The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-10-02

in conveying Light Toed Jim to the Office.
/ felt proud man when 1 made my re-
po5t to the inspector
"Light Toed JimP" said he. "What,
James Bland' Nonsense, Parker" But
took him to the cells where Jim was being
attended to by the doctor.
You're right, Parker" he said. ''That's
the man. Well, this will be a fine thing
for YOU"
After time, feeling little exhausted,
went home to try and get some sleep. The
surgeon had attended to my arm, and told
me it was but a superficial wound. 1t felt
sore enough in spite of that.
1 had no soonerreached my lodgings than
/ saw sitting in my easy chair the strange
man who had called upon me earlier in
the evening. He rose to his feet when l
entered. stared at him in utter astonish.
ment.
"Well, guvnor," said he, ct see you've
done it. You've got him square and fair,
1 reckon?"
eyes" said.
"Ahr' he said, with sigh of complete
satisfaction. 'Then Pm satisfied Yes,
don't know as how there's aught more
could say. reckon as how Light Toed Jim
an me is quits"
was determined to find out who this
man was this time ''Sit down." l said
'There's question or two must ask you"
Just let me get my coat off and Ill talk to
you" / took my coat off and went over to
the bed TO lay it down. 'Now then" be-
gan, and looked around at him. l said no
more, being literally struck dumb. The
man was gonel
1 began to feel uncomfortable. I ran
hastily down stairs, only to find the outer
door locked and bolted as had left it
few minutes before. l went back, utterly
nonplussed. For an hour pondered the
matter over, bnt could neither make head
nor tail Of it.
When l went down to the office next
morning was informed that the burglar
wanted to see me. Invent TO his cell, where
he was lyingin bed with his head bandaged.
had hit him pretty hard, as it turned out,
and it was probable be would have to lie
on the sick list for some days. "Well,
guv'nor," said be, you'd the best of me
last night. You hit me rather hard that
time"
81 was sorry to have to do it, my man."
I answered. "You would have stabbed me
if you could"
eyes," he said, 81 should. But I say,
! L
you a question. How did you know l was
on that little job last night? For, s'elp me,
there wasn't soul knew breath about it
! but myself. hadn't no pals, never talked
to anybody about it, never thought aloud
about it, as knows on. How came you to
| spot it, guv'nor"
There was no one else in the cell with Us,
and thought might find out something
ah XyiSif of he nj
before. ut was pal of yours who gave
me the information" l said
Cant be, guv'nor. No use telling me
that. l amt no pals-leastways not in this
job"
"Did you ever know a man like this?"
described my visitor. AS proceeded, Light
Toed Jim's face assumed an expression of
real terror. Whatever color there was in
it faded away. l never saw man look
more thoroughly frightened. "Yes, yes" he
said eagerly. SIN course know who it is.
Why, it's Barksea Bill, as l paid with at
one time-and what did he say, guv'nor-
that he owed me grudge? That we was
quits at last? Right you are, eos he did
owe me grudge. l treated Bill very shabby
very shabby indeed, and he swore solemn
he'd have his revenge. Only, guv'nor, what
you see wasn't Barksea Bill at all, but his
ghost, eos Barksea Bills been dead and
buried this three year."
l was naturally very much exercised in
my mind over this weird development of
the affair, and i used to think about it long
after Light Toed Jim had once more re-
tired to the seclusion of Portland. While
he was in charge at Westford tried more
than once to worm some more information
out of him about the defunct Barksea Bill,
but with no success. He would say no
more than that "Bill was dead and buried
this three year;;'' and with that I had
to be content. Gradually came to have
firm belief that 1 had indeed been visited
by Barksea Bill's ghost and often told
the story TO brother officers, and some
times got well laughed at. That, however,
mattered little to me; felt sure that any
man who had gone through the same ex-
perience would have had the same beliefs. |
OF course l got my promotion and was |
soon afterward married. Things went |
well with me, and l was lifted from one |
step to another. In my secret mind l was |
always sure l owed my first rise to the |
burglars ghost, and l should have con- |
tinued to think so but for an incident |
which occurred just five years after my |
capture of Light Toed Jim.
had occasion to travel to Sheffield from |
Westford, and had to change trains at |
Leeds. The carriage 1 stepped into was
occupied by a solitary individual, who
turned his face to me as l sat down.
Though dressed in more respectable fash
ion, Immediately recognized the man who
had visited me so mysteriously at my lodg-
ings My first feeling was one of fear, and
dare say my face showed it, for the man
laughed.
Halo, guv'nor," said he; 81 see you
knew me as soon as You come in. You
owes a deal to me, guV'nor; now, don't
you, eh?"
Look here, my man." said; 1--WE been
taking you for ghost these five years past.
Now, just tell me how you got in and out
of my room that night, will your"
He laughed long and loud at that "A
ghost'" said he 'Well, if that amt good
uni Why, easy enough, guv'nor 1 was
a-lodging for day or two in the same
house. It's easy enough, when you know
how, to open a door very quiet and to slip
out too"
But followed you sharp and looked
for you"
"Ay, guv'nor; bgt you looked down, AID
I had gone usI You should ha come up to
the attics, and there you'd ha found me-
So you took me for a ghostl Well, I'm
bowed"
told him what Light Toed Jim had said
IN the cell.
"Ay." said he. 81 dessay, guv'nor. You
see twas this wsy-it weren't Jim's fault
as I wasn't dead He tried TO murder me,
guv'nor, be did! and left me a-lying for
dead. So ! ses 70 myself when ] comes
rnrrrd that Il nav him ont snnner or lsfer /