The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-08-26

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we were met by large drove of oxen. L
| spite of the exertions of the drovers, th
cattle passed on either side of US, an'
| Scales, handcuffed though he was, watch
ing his opportunity, suddenly sprung aside
and lodging among the animals, galne'
the footpath, and ran tOwnwardS with tn
| fleetneSS of hare. Disengaging oursslye
as quickly as possible from the cattle, WI
| started in pursuit; but as WI
| were encumbeFed with our rifle
| and knapSacks we made but little head
way, only managing to keep the fugi
| tive in sight. We shouted TO few rustic:
| TO intercept him: but the yOkels perceiv
| ing that it was only a soldier running away
| from an escort, greeted him instead witt
cries of encouragement Suddenly, to my
delight a policeman appeared ahead, who
spread out bis arms and tried to catch thF
runaway; but Scales, dropping his head
| butted him like ram, and knocking ovel
| the guardian of the peace, turned to hi:
! right and disappeared down lane little
distance ahead. This lane led into a yard
which was situated at the back of a row
OF warehouses, and which was a cul de sac
Reinforced by the policeman. we followed
close on the heels of the fugitive, feeling
certain that as there was no means ol
exit We would speedily capture him. Meet
ing al the entrance to the yard a drayman
with his vehicle loaded with barrels, we
eagerly asked him if he had seen soldier
Yes" the fellow replied, with a grin
L guess you will find him il the farthest
cellar"
We fastened in the direction Indicate /,
but found, to our diSlnay, that the cellar
door was securely padlOcked, while the
rusty condition of the hasp showed that ii
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 d
moment, out Of breath with excitement
and our recent chase, perfectly perplexed
with Scales unacc0untable disappear
anca. Williams at this juncture began
omluOusly 10 unite his packet of cartridges
and placed them loose in his ball-bag,
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, l knew that Scales life
if he proved obdurata, would not be worth
pins fee. On 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
cOntirued).
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
{.
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 shut up. At last light seemed
to break upon the policeman, who ex-
claimed: ''rm blessed, sergeant, if | don't
think the cove wasn't slowed in one OF the
drayman's barrels!'
This idea seemed to explain Scales mys-
Il .faI
the direction of the main road. and turning
towards the town, found the drayman un-
loading barrels at the Goor OF a public
house. The man. with vOileyS of the
choicest Billingsgate, stOutly denied that
he had afforded shelter to the fugitive: so,
perceiving that it was useless wasting
words on him, we again pursued our search,
scarcely knowing in which direction to
turn. Pursuant to my request, the con-
stable proceeded to the police Office to re-
port the matter, in order to have the other
members of the force put on the alert.
l was now in 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
prisOnment for Williams was a certainty.
My chances of advancement in the service
would he absolutely ruined, | reflected, if l
did not recapture the man. so l 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 apprehendmg soldiers who showed the
slightest symptom of having had an extra
allowance of liquor; besides being ruth
lessly down on delinquents who had a
tunic button undone. or the chin strap not
in the regulation position.
While l was mentally shaping out
course of action, my companion stopped
and excitedly exclaimed: Il have it now,
I'll bet ten to one he's gone to
old Nathan'sn'
Pm not sure of that" 1 remarked
but at all events we'll go and
see"
Nathan was a rascally old Jew, who,
though he was vigorously kept out of bar
racks carried on with the soldiers a brisk
business i'll the sale of coarse, rank, contra
band tobacco. He had agents in the
different 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-
pectad of purchasing articles of kit" 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 SlumS near the harbOr where
the business establishment of Mr. Nathan
was located; and when we reached
the jews dirty little huckster's shop
we found him weighing out small guam
tity of condiment resembling coffee to a
couple of grimy children. Pausing until
the juvenile customers had left the shop, l
asked Nathan whether that afternoon he
had received visit from Mr.. Scales.
mo, sergeant; no soldier hash been
ia1 ho -b,N
in an undertone: Can l DO bishness wit
you in some goot tobacco!"
l Ipaid 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 ont, l proceeded,
in spite of the representations 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 l ascended
a rickety staircase, aud finding tho door at
the top locked, kicked it open: but the
foui-smGlling apartment into which the
door led was plunged in utter darkness.
Returning to the shop, l helped myself
without ceremony to one of a bunch of
candles and, lighting it, returned to the
upper room, which, on examination.
proved to be a StorehOuSe for the rags and
bones in which the Jew dealt largely. |
opened the shutters of the dirt-incruSted
diamond-pane1 window and probed with
my gun barrel every heap of rags; but, to
my disappointment, the fugitive was not
concealed in them. Suddenly perceived
some glittering particles on the floor,
which, on STOPPING to examine |
found to be bright iron filings! l
was now filed with a feeling of exulta-
tioR. Scales had apparently been to the
jews, and thus relieved of his handouts.
once more examined the room. The
window was apparently fixture, and no
one could make his exit without removing
the sash. l next surveyed the roof, and
perceived a trap-door giving access to the
attics just large enough to allow q man to
enter IL MY man Is there right enough"
[ exclaimed to myself in great giee. 1
then shouted through the aperture: Il
know you are there, Scales; it will be bet
ter for you if you come down at once