The Press., 1892-03-17

pallid faces gazed out upon as, and cut throat countenances with wolfish eyes glared out into the night. Not that but we must acknowledge our police force Is admirably organized, for, considering the widespread misery and degradation in London, 1t is only aston ishing that crimes are not twenty times as numerous as they are. But, despite |this energy of the police, how many a black deed rests hidden, buried forever in the slums of our great townl
 During these reflections, little reas- suring as they were, l gazed after my guide. Decidedly 1t was poor devil ; that no longer doubted. I was on the point of stepping him and sending him on Fshs way with g few shillings. was al most ashamed of my suspicious. But, with skilI undoubtedly acquired by long years Of sxefclse, tho besnAx advanced very rapidly, turning from time to time to make sure that I vas following.
 s.lAt last we crossed Coyent Garden market, and Long Acre, and entered that hideous quarter which you all know Seven Dials. The adventure commenced to only half please me.
 Are we far from your room still r 1 asked, catching up with the beggar. I haven't much time to spare. ''As spoke drew out my watch, an excellent chronometer of Dents, of con- siderable value. Looking suddenly up, surprised an ugly, eovetous glance be- meath the beggar's bushy eyebrows.
 "sOh, ho!' Isaid to myself; that's a mighty young eye for an old man.
 My suspicious returned with triple forces but often our. paltry pride overi rules our better judgment. Moreover, with the Seven Dials quarter returned the hustle and noise of London life. Laughs and shouts greeted us on all sides from the public houses and barrooms of the neighborhood. "I determined to push the adventure to it's end, the more so as my companion now turned to me and said, in his cracked and fiattering tones:-
 Here is my home, gentleman?' He slipped through the half-opened door of 2 dilapidated building and started up rick ety staircase with the agility had before remarked. had dffaculty in following him in the nauseating obscurity. The smart rap of the crutches sounded on the steps and served as guide. ~.
 "At the third story the old beggar stopped. I heard him feeling about in the dark, then came the sound of a key turning in lock.
 "sOne moment, my good gentleman, said the trembling voice; I will light g candle.' i ttSome seconds passed; the dismal ] glimmer of tallow candle lit up room which struck me as tolerably spacious. tThe beggar had slipped behind me and now I heard the sharp cliak1Qf the key in the lock.
 1T had expected to find : sordid, mis, erable hole, ntted out with a brok stool, and bundle of straw in the conner for . bed instead of which the room was fur nished with certain degree of luxury and the floor was covered with g rich car. pet.
 "sWhat does this mean?' I asked, in g stupor. You have deceived me!'
 s'I turned toward the door. The old man had vanished; man in the vigor oi life, 8 white wig in his hand, his face GOV. cred with pencilled wrinkles, looked uI at me and laughed
 "'You look surprised he said, in g hooking tone. There are miracles still in our days, you see.: My good legs have come back to me, and my crutches-look l there!'
 .He pointed toward the corner near the | door.
 "'Well, what do you want of me3' asked resolutely enough.
 "'I want you to let me have you I watch,' impudently answered the man [ Mine happens to be at the ieweler's jus now, and yours looks like 8 tolerably good one. I'll warrant 1t to keep gooe time.'
 ''After all, it was but one man, and 1 struggle man to man demands but an or dinary courage.
 But my pseudo gray-beard drew re volver from his pocket. .:
 "'Now,' said he, holding the muzzle t. my face, the watch and the purse first
 "I drew back. Indignation and ange at letting myself into such an absurd tral almost suffocated me; but what could do against this man armed?s l .sAM at once an Idea occurred to me-
 "'Imp of Satan!. Til catch you yet called gruff voice from behind the beg gar.
 "Instinctively he turned round. I seiz ed the opportunity to rush upon him an snatched the revolver from his hand.s
 "'My turn now, said I, holding the re volver under his nose. Open that doc this instant, or I'll blow out your brains l "The robber looked at me with stupi air. He was a resolute fellow without doubt; but the revolver and the myster ous voice together were too much for him Growing savageIy like q. bull dog, hll opened the door and slammed it violentl after him..
 Feeling ny way along, found tn staircase, and with some difficulty gaine the street. I directed my ateps at ono | f,Ix,o ,.d fhn cfrand 6v.rixn7- n I'm IT. hG1 late at my: theatre, where reigned th greatest inquietude at my non- appearance
 ssI kept the revolver as a tribute { war; And you see," concluded Tool s'how my little talent of ventriloquisl that night helped me out of lah ugl