The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-02-14

had been stolen from the messenger
/ to whose care they had been intrust-
i ed, and from information received,
; it seemed pretty certain that their
present possessor--a man fast be-
coming notorious in the colony
would be walking toward ihe city
/ the next afternoon, and to prevent
his intimate acquaintance with the
town from enabling him to escape,
or any confederates from attempting
his release, | was to wait by bridge
on the line of road, about ten miles
out of Melbourne, and get the pa
pers from him.
The man was by no means to be
shot, or, if possible, even hurt, but
the papers must be secured. Min
ute instructions as to his appear
ance were followed by pretty plain
intimation that my career in the
force would very largely depend
upon my success.
felt, as may be easily imagined,
in anything but high spirits. The
prospect of single-handed encount-
Ter with IL man of whose resources ]
knew nothing, and who might blow
my brains out before | had Il chance
. of attack, was not cheering How
ever, there was nothing for it; it was
my last chance, and ] must embrace
it without shirking,
Next day, which was Sunday, |
accordingly procured horse from
the station, and taking my revolver
with me, started out to try my luck
as a policeman; and about two
o'clock in the afternoon / came near
the place mentioned. | left my
horse at the nearest roadside hotel,
sauntered to the bridge, and leaning
over the rail with no very distinct
notion of how | was going to act,
waited for my man with what cool
ness | could muster
Two hours had passed; the sun
was beginning to go down, and l
was just about to console myself
with the notion that the man had
got wind of our intention and gone
by another route, when | became
aware of the approach of a solitary
pedestrian. As he came nearer,
ran over the description of the man
! wanted-which | had learned by
heart-and at once concluded that
this was the individual. He was tall,
powerful, uncompromising-looking
fellow of about five-and-forty, mus
cular enough to have lifted me up
and thrown me over the bridge into
the shining water beneath. COM
menccd to walk over the bridge as
the man approached it, passed him
slowly, and felt sure it was the right
person.
After going two or three yards |
turned back. Hearing my step, the
purloiner of state documents turned
around.
"Well, mate, what is it ?"
Can you oblige me with Il pipe
of 'baccy ?" | asked.
"Oh! yes; handing me his pouch.
"What are you doing about here?
You don't look over brisk. Broke ~
Pretty nearly" replied
New arrival, | suppose"
1 Almost
"Ah ! there are too many carpet
knights flooding Melbourne. Came
out expecting to make a pile, got
disappointed, and don't like to work
for your grub, Ell? Put screw of
tobacco in your pocket. You'll find
it pleasant company on the road"
| nearly emptied the pouch and
handed it back and as the owner
put out his hand for it, l put my
foot behind his heel and pushed
him. He tripped and fell splendid
ly. l was pretty quick in wrestling,
and | took hold of the mans throat
with my left hand, put my knees on
his chest, and with my right hand
felt in the breast pocket Of his coat
He struggled violently, but thought
that l should succeed. | got my
hands on some papers, but as l was
drawing them from his pocket the
ruflian got hold of my right knee
cap with his left hand, and gave it
such a terrible wrench that believ-
ed he had dislocated the joint. Then
feeling my hold relax, he suddenly
hoisted himself with his right hand,
sprang up, caught hold of my wrists,
and hurried me to the bridge. Hold,
ing me thus, in an iron grip, and
glaring fiercely at me, he said;
81 see your game; there's only
one way of dealing with the police.
Dead men tell no tales; so it's over
you're going, youngster."
Spiting his action to tho words,
| he released my hands, and in the