Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-01-09

ohoeA aoOut the sort or people that mad come
TO stay there during that day At last. in
a rather Seedy place down by the docks, as
was talking TO the landlord in his bar. a
man passed through with nat box IA his
had. only caught view of his side
face. 1t was wonderfully altered. he look
Sky rather than his real age. FIVE and
thirty. But 1t was Burdock, | was sure,
even at the moment. kept up my pat
| ter to the landlord for minute or two,
thlnklng all the while what | should do.
II Wouldn answer to make mistake. |
| mad TO be certain of my man. Plenty of
people carry hat boxes. and the make up
was so perfect that after the first second OF
two began to wonder if it was my man
after all. And while l was trying to fix a
plan, he came into the bar again. without
/ the hat box, and asked for the landlord.
| What he said 70 him | didn't catch He
| took no more than a passing glance at me.
| The only time he d ever seen me before
at the lighthouse. when | d made the
raid q been ciean-Shaved. and now |
| mad full beard and mustache. He spoke
| to the landlord a minute or two and then
| then Went out into the street. | followed
| him, to keep him IN sight, and make sure be
| fore l committed myself. He walked about
/ for an hour or So looking into shop
!
| had drink. .-Nie | stood outside watch
ing him throua h the half-open swing-door.
| 1t was quite dark by now. and the street
| lamps were lit. By and by he came to the
! Variety theatre. and after reading the bill
| at the door. went in | saw him take a
| ticket, and when he had gone up tairS, !
| followed him, saw him, through a glass
| door IN the dress circle. | took nay eyes
! off him Tor a second to lCok round. and the
| first person they fell on was my old pal in
| the focce-Charley Freeman Luck? Why,
there's nothing but luck IN this world, ex
cCpt the brains to make use of 1t when It
comes.
found an attendant after bit. and
pointed out Charley TO him, telling hun to
say that a gentleman would be very glad
to have two words with him on important
business. The attendant took his time
about delivering the message, and when
at last Charley got it he shook his head
and sent the chap back alone.
Mr.. Freeman says, sir, said the man.
that If any gentleman wants him, he can
60 to him. "
Then l saw that Charley was sitting
along with a young lady, and a very
pretty bit of muslin she was. too; and
| naturally. he didn't want to leave her to
| see a stranger about he didn't know
what
Go to him again, | said, land say
that | must see him. Tell him these two
words Second sight.
That fetched Charley. | saw him wills
per something in the young lady ear, and
he came out. Fortunately | kept my eve
on Burdock, too, and just as Charley GOT
up he got up too. and came out. ! caught
i
| to know me all at once He caught it
quick as lightning, Charley was-and
the man passed between us without a
| look.
Queens business" whispered to
| Charley, follow that chap. I'm going
| to Queen Head. Staple street. where he's
putting up'-the house where | had seen
Burdock an hour before. Charley was
| after him like fash, and | male straight
| for the Queens Head.
got hold OF the landlord again and
| told him my business, or, at least. as much
as | chose to tell him. l. dosen't do 20
| be too communicative in this kind of
| business.
We'll, " he said. ''what do you want?"
Il want you to let me into that man 5
| 70 m to examine his luggage"
why should :" said the landlord.
why, | said. Because m a queen 5
| officer on queens business, and | summon
| you IN the name of the law to aid M in
the execution of my duty And showed
| him nay pocket staff.
Ali says he: I've had that dodge
| tried on me before.
what dodge?'
"Why that staff. There was a chap
| who robbed a customer Of mine, last year
| "a merchant captain, he was-uuder pre-
tence of looking for stolen goods. 1t gave
| the house bad name, and did me heap
! Of damage | found out afterwards that
/ this was true, and that the landlord had
really been imposed upon by d sham detec
| tive. Once bit, twice shy, says the
| landlord. You prove to me as you re
| what you say, and get search warrant,
and II let you into the room.
1t would have taken hours to get a
search warrant, and | should have had to
wire to London to prove my identity, and
| there was no time to lose | wasted FIVE
minutes more arguing with the landlord
| before a boy came in.
What do you want?" says the land
lord to the boy.
I've got mess ge for a gentleman as
is here, " said the boy
What gentleman?'
Second Sight, says the boy. The
| landlord stared at him, thinking it was
cheek. ''AlI right, - says | to the boy,
taking him by the arm into the street.
I'm your man. What's the message?''
He said was to follow him, and | did.
He led me along the docks for pretty
| nearly half 1 mile should think, and
stopped outside a public house, with
| great flaming transparency in front of It.
| representing Old King Cole sitting on
| beer barrel with his three fdilers round
| him.
Its in here. " cried the boy. without
stopping or turning his head. Go right
| through to the room at the back.
He went on and | entered the place, and
! pushed my way through the crowd in the
| outer bar to the door of the farther room
| 4 lot of men and women. of rather bet
ter class than the outer customers, were
sitting about the place. and among them
| saw Charley and Burdock. A man was
singing song. and looking sheepishly at
| the ceiling the while. Just rs | had seat
/ ed myself he finished, and everybody APP
pIruded.
Now, then, sir" said chap, who
| seemed to be a sort of chairman, to Char
| ley. Your turn-no Sinking. You've
got to do something to amuse the com
pany. Everybody has. as comes into the
room. It's the rule on Wednesday
| nights. -
Charley piped up, and while he sang I
thought. and an idea came into my head
| w hen Charey's song was over. the chair
man called Oh Burdock, and, after bit of
| humming and having. he sang too, and
| sang uncommOniy well, TO give him his
due, with bit of quaver in his voice that
| fitted the powder in his hair and the
wrinkles In his face. When he'd finished
| the chairman called on me.
well. gentlemen. said l. Il m no dab
at singing, but | should be glad to enter
tain such good company. Did you ever
| see a second sight exhibjtion2' Most of
| them h dn't, ! coulu see in their faces.
Its very interesting, but | want some
body else to help me, and he's got to be
what's called "a medium. Let ME look
round and see if there one here tonight.
can mostly tell 'em by their faces.
looked around and signaled out
Charley and got him near the door at
the room-there was only one door. He
looked siily-acted his part real well. ike
a chap taken by surprise. when | raise
my voice to Hatb9x, | whispered to him.
/ borrowed a few articles about the room
a bunch Of keys. a knife or two, bent
sixpence, handkerchief. and that sort of