The Red Cloud chief., 1885-07-03

yes; / was threatened with the ~
currence OF a nasty skin complaint "a
which l was formerly subject"
During the interval that elapsed
until my period of duty wss ended
the gentleman paced about in =
most impatient manner. ever and
anon seeming TO relieve his feelings by
stopping to pat my horse. Al length
left my post. and. dismountiny. lei my
charger to the stable and handed it over
to q comrade: then. divesfing myself Of
my cuirass. was ready to proceed n
Scotland Yard. One of the corpOrals
on guarG received orders tOaccOmpany
nc: so. together with tie gentleman.
We started. and crossing the street
reached the police headquarters in a
minute or two, and on making inquiries
were directed to the Lost Property
department We stated our business;
and an official. after receiving an As
surance from me that the applicant was
the right person. speedily produced the
val;se. ''Why didn't you see about this
before?" he asked. addressing the gen.
tieman.
because ! was too i'll to 500 about
anything" was the reply.
The gentleman then signed q book.
certifying that his property had been
restored to him, giving as he did 70 the
name of NObbs
Having thanked the official. Mr..
hobbs caught up his property. and we
left the Office. When we got to the
door we found assembled a small crowd
Of men employed about the establish
ment; for the unusual spectacle of two
helmeted. jack-booted guardsmen had
caused a good deal of speculation as to
our business there. Mr.. Nobbs hurried
ly brushed past them. and gaining the
street hailed a passing cab, and the
driver at once pulled up. Here is
something for your trouble" he said.
slipping a sovereign into my hand. /.
of course. thanked him ne lr;ily for this
munificent dOuceur. Declining the OF.
fer Of the driver to place his bag on the
dicky. he put it inside the vehicle; then
shaking hands with the corporal and
myself. he said to the driver: '.Euston.
As fast as you can" and entered the
cab.
The driver released the brake from
the wheel. and was whipping up his
scraggy horse with a view of starting,
when the poor animal slipped and fell.
The man belonging to the Scotland
Yard who had followed us into the
street It once rushed to the drivers
assistance. unbuckled the traces. and
after pushing back the cab. got the
horse on its feet. All the while Mr..
hobbs was watching the operations
from the window: and / noticed that
of the men was surveying him very
~attentively.
''Your name is Judd. isn't it," the
man at length remarked.
mo; it isn't.-What do you mean by
addressing me. sir?" Indignantly re-
piled Mr.. hobbs.
WELL" said the man-whom | at
once surmised was a member of the de-
tective fOrce-''that's the name you
gave. anyhow. when you were had up
on the charge of feeling the pockets of
the gents clothes who was drowned in
the Serpentine a week ago. l know you,
although you've had q clean shave"
l sta. ted on hearing this statement;
my suspicious. ridiculous as they seem
ed at the time, had turned out 10 be
correct after all; while Mr.. Judd. alias
NObb>. turned as pale as death.
Come out Of that cab,' said the do
~tective.
you've no right to detain me-" said
hobbs, Il was discharged this mora
ing
because nothing was known against
yOu.-But look here, old man, what
have. you got in that bag?'
"Only some old clothes. / assure
you." said the crest-fallen hobbs.
"Come inside. and we'll see.' said
the detective. Selling the bag. "Out
of the cab-9uick! and come with me
to the office"
MIR. Nobbs complied with a very bad
grace; while the corporal and l fol.
lowed, wondering what was to happen
next.
We entered a room in the interior,
and the bag was opened: but it appar-
emily contained nothing but the clothes.
"There is certainly no grounds for
OBTAINING this man." said an Inspector.
standing near.
MIR. Nobbs at once frightened up and
"YOu see | have told YOU the
truth. and now be good enough to let
me go"
"All right" said the detective. Pack
up your traps and clear out"
MI. NObbS this time compiled with
exceeding alacrity, and began to re-
place the articles of clothing. when the
detective. seemingly acting on a sud-
den impulse. caught up the valise and
it a vigorous shake. A slight
rustling sound was d stinctly audible.
"HillO! what's this?:" cried the Of !
Emptying the clothes out of the
bag. he produced a pOcket-knife, and
in 3 trice ripped open a false bottom.
and fOund-about two dozen valuable !
diamond rings and a magnificent en-
erald necklace carefully packed in wad-
ding. besides = number OF unset stones.
The jubilant detective at once COM
pared them with \ list which he took
from a file, and pronounced them to be
the entire proceeds of = daring robbery
had recently been committed in
the shop of . West End jeweler. and
amounted in value to fifteen hun
dred pounds!
Mr.. hobbs. alias Judd. now looking
confused and abashed at this
Illustration of his plan to
clear out Of the country with his booty.
was formally charged with being in
possession Of the stolen valuables.
He made ne reply. and Was led away
in custody.
BEFORE returning to the guard. l re-
marked to the inspector. Il thought
sir. when he gave me > sovereign for
after his bag that il was more