The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-06-11

questioner in careless tone.
"At Mudport.
''Then, Capt. Spencer, | am very happy
to have made your acquaintance, said the
other after a short pause, as he bent down
to strike 4 match "And | believe, from
what this gentleman was saying that some
foolish person made some unpleasantness
at Waterloo by mistaking you for some
body else ?"
"He actually accused Capt. Spencer of
being common thief!' eagerely put in
the talkative old gentleman, delighted to
have the opportunity of telling the whole
story. He plunged eagerly into the details;
repeating almost word for word what David
Roberts had said; and his auditor listened
without comment but with evident interest.
Nevertheless, Algernon Mortimer was truly
reioiced when the train stopped at Bishp-
stoke, where he hoped to shake off both
his companions, as all the passengers had
to light and change carriages.
Tightly clutching his precious bag, he
followed the other, on to the platform, re-
joicing at the thought that Southampton
and the steamer were so near He turned
away in order to avoid his two late fellow
passengers; but the gentleman in the
travelling-cap contrived to keep near him,
at the same time giving an almost imFer-
ceptible sign to policeman.
Suddenly the thief felt his arms clutched
from behind in powerful grasp, and, turn
ing, beheld Nemesis in the shape of stall
wart officer of Justice and the traveller who
had entered the carriage at Basingstoke.
Between two such powerful men he felt he
| had but little chance of escape; but he de-
termined to maintain an air of innocence
to the last
"What do you mean by this insoleuce?
he cried, passionately.
"Take him in charge, policeman, said
the gentleman in the cloth cap cOolly. Il
undertake the responsibility of prosecuting
him. He is liar and an impostor, and
will have to explain before the magistrates
why he has thought fit to arrogate to him
self a name and rank to which he has no
right. He is accused of being a common
swindler, and he will have to clear himself
from that charge-if he can"
"But tell you, policeman, this is all a
mistake, and m an officer and gentleman
''You foolr' contemptuously returned
his fellow-passenger. Don't think to keep
up that farce any longer | happen to be
Col. Mostyn the officer commanding the
real Godfrey Spencers regiment at Mud
! port, and as | see him every day of my life
I'm not very likely to be deceived by
plausible scoundrel who has borrowed his
name and his card What your object is,
confess | can't quite see; but there some
. villany in it, and the police shall find it
ont.
The convicted cheat hung his head in
5 terror of the danger he had incurred. He
was not acquainted with the person OF
Godfrey Spencer's commanding officer, aud
. it had never entered his head to calculate
upon the possibility of some one who knew
the real Captain being the witness of his
: own assuption of his name, How he cursed
in his heart the loquacious old gentleman
who had brought about his detection at the
eleventh hour!
r ''What have You got in that bag?' de
manded the policeman sternly; and wrench
ing it from him, he forced it open, and
there was revealed small clamped box,
with the inscription
. Horace Trevor, K. C. B.
Godfrey Spencer's uncle + cried Col.
Mostyu. 'There's some deep villany in all
this, that's evident That box is palpably
stolen property, and that alone is quite
, sufficient to warrant the taking you into
custody"
There was nothing for it but for the
wretched young man to submit to his fate.
David Roberts was communicated with, as
well as Sir Horace Trevor; and, bit by bit
the true story of Algernon Mortimer came
out, first as sham detective who had robbed
the ieweller, and then as the pretended
nephew who had persuaded the old Gen
eral to entrust lis jewels to his keeping.
Nor was that all Capt. Dalrymple again
; related the suspicious he had before conided
to Godfrey, and, being confronted with the
prisoner, unhesitatingly identified him as Il
swindler who had defrauded his brother
officers at Barminster George Spencer
was written to, and declared that he knew
: "Algernon Mortimer" only too well, as a
l. scoundrel of that name had scraped ac-
: auaintance with his comrades at Dublin,
and been expelled from their society foE
the most barefaced cheating at cards IL
appeared that the rogue had many aliases,
+ and for years had subsisted on the creduli-
ty of the public, whom plausible tongue
and good education enabled him to gull.
He was sentenced to penal servitude for
fifteen years, to the great glee Of David
Roberts, who had blessed the lucky chance
I which had taken him to Waterloo Station
on his way TO visit a sick relative at VIM
bledon at the same time the thief was ef-
: fecting his flight. Congratulations show
$ cred upon Sir Horace Trevor for the mar
yellously lucky recovery of his jewels; and
aThe Ranees Necklace" was nine-days'
wonder. But Godfrey Spencer was OBJ
served to be remarkably thoughtful and
subdued; and in few words he explained
J to his friend Dalrymple the reason why.
"You were quite right, old fellow, he
: began, with an embarrassed laugh. .'You
i told me that my careless habits would get
me into scrape some day, and shuddeI
to think of what might have come of my
losing my card-ease, and leaving my desk
l open. That scoundrel had loaded revol-
! yer in his pocket, and my uncle might have
! lost his life. for the sake of those jewels
and all through ME. He ran fearful risk
: when he was alone in London with that
desperate fellow | cant help thinking
about it"
"All's well that ends well, suggested
: his friend eonsolingly.
: "But it's no thanks to me that my uncle
: and his property are safe" Godfrey returned
remorsefully "Pve had lesson indeed,
this time; and it will be a warning to me,
J to the end of my days, against carelessness,
| mean to turn over new leaf.
Sheep as Beasts of Burden.