The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-11
"What do,you saw to going the rounds

WIN me lo-nlSnt! Salu the Inspector.
| Thanks" | replied, "but l am rather
| busy, and cannot very well go.n
Sorry" responded the inspector, 81 am
to take Mr.. Dickens along, and took it for
granted that you would want to gon
CHARLES Dickens" / shouted. SIS he
really going with youl"
THAT is the arrangement said the inspec-
tor, cant you meet us at Bulls at elevenw
You may rest assured that l promised.
l wrote several notes to my reporters, and
some minutes before eleven | turned up at
Bulls, third-rate restaurant on Oxford
street.
Inspector Davis and another gentleman
had just finished their supper"
''Of course the other gentleman was Mr..
Dickens. When was introduced to him
he drew me aside i'll pleasant way
Newspaper man" he said. well, l
like all newspaper mer. L ought to, you
know, for had devil of a time myself as
a reporter"
II made some sort of an answer, but Mr..
Dickens went on to say"
| After all, you newspaper men, you re-
porters, are the real novelists OF the day.
Your realistic stories of the comedies and
| tragedies of life cannot be surpassed"
Now is the time to catch 'em," said the
| inspector, looking at his watch.
''rhe programme for the night embraced
|
tween Holborn and Oxford street. Without
the inspector it would have been a dangerous
trip,
| lodging house Fully hundred men were
stretched on the floor most of them asleep,
but some were wide awake"
Zone of the dodgers seized Mr.. Dickens by
the lapel of his coat"
O. your he growled, "what do you
want hereW
ASK me that question tomorrow and I'll
answer you, said Mr.. Dickens with laugh,
and he handed the fellow his card.n
'Blast my eyes!" exclaimed the man,
''Well, sir, you are among friends here.
say, Mr.. Dickens, may / send out for some
ale or something's
mo, we can't wait, replied the inspector,
wouldn't like to bother Mr.. Dickens"
''Divil bit of It'll" exclaimed an Irish
man who had overheard the conversation,
g but | must shake hands wild you"
after a few more handshakes we left
and went out into purer atmosphere. A
gin palace stood in our way and a sudden
thirst overcame me.
Come in boys" said Mr. Dickens" eff
we are going to make night of it, we must
prepare for it"
1--WE had a jolly time inside Mr.. Dickens
chaffed the bar-maids, and they giggled like
anything. Inspector Davis, too, was at his
best"
But when he left, the inspector must
have whispered something, for one of the
bar-maids ran after us and gave Mr. Dickens
little flower, saying, oh, sir, you have
done so much for usP"
1.-THE Inspector nudged me, and l
thought about it, and all thinking about
it yet"
"At one place Mr.. Dickens was in high
glee He pointed out a young fellow in a
tawdry suit of clothes, and asked us if he
was not a regular Dick Swiveler, and the
man did seem to fill the bill exactly"
There is Bill Sykes" he said at the last
place we visited, low cellar in the very
worst quarter.
1.-THE man was the very picture of Bill
Sykes but he overheard Mr.. Dickens, and
came forward in belligerent way"
"Stand back therew said Inspector Davis,
don't you know mep
81 know you" answered the ruffiian,
''but | am going to mash this fellows
! nose.n
, Mr.. Dickens, this is Mr.. Chick Dyke"
said the Inspectors laughing.
Not our Charles Dickensm exclaimed the
other.
'"rhe same,n was the answer.
'tWell, that Bill Sykes fellow almost
Rugged Mr.. Dickens. And they were all
that way.
'Once Mr.. Dickens pulled out his purse,
but the inspector stopped him, and promised
to call in the daytime He said that it was
| dangerous to show money in that quarter at
night.
I'm the last house we visited there was a
| little golden-ha girl curled up in the
arms of an old man.
''There is little Nell" | broke out.
"You are right" Mr.. Dickens answered,
as he pressed my hand. eve must look
after her tomorrow, and after seeing her
we had better go feel broken up"
II was glad to get away and so was In
spector Davis. We went back to Oxford
street and had high old time at a chop
house until morning Mr.. Dickens was as
jolly as man could be. He gave us no end
of good advice, and even approved of my
scheme of going to the United States"
| Il like those Americans" he said; they
| like me.n
Human nature, wasn't it9 Shortly after
that l left England, and | never saw
| Charles Dickens again. | know that you
will think my little glimpse of the man a
very unsatisfactory episode, but you were
not there. You did not SO the man. If you
had felt the pressure of his band, and
! looked into his clear eyes, and heard his
CHEEKY voice, you would feel as | do now
when his name is mentioned"
Lloyd pulled away at his cigar, and soon
convinced him that Thoroughly understood
| him.
A night with Dickens is something to be
remembered with delight, and it is no
wonder that Lloyd felt proud of his little
! adventure.