pockets-of the same material as the coat
but left unbuttoned; trowsers of corduroy,
fastened round the waist with strap, and
two little straps fastening them up below
the knee, high enough up to show about two
inches of blue worsted stockings, and large,
heavy pair of thick, high-low boots.
Of course my hair was dyed, and my
hands and face made up to suit the charac-
ter. Thus equipped, was ready, and,
mounting the top of an omnibus, lit up my
dirty stump of black clay pipe and drove
quietly down to Tottenham.
There entered one or two public houses
where "navvies most do congregate," and l
asked the landlord, or any navvies who hap
pened to be present, if they knew a place
round about where a poor fellow could get
work.
Everywhere but at one place had the
same answer Hard Times" "Place too
crowded already" etc. But the single ex-
ception was nearly poser for me. He was
a stout, jolly fellow seemed to take pity on
me, and having asked if / could dig we'll,
was about to engage me to dig up his garden.
Luckily for me his wife happened to come
into the bar, and bullied him for a fool who
encouraged all the idle, lazy fellows in the
world, and declared that should not have
a penny Of her money, and complimented
me by saying, loud enough for me to hear,
that looked more like thief than labor
er. So the, honest landlord gave up enga-
ging me.
made these visits so that 1 might enter
Hornsey at the end farthest from London {;
secondly, in case was watched, to throw off
suspicion !; and thirdly, wished to see if l
could come across any one knew, for was
certain that the robberies at the Jolly Far
mers were the work of no novice. How far
succeeded in my second object, of course
cannot tell, but | failed to recognize one face.
Farmers, and, luckily, Harry was at the bar
alone; SO I gave him the "office," and he
knew at once what to do, for / had told him
in my letter.
l nodded to some navvieS and labOrers
who were in the bar, and then put my usual
question, and got the general answer.
"You seem to have come long way,
mate?" said Harry.
"You're right, master; have come Il long
way. Pm going up to London to look for
work. s'pose you amt got an odd job l
can do foryou, just to earn shilling or some
supper, and a shake-down in barn."
Harry pretended to be considering, for he
put his elbows on the pewter counter and
rubbed the palms of his hands over his face
as he said:
"WeIl, don't know. 1 might find you
something to do. Here, May, just come
and mind the bar for moment"
The girl came, and Harry, coming from
behind the bar counter, opened the door
leading into the passage and babe me follow
him.
No sooner had the door been closed than
Harry turned to me and cried in voice OF
wonder:
"Why, Charlie, how the deuce did you
learn to make up 50 capitally? 'Pon my
word should never have known you if it
had not been for your letter. Indeed, then,
l don't think l should have done SO, had
you not tipped mea wink"
$50 much the better; but take care you do
not betray me. Take me into the haunted
kitchen'-for so we used to call the place
and 1 will set to work directly. Have you
a new coat-a valuable one?"
eyes. But what on earth do you want
it for?"
"To bait the trap. Go and get it for me,
at once, and bring me a reel Of black cotton.
Go, and don't ask questions"
Harry went off full of wonder, and speed
lily returned with the required articles.
Taking the coat spread it over the copper,
oE ho1-inr haan raaapf1v Iyhita\Ea she'd
showed it up nicely. | then fastened the
reel of thread to the back buttons of the
coat, spreading the latter out as if it had been
put there to dry.
"Now, Harry" l said, "you must keep
the women away from this passage as much
as possible / must have it; so if any one
is there using it, make some excuse to gel
them out. Now will unwind some of this
cotton and place it on the floor, as you shall
see. If you carry out my orders to the let
ter, / warrant we shall land our fish tonight
If not, l shall be deeply disappointed"
paid out the line, taking care not to leave
too much slack, passed it under both OF the
doors, and holding the reel in my hand sank
into the appointed seat, which luckily was
vacant, with all the air of a tired man.
"I'll do the job for you, MASTER l sad
as if still conversing about the business
ana De STllclul lIcl HlS lCoCl liiellN " - N:
"Do it when you get up tomorrow" sal(
Harry.
Well, there sat and smoked, appearing
every now and then to fall oft fast ASLEEP
and to wake up with start. This went OF
for three hours, when suddenly felt sligh
tug at the thread.
The fish was nibbling, but l dared not b'
in hurry. Presently | felt ditferen
movement of the cotton and knew that tn
thief was putting the coat on.
Cautiously | put my pipe in my pOckc