The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-08-28

escape.
Our man received us with a stolid look,
and mechanically held out his wrists for
the reception of the handouts; and after
word of farewell to the other prisoners, he
took his place beside the private, who mad
his bayonet fixed. l then marched them out
of barracks into the principal street OF the
town. Perceiving man OF my own regl-
ment who was engaged ON garrison police
duty, l asked him to accompany US to the
outskirts, in case the prisoner took FANCY
to bolt down one of the numerous tortuous
alleys that led to the wharfs near the pier
Having reached the limits of his beat, the
private returned, and | was congratulatlny
myself on having nearly reached the open
country, IN which Scales would run poor
chance of escaping from our custody, when
we were met by large drove of oxen. In
spite of the eXertions of the drOverS, the
cattle passed on either side of us, and
Scales, handcuffed though he was, watch
ing his opportunity, suddenly sprung aside;
and lodging among the animals, gained
the footpath, and ran townwards with the
fleetness of hare. Disengaging ourselves
as quickly as possible from the cattle, we
started in pursuit; but as we
were encountered with our rifles
and knapsacks, we made but little head
way, only managing to keep the fugi-
tive in sight We shouted to a few rustics
to intercept him. but the Yokels perceiv-
ing that it was only soldier running away
from an escort, greeted him instead with
cries of encouragement. Suddenly, to my
delight, policeman appeared ahead, who
spread out his arms and tried to catch the
runaway; but Scales, dropping his head,
butted him like a ram, and knocking over
the guardian of the peace, turned to his
| right and disappeared down lane little
distance ahead. This lane led into yard,
which was situated at the back of a row
of warehouses, and which was a cM de sac.
| Rai for Bxrf ha. 1ipnr foil n
close on the heels of the fugitive, feeling
certain that as there was no means of
exit we would speedily capture him. Meet
ing at the entrance to the yard drayman
with his vehicle loaded with barrels, we
eagerly asked him if he had seen q soldier.
Yes" the fellow replied, with grin
II guess you will find him in the farthest
cellar"
We FASTENED in the direction indicated,
but found, to our dismay, that the cellar
door was securely padlocked, while the
rusty condition of the hasp showed that it
could not recently have been opened. The
high wall that bounded the other side of
the yard precluded the idea of the prisoner
being able to scale it, SO we stood for a
moment, out of breath with excitement
and our recent chase, perfectly perplexed
with Scales unaccountable disappear
ance. Williams at this juncture began
ominously to unite his packet of cartridges
=
ready for use, in the eventuality of the
fugitive, should we come across him, de-
clining to surrender when ordered. Know
ing the determined character of my
comrade, | knew that Scales life
if he proved obdurate, would not be worth
pins fee. Qn the days of the muzzle-
loader, it was customary, | may mention,
to carry loaded rifles while escorting pris-
oners; but since the Introduction of the
breech-loader, the practice has been dis
continued).
We searched the yard thoroughly, but
found no signs of our man. All the cellar
doors, like the first we examined, were
closed. The warehouses referred to were
principally used for the storage of grain
but owing to the war in progress, trade
was interrupted with the Prussian towns
in the Baltic, and little business being
transacted, the buildings had in conse-
quence been shutup AT last a light seemed
to break upon the policeman, who ex-
claimed: Pm blessed, sergeant if | dom It
think the cove wasn't slowed in one of the
drayman's barrels!"
This idea seemed to explain Scales mys-
FERROUS disappearance; so we started in
the direction of the main road, and turning
towards the town, found the drayman un-
loading barrels at the door of a public
Choicest BlIlingsgate, 'sstoufiY denied that {
he had afforded shelter to the fugitive; so,
percelYlng that it was useless wasting
words on him, we again pursued orr search
scarcely knowing in which direction to
turn. Pursuant to my request, the con-
stable proceeded to the police Office to re-
port ths matter, in order to have the other
members of the force put on the alert.
was now Ill terrible quandary Trial
by court-martial and reduction to the
ranks, together with possible sentence of
imprisonment for allowing the man to
escape, stared me in the face; while i'm
prlsonment for Williams was a certainty
My chances of advancement in the service
would be absolutely ruined, reflected. if |
did not recapture the man, so | resolved,
when had so much at stake to continue
the search although looked for him all
night 1t was no use hunting for Scales in
the principal streets of the town, as these
were patrolled by military police, intent
on experimenting soldiers who showed the
slightest symptom of having had an extra
allowance of liquor; besides being ruth
lessly down on delinquents who had a
tunlc button undone, or the chin strap not
adjusted in the regulation position.
While | was mentally shaping out
course of action, my companion stopped
and eXcitedly exclaimed: Il have it now
sergeant! ri bet ten to one he's gone to
old Nathan'sn
Pm not sure of that" I remarked
obviously; 'but at all events we'll go and
See.n
, Nathan was rascally old Jew, who,
though he was vigorously kept out OF bar
racks, carried on with the soldiers a brisk
business IN the sale Of coarse, rank contra
band tobacco. He had agents" in the
diiferent regiments to further this branch
OF commerce; and one of his accredited
representatives in ours was private Scales
Besides, the old rascal, although it had
never been brought home to him was sus-
pected of purchasing articles of ''Sit'' from
and supplying ragged plain
clothes to deserters in exchange for their
uniforms. We lost no time in making
our way to the squalid alley in
the sums near the harbor where
the business establishment of Mr. Nathan
was located; and when we reached
the jews dirty little hucksters shop,
we found him weighing out small guam
tlty OF condiment resembling coffee to a
couple of grimy children. Pausing until
the Juvenile customers had left the shop. I
asked Nathan whether that afternoon he
had received visit from Mr.. Scales
No, sergeant; no soldier hash been
here, " replied the Jew, who then continued
in an undertone: Can | do bishness wit
you in some goot tobacco!"
| paid no heed to the old Israelite's state
ment and decided to inspect the premises
myself, without any scruples as to the
legality of that course of action. Placing
Williams at the door with instructions to
allow no one to pass in or out, proceeded,
in spite of the expostulaticns of Nathan
and his threats to call the police, to care.
fully search the little back-room behind
the shop. No one was there; so / assembled
a rickety staircase, and finding the door at
the top locked kicked it open; but the
toul-smelling apartment into which the