, 1888-05-10


inspector.
"Thanks," l replied, but ] am
rather busy, and cannot very well CO.
"Sorry,' responded the inspector.
/ am to take Mr.. Dickens along, and
l took it for granted you would want
to co.
"Charles Dickensp i shouted. is
he really going with your
"'That is the arrangement, said the
inspector, cant you meet us at Bulls
at eleven?'
lyon may rest assured that !
promised. wrote several notes to
my reporters, and some minutes be-
fore eleven turned up at Bulls, a
third-rate restaurant on Oxford street.
Inspector Davis and another gen.
tleman had just finished their supper.
"Of course the other gentleman
was Mr.. Dickens. When l was in
troduced to him he drew me aside in
a pleasant way.
Newspaper manW he said. We'll,
i like all newspaper men. i ought to,
you know, for l had devil OF time
myself as reporter
II made some sort OF an answer, but
Mr.. Dickens went on to say:
"tAfter all, you newspaper men,
you reporters 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 inspect 'em,
said the inspector looking at his
watch.
"The programme for the night EN-.
braced a ramble through some OF the
by-streets between Holborn and Ok
ferd street. Without the inspector it
would have been a dangerous trip.
"The first place we visited was a
thieves lodging house. Fully hun
dred men were stretched on the floor,
most of them asleep, but some were
wide awake.
"One of the dodgers seized Mr..
Dickens by the lapel of his coat"
"D- you'll" he growled, what do
you want herer'
"'Ask me that question tomorrow
and I'll answer you, said Mr.. Dickens
with a laugh,and he handed the fellow
his card.
"Blast my eyes, exclaimed the
man. We'll, sir. you are among
friends here. ! say, Mr.. Dickens,
may send out for some ale or some-
thing?"
"'No, we can't wait replied the IN
spector, I'VE must visit other places,
and you wouldn't like TO bother Mr..
Dickens
"' Devil a bit of it?' exclaimed an
Irishman, who had overheard the con-
versation, ,'but must shake hands wild
YOU
"After few more bandshakes we
left and went out into purer atmos-
phere, a gin palace stood in our
way and sudden thirst overcame
me.
"'Come in boys said Mr.. Dickens,
If we are going to make night OF it,
we must prepare for it,
"We had a jolly time inside. Mr..
Dickens cha fled the bar.maids, and
they giggled like anything. Inspect
or Davis, too, was at his best
"But when he had left the Inspector
must have whispered something, for
one OF the bar-maids ran after us and
gave Mr.. Dickens little flower, say
ing, oh, sir, you have done so much
for usp
The inspector nudged me, and /
thought about it, and l am thinking
about it yet.
There is Bill Skyes', he said at
the last place we visited, low cellar
in the very worst quarter.
"The man was the very picture Of
Bill Skyes, but he overheard Mr..
Dickens, and came forward in bellig-
erent way
Stand back there 7 said Inspector
Davis, don't you know mel?
"'I know you,' answered the ruf-
fan, but l am going to mash .his fell
lows nose.'
"'Mr. Dickens, this is Mr.. Chick
DYKE said the inspector laughing.
Not our Charles Dickensp ex-
claimed the other.
"The same, was the answer.
"Well. that Bill Skyes fellow almost
hugged 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 it was dangerous to show
money in that quarter at night.
In the last house we visited there
was little golden-haired girl curled
up in the arms of an old man.
"'There is little Nell,' l broke out.
"'YSu are right Mr.. Dickens an
swered, as he pressed my hand. we