Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-06-26
THE C0INER'S WIFE.
BY AN ENGLISH DETECTIVE.

all over the town.
l was hurrying, as fast as the night
would allow, from Victoria railway sta
ton, along the then old and dingy
Deansgate, in the direction of my Office,
Just as the cathedral bells were Ginning
the hour of twelve.
, Benumbed with cold, found to nv
great Joy cheerful fire blazing in my
room, which, thanks to my comrade, who
had retired for the night was consider
ately prepared for me. l took off my
great coat and muller, drewa chair close
to the fender, and began thinking over
the incidents OF case | had that after
noon brought to a successful issue, when.
with the suddtnncss of startled night
BIRDS scream, heard a piteous and pro-
longed Shrek issuing from beneath the
I'm huttered window.
IL sprang to my feet, and gazing in the
direction of the sound SAW sight shall
never forget while memory holds a seat
In my brain. A wild, white face, with
long, dishevcled hair hanging over an
lll-clad form, was gesticuating in be-
scechlng manner close to the tirclit panes.
Cool and collected as usually am uu-
der extraordinary circumstances, must
confess to feeling of terror taking pos
session of my whole frame at that instant,
ana sat there rooted to the spot. 1t
was only for moment, though-or per-
laps, as long as it would take one to
count tcn--beforc the apparition, as it
seemed to be, vanished as suddenly frors
my transfiXcd glze us it had in coming
upon me with all its ghastly whitencss.
"Ihls IS very strange" l involuntarily
exclaimed, land puzzles me not little.
What can it mcan!"
TIL striding toward the door. flung
1t wide open; but there was nothing be-
fore mc-only the black, choking fog
and the deal silence of the street.
For little while l stood like one be.
wilderel. | strained my ears in the
anxious hope Of catching the sound of
some ones football; but it was all in
yaln-the quiet rem lined unbrokcn.
Pushing back the door, | turned to re-
enter the room, when my eyes caught
sight of piece o. white paper that lay
upon the wide sill of the window.
'Ah, y thought |, ''herc, then, is the
explanation of this deep mystery!'
l took it to the light, opened it, and
sage of deep anguish addyc sed to me, in
almost undccipherablc characters. The
note was wet in places as if with tears
and it bore indubitable evidence of hav-
ing been hurriedly written. This is what
it said:
If you would stop more crime, perhaps
murder, COM al once to 10 Tomson's court.
Am followed. Heaven save me and my
hot ha11 .l-}
God bless you
Be careful Conceal yourself. Watch
Top room at back.
Thornley-Thornley! The name ap-
pcared familiar to me. 1 went to the
diary, turned to the letter T, and found
the following entry:
November "A, 1S7S-Bill Thornley,, alias
Springer, alias Saxley, coiner-wanted.
Could this, then, be the man who for
nearly eighteen months had successfully
eluded our most vigilant pursuit? 1t
seemed more than probable Was the
information, however, contained in that
mysterious message of genuine charac-
tcri Or was it meant to lead me into a
fatal trap! The promptings of my heart
answered me, and that answer was :
Bill Thornley,, desp2rado you are in
Thompson's Court, and will have you,
my slippery beauty, bcfo.e another day
is over.
1t was very late, or rather, bought to
say, the day was young, when I put out
the office gifts; for the bell of st.
Peters had just rung out the hour of
one. | had decided, whatever might be
the consequences to my unknown visitor,
to go home and sleep over the matter
and in n report the circumstance to the
inspector, 50 as to receive his sanction to
the step before putting my plans into ex-
ecution With this resolution strong
upon me, sta,tel upon my journey
home. My way lay in the direction of
Greengate, and sc, eral times ere l
reached Blackfriars Bridge | saw the
vision of that white face, with its look of
unutterable terror fixed immovably upon
me.
Late in the forenoon of the same day
returned to the office and duly reported
my experience of the previous night.
This looks like Il serious job for you,
LomaX," said Inspector Jones, as soon as
I had finished my report. ''Just turn
to the album there and look at S and r
for portrait of Springer or 'SaXley, ;
or 'Thorndyke.' He has done seven
years, but has not accounted for himself
for long time past. Is that ii? All,
good! Take it with you, and if you get
chance of comparing it with the
original, and you find they agree, nab
him. that's all. Would you like Scho
field with your
''No, " answered.
"Well, in any case, be quite prepared
to face rough work, for if your man
should turn out to be the one | suspect,
look sharp, l advise YOU"
After these and other timely hints, l
retired to tie wardrobe adjoining Jones
room. went in a clean shaven, good
looking man of twenty. seven, and in half
an hour afterward came out again in the
character of middle-aged woman,
dressed in rather sccdy suit of black.
had on a faded dress of cashmere, a
long circular cloak OF the same material,
and matronly looking bonnet, from be-
meath which hung longish locks of iron
gray hair, while thick veil dropping
down in front completed the transforma-
ton. l must not forget to mention,
though, that took with me small wal
let of pins, needles and tape, under the
pretext of having these for sale. NY get
up was perfect. lot ked to all the world
like one who had seen better DAYS, but
was reduced now to state of genteol
poverty.