Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-11

cent his own word for it that he Is zap
tain Spencer returned the LITTLE
i Welchman defiantly.
Haven't seen his card ?" drawleo
the policeman with lazy superiority, a.
il that we're most convincing argument
And it is very singular, il the reader VII
reflect moment, to notice tho marvel
Ions influence minute piece OK paste
board inscribed with any name, boweyel
unfamiliar, has in calming tho suspi
eions and bespeaking the confidence o
all ranks OF society. Not a day passet:
but the production OF visiting-card
with flourish cxtricates many man
and woman OF dubious antecedents IRON
many an unpleasant dilemma and serves
them rs passport to society.
"His card /" contemptuously re-
turned the ieweller lie might have
had il printed on purpose, or picked II
M in tho street Pray what Is there 70
hinder me calling myself the Duke o.
Somewhere on q card if choose
saw he's the very man who came into my
shop ut Moortown and swiudled me out
OF nv money and my goods
"Ibere. that will do. said the police
man very sternlv, forcioly retaining
David with his strong arm and notion
ing 10 the other TO get into the carnage
az tho warning whistle was sohndlnS'
Il don't believe word of your story,
md ii you're not quiet | shall have to
lock YOU m. I'd advise you not TO com
pel mo to call for assistance.
As the train slowly left the station The
last objects TO met the escaping SWIM
dler's eyes wcro iayid Roberts, with his
face conyulsed by rage, forclbly held
back by the tall policeman, who lowered
above him very giant IN size and
strength. The sight would have been
most ludicrous had his escape been less
narrow. lie drew q long breath of IN
tense relief and sutsidoG into corner,
with feeling Of exul,ahon at his own
foresight in keeping two or turee OF the
cards he had picked up, IN case they
might prove useful IN on emergency.
The plan which the perusal Of Captain
Srencer's correspondence had suggested
e. him had Lot only prospored beyond
his utmost expeditions, bat had also
served to stave of IN unexpected danger
in the recognition Of himself by David
Roberts
well. really, sir" began his good
untllrcI opposite neighbor with an ail-
bic smile, won must permit me To con
gratulate you on bringing about %
successful Termination to u very unplea'
SAINT scene. Your nerve and Judgment
were acknowledgements circumstances OF
great provOca.ion. For an officer and u
gentleman 10 he accused of being com
mon swind,or WIS almost too much for
human nature to bear.
"Ihe fellow was evidently halt
drunk" returned the sham captain. dis
dainullv - could not feel seriously
ANNOYED with q person SO far beneath
cont mt. That he should bc incapable
of discriminating between a man IN my
position and a fellow who would steal
iewelry and bank notes shows that hs
statements are not seriously worth con
sideratlou.
"Certainly not, " said tho other warm
". But all the same, II was trying
position for you 70 be placed in, Cap
tsin-by the by, [ have forgotten your
name for the moment?
"Godlrey spencer =
"Ah. yes OF the Royal Reds, ]
think YOU soid? Very fine regiment
that. had "a brother in it once. Whom
! was lad was Wild to wear rel coat
myself, and it Was all that my father
he WAS u banker, and intended me to
follow the same profession could DO TO
dissuade me from 1t. I've got over that
wcekness now but still like chat
with n young soldier now and then,
though soldering is very different from
what il was IN my young days They
didn't require O man 20 learn Paradise
Lost log heart before they thought HIM
worthy of commission.
At BasinQs,oko tine train stopped for
few minutes. and there another passen-
ger got in. He WIS tiuc-looElng man
OF about forty, with keen eye gleam-
ing from beneath a cloth travelling cap.
Algolnon Mortimer's loquacions com
panion, who was evidently not afflicted
with shYness, soon began conversation
with the stranger by asking II he would
like 10 see al evening paper
Thanks, I've read 1t, said the new
conner, opening his cigar-case. " No
news worth mentioning. ltappears that
the police have as yet no clue to the
Brixton murderer.
All England was just then ringing with
the details Of Il particularly atroclous
and dastardly crime, the perpetrator OF
which had for several days efectually
balIled Justice and seemed likely to do
SO. although every day men who resem-
bled tho published descriptions Of the
murderer were being arrested IN different
parts Of the country.
" see that two men were detained at
+ Gloucester yesterday, but atterward set
at liberty" answered the old man.
"And only the other d9y a member OF
/ Parliament was positively arrested on
/ the same chargc-the police not know
/ lag vino he was, Of course.
{" Yes. there have been some queer
/ cases Of mistaken identity" assented
the other. "And really you can hardly
wonder at it. I have myself made the
most absurd mistakes at times, and
suppose that is Cho experience Of every
body, more or less.
There was q case in point this very
evening. eagerly assented the loqudcious
| Old gentleman, while the sham Godfrey
/ Spencer. seeing what was coming, bit bis
I lips u futile annoyance without daring
10 stop him, for fear OF exciting suspi-
cion. "This young gentleman here was
/ set upon at Waterloo station in the most
Insulting manner bya rude person who
persisted that he WAS common swim
der, and would hardly be convinced that
he was mistaken, and was accusing IN
officer in her Maiesty'5 service OF the
most atrOciOus conduct. Fortunately
/ Captain Spencer WIS able TO produce hi:
card and testify that he was an officer il
the ROYAL hedj, aud 50 shake OF the
importantly OF tho fellow"
lie was 50 full OF the subject that he
+ did lot notice what change had sud-
denly come over the features Of the per
son to whom he was talking. The
stranger shot keen glance at the
Captain Spencer, who in some EN- BAR
rassment was looking out Of the dark
ened window and then asked quietly:
You are Captain Godfrey Spencer 0
4. 4