Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-05-29

rsqrisits security and advantage FOR
which he lonRed.
Jasper was but little familiar vRh
London, though he had pretty gpsd
general idea of the direction he should
pursue. At last, afber he had left the
ultra fashionable quarter a considerable
distance behind, he turned into q COM
pnrat.velY narrow and dingy street, both
sides OF which seemed to be occupied
by shops of respectable but unpreten-
tious sort.
When he had arrived in front Of one of
these, in the vicinity of o poorly burning
street. lamp, and was proceeding leisure
ly, with his head slightly lowered, be
was surprised by receiving a light touch
on the forehead, as if caused by hand
reaching stealthily over him from behind.
The first natural impulse under such cir
cumstances, even before the one to wheel
around, is to throw back the head, in or
der to look up in the direction whence
the touch appears to have come.
Jasper obeyed this impulse now. Al
most at the same instant his throat was
encircled from behind by what seemed o
band of steel, the Adams apple was
crushed inward with sitting force. rigid
knee was rammed into the small of his
back, and he at once became uncon-
scious.
In other words, he had been very skill
fully and expeditiously garroted.
But two men we're directly concerned
in the foul deed; but, as they silently
lowered the unconscious body of their
victim 10 the ground, another came rum
ming to them from the opposite of the
street. The latter was Wormer.
Quick, Bugl" he exclaimed, in q low
but excited voice. up these steps with
him, and into yonder doorway. 1t is q
deep one, and we can there search his
person at leisure, without risk of inter-
ference"
The men followed his directions, and
the three together then began their
search of their victim with systematic
expertness.
They were all doomed to bitter disap-
pointment. With the exception of few
shillings, Jasper had given all the money
he had had about him to the policeman
standing guard over Rollingstones re-
mains; and, of course. the object of
Wormer's special search was not forth
| coming, for the very best of reasons.
Its a sell-an internal blasted sell!"
muttered Bug, with an oath, as his fellow
or almost fruitless search. ~Look'ee,
Bill. Four bobs and ninepence-not an
other silver! A healthy swag for the
risk we've run, amt it"
| The second rufian echoed the oath
and the disappointment, and stood
scratching his head, with knitted brows.
Say, young fellerl what are you going
to do about itY" he growled, turning
grimly upon Wormer.
The latter, having fully satisfied him
self that he had wrought crime to no pur-
| pose-that the paper which he sought was
nowhere to be found on the prostrate
mans person, had arisen despairingly,
| and was now standing in the doorway,
white, and with great drops starting out
upon his face.
Il don't know what to do, f" he gasped,
staggering out under the street-lamp
| again. IL suppose I've been on false
scent all along. Curse it ALL I feel all
| upset!" And he began to move off down
| the street.
Hold onl That won't do. my little
mani cried Bug, following him. threaten-
| ingly, as did also the other rufian. You
promised us how we should find enough
| swag on that cove to pay US for our risk,
and we looks to you for to make odd
even."
Hal that we does, my little SWELL"
echoed the other. Blast you, don't try
| to walk us into society, or we'll slug you!
Holds must be made heven, SO shell
right out! You've got the needful, if the
throttled chap was without it i"
| @What do you mean?" said Wormer,
| greatly frightened, and now as much in
| tent upon reaching o less lonely locality
| as he had before been to avoid it. Come;
| let us hurry on, and talk it over as we
CO."
Not another stepl" growled Bug, sud-
| denly hustling him into the mouth of q
| gloomy court that they chanced to be
| passing, while BILL, as he had been
designated, gripped him by the collar.
Come; you're in with us for that last
| job, SO you daren't holler. Fork overl"
/ We have seen BEFORE this that Wcrmer's
cowardice was in keeping with his viii
| lainy.
Heavens! you wouldn't rob meme,
/ your hirer?" he exclaimed, in an agony Of
| fear. Stand off Do you forget the ter
i pounds you've already had of me, Bugi
OF, / say Whatl you think me afraid
to make an outcry? You think"
A brutal laugh cut him short, and then
two heavy blows, given in swift success
sion, felled him.
]. 1t thus happened that the robber wat
robbed, and almost within q stones
throw of the doorway in which he had
i ruthlessly left the insensible form of his
own victim but few minutes before.
Wormer had also been rendered sense.
less. He came to himself at about day
light, and, rising with difficulty, stag
4 gered out Of the court In which he had
/ beer left lying, stiff -jointed, bruised, with
his clothing stained and torn, and to find
himself completely despoiled of every
remaining shilling of the hundred
4 pounds he had received of the banker
and also of his gold watch and chain
his shirt-studs, his cuff buttons, ant
every other article of value that he haG
possessed.
Nemesis had been signally exact ant
impartial in settling with him, and hi
despair and modification can be mag
ined.
i Nothing left!" he groaned, surveying
his plight most dismally. Not shilling
! mot pennyl Why, it's wonder th
hounds even left me the clothes on m,
my backl They spoke but truly in say
ing that I dared not make an outcry tth,
time. No; and 7 dare not do so now
dare not even lodgea complaint agains
theml"
!. Then he dolefully dragged himself away
trying, finally, to bring to mind som
!, London acquaintance from whom b
Il n.