Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-03-26

landlord could not leave his busi( ness,
and that was only an acquaintance 81
half an hour, and could not be prejudice
ed either way. So, with some apparent
reluctance, Mr.. Church consented. Il
The next thing was, where should we
60 *'to sheute off the affair." as my
American friend put it. II know there's
a place Westminster way he said.
Il know there is, cause the volunteers
sheute there .-
told him no; the volunteers did not
shoot at Westminster, but only parad-
ed. ~
II mean gallery" he said. 81
know had sheute there with one OF
tew volunteers last week; but couldn't
find the place again."
Call a cab,'' suggested Church.
"Cabby'll be sure to know.'' is@
"Where to, sir?" the cabman asked
Church.
Westminster Palace Hotel" he re-
piled.
was in cab with two men whose
object was to rob me, and l was being
driven whittier they directed. However,
was not going to be cowed at riding
alone with two thieves through the
crowded London streets in broad day,
and was bent ON disappointing them.
As we. rode on they pretended j. ignorance
of the various buildings we passed. l
pointed out Somerset House, the Char
ing Cross Hotel, National Gallery,
Whitehall, etc.
Arrived at Westminster, Mr.. Church
! dismissed the cab. We could walk the
rest of the way, he said, and the cab
man had told him where the shooting
| gallery was. The two walked one on
either side of me. We came to dirty
back street Immediately behind the
Westminster Palace Hotel, down that,
and to the right-a dirtier street still.
l said this was strange situation for a
shooting gallery. 1T was all right
when you got there Mr.. Church said;
lit was very snug"
| At the lower end of this street, I was
not at all ill-pleased to see policeman
talking to woman. tried my utmost
to catch his eye as we passed, but with
out success. We turned down third
street of Shiny houses, with here and
there the filthy red curtain of low
public house. Sharp round the corner
into blind alley. A dank greasy brick
wall blocked the other end of the place,
SO Ikhew we had reached our destina-
ton. Scarcely more than one of the
dilapidated wooden houses in the alley
showed outward signs of being tenant
ed; decayed shutters were nailed up to
the windows; the whole frontage was
smothered in filth and Crime. The
most Misunderstanding public-house /
ever set my eyes on was the last house
but one, nearest the wall.
''That's the gallery" said Church.
"Rcckon it Isl said my American
friend. ,''That's the identical crib
where made some fine sheutin' last
week. Come along"
| [ followed them to the door. A wo-
man went out as they entered. ''Go
and fetch -and-," two names
could not catch, I overheard Church
whisper. The men went in first, fol-
lowing. The beer-shop bar was a filthy
room about six feet square, on the right
as we. entered, with only window to
serve beer through. The passage was
long. About three yards down it was
a partition with a half door, very strong.
/ saw, too, that it had strong hasp or
catch to it, without a handle, 50 that,
once past that victim was shut in like
a mouse in trap. [ stopped there.
Come along and look sharp said
my friend, with less twang than before;
''here's the gallery and he opened a
door on the left
looked in at that open door. I saw
off,. al s. -
square, as near as I could jddge-noth-
ing but bare brick walls, no window
Git was lighted for the moment from,
the passage), and deep sawdust on the
floor. Both the men were beside the
door, standing half in light half in
shadow.
Harry the Maid, and Churcher,''
said, Il know you both. It won't do,
and you have lost some valuable time!''
slammed the half door to gain a mo-
ments time from pursuit and took to
my heels. had been in the court al
Worcester when those two men were
tried for card-sharping Inever slack.
encd speed until [ came upon the pc.
liccman, who was still talking to the
woman.
Policeman / said, II think / car
put you on two people you want, per
haps-Harry the Maid and Churcher. u
Harry the Maid,' lie replied, sis
4 the greatest card-sharper in England
and Churcher is the tip-top of skittle
sharps; but that's not their only trade. u
I told him of my adventure, and how
| l had tried to arrest his attention as ]
passed.
''Look you here, SIR he said, <tas
you've got away alive, and with you1
clothes on, from those two, just you bt
very thankful for having done we'll, ane
don't ask for anything more. If yor
had caught my eve as you passed, !
wouldn't have gone into that crib after
you-no, nor yet if there had been two
more along with me. If we want mar
out Of that place we 60 ten and dozer
strong, and even then it's a risk"
"But supposing I had really been {
simple countryman, and passed tina
half-door and gone into the, trap?'
asked.
IF you had come out any more, i
would have been in your shirt, !" replied
the policeman.
He Hit the Case.
| A STRANGER was Yesterday writing