Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-01

CHAPTER III.
! Having duly reached the station. Alger-
non Mortimer took his ticket, and then
/ looked about TO find a vacant compartment
| in the train, which was timed to start in
ten minutes. He would have preferred
carriage TO himself but the train was so
| full that The nearest approach he could OBJ
tain 10 solitude WAS a smoking carrisse
] which was only tenantsd by an elderly
| gentleman, placid, lar &c faced and specta-
| cied. He beamed so good naturally upon
the young man as he came up and placed
| his bag on the seat, preparatory 10 getting
in himself that the thief felt that he could
not have more promising travelling COM
| panion, but just as his foot was on the step
! in the Very act of entering, be was suddenly
dragged back by fierce pull, and an ex-
| ultant voice exclaimed:
What Eve caught you st last. have ?n
Il don't know what you mean." said the
| Captain" angriiy, trying to shake himself
| free. Let me go instantly !"
Not if | know it Pm not going to be
| robbed of gold brooch and diamond ring
and thirty-nipe pounds in money. and not
| collar the thief when | see him It's no
! use trying TO escape ME You're caught
this time. l could swear to you among a
thousand ~
The old gentleman ia the carriage was
attracted by the commotion, a little knot
of people began to gather round. among
whom was a policeman.
Policeman ~ said the captive, desper-
ately, reckoning 10 that funchonary, II
give this man in charge for being drunk
and disorderlv, and assaulting without.any
proyocation. l am an officer in her
Majestys service, and l cannot stop to
argue with every drunken vagabond who
Drunk indeed y said the aecuser, who
was little jeweler named David Roberts.
Don't you believe it, policeman. He's
thief and swindler, who cheated me out
of brooch aud ring and $50 q fortnight
ago; and | swear FL bring him to justice
tor it !"
But tell you l am an officer and a gen.
tleman, and never saw this mailman before
to-nightW retorted Algernon Il am
travelling on important business, and if
lose this train the consequences will be
most serious. Do your duty, constable,
and take this fellow into custody. There's
my card, with my name and address. to
show who l am.
"'CAPTAIN GODFREY SPENCER"
Third Battalion Royal Reds
read out the guardian of order, with man
ifestly increased respect for the person who
claimed the title. Il say, you know this
won't do" he went on addressing the ex-
cited accuser. You can't be allowed to
go about annoying gentlemen in this way,
and shall have to run you in if you per-
sist in it. The gentleman says he's never
seen you before, and it's plain you're mis-
taking him for somebody else and if you
take my advice, my man, you'll 90 home
quietly without any more disturbance"
But | tell you he did rob me by pre-
tending to be a detective | remember him
perfectly, and I'd swear to him anywhere ~
said David excitedly
what proof have you?" asked the Con-
stable, disdainfUlly.
" Proof Ny own eyes, to be sure, ~
THAT wouldn't be enough for Court Of
law. Pm afraid. If you'd seen as many
cases of mistaken identity as | have. you'd
be unwilling to swear to your own brother"
remarked the guardian of order. " It's
clear you're mistaking Captain Spencer for
somebody else. II you don't want to be
locked up as drunk and disorderly. you'll
go about your business at once" And ne
took the little man firmly by the arm.
You talk about my own eyes being no
proof; but what proof have you, except his
own word for it, that be is Captain
Spencer? ?" returned the little Welshman,
defantly.
Haven't seen his card ?" drawled the
policeman with lazy superiority, as if that
were most convincing argument. And it
| is very singular. if the reader will reflect a
moment, to notice the marvellous influence
minute scrap of pasteboard, inscribed
with any Dame, however unfamiliar has
in caDhing the suspicious and bespeaking
i IL The confidence of all ranks of society. Not
a day passes but the production of visit
ing. card with flourish extricates many
man and woman of dubious antecedents
serves them as passport to society.
His card !" contemptuously returned
the jeweler. He might have had it
printed on purpose, OF picked it up in the
street. Pray. what is there to hinder me
calling myself the Duke of Somewhere on
a card, if l choose? / say he's the very
man who came into my shop at Moortown
| and swindled me out of my money and my
| goods"
There, that win do" said the policeman
very sternly, forcibly retaining David with
his strong arm, and motioning to the other
to get into the carriage, as the warning
whistle was sounding. Il don't believe a
word of your story, and if you are not
| quiet, shall have 10 lock you up. I'd ad-
wise you not to compel me to call for assist
ance."
AS the train slowly left the station, the
| last objects to meet the escaping swindler's
eyes were David Roberts, with his face con-
vulsed by rage, forcibly held back by the
tall policeman, who lowered above him, a
very giant in size and strength. The sight
would have been most ludicrous, had his
| escape been less narrow. He drew long
breath of intense relief and subsidized into q
corner, with feeling of exultation at his
| own foresight in keeping two or three of
the cards he had picked up in case they
might prove useful in an emergency.
The plan which the perusal of Captain
| Spencer's correspondence had suggested TO
him had not only prospered beyond his ut
most expectations, but had also served TO
| stave off an unexpected danger in the re-
cognition of himself by David Roberts.
Well, really, SIR" began his good
natured opposite neighbor with an affable
| smile, you must permit me to congratu-
! late you on bringing about a successful
! termination to a very unpleasant scene.
! Yonr nerve and judgment were admirable
under circumstances Of great provocation.
| For an officer and gentleman 10 be accused
| of being a common swindler was almost
| too much for human nature to bear"
The fellow was evidently half-drunk."
returned the sham Captain disdainfully.
81 could not feel seriously annoyed with a
| person so far beneath contempt That he
| should be incapable of discriminating be-
| tween man in my position. and fellow
who would steal jewelry and bank notes,
shows that his statements are not seriously
| worth consideration"
Certainly not" said the other warmly.
"But all the same, it was trying position
| for you to be placed in Captain - by
the bye, have forgotten your name for
the moment"
Godfrey Spencer"
"Ah, yes of the Royal Reds l think you
said? Very fine regiment, that l had a
brother in it once. When l was a lad /
was wild to wear red coat myself, and it
was all that my father-he was banker
and intended me to follow the same pro-
| fession-could do to dissuade me from it.
| I've got over that weakness now; but still |
! like a chat with a young soldier now and
then. though soldering is very different
| from what Ii WAS in my Young DAYS They