Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-07-20

~ N'NAy' iNi hN PSS"N'NN
them.
The footprints in the garden, the
half-dug grave under the trees and
the impression in the wet leaves
seemed to interest him little.
He examined them, but only like
one preoccupied with his own sober
thoughts. They came to the river
bank.
We've dragged the river" said
the Inspector, pointing to the two
boats which had now been working
unsuccessfully for some hours.
"Ah, yes" said Perkins, as if the
necessity of doing it had never
struck him.
This mans perfect IDIOT" the
Inspector thought.
"And now about this Captain"
said Perkins, choosing the clearest
footprints he could find in the soft
mud and pulling the boot out of his
pocket. His name Is Thonce, you
say. What is he captain OFF,"
Nothing that l know of, but
they do say that he has been a cap
tain in the China trade"
"ChinaP" repeated Perkins, as if
the idea of that country gave him
exquisite delight.
Eyes, China" repeated the In
spector, gruflly. He was losing all
patience. "How on earth did such
born idiot become a detective?"
What sort of man is hep"
Tall, square-built, about 40, gray
hair and no whiskers."
Deep cut over the right eye
browP" added Perkins, quietly, as
he stopped and fitted the boot into
the impression.
YES" said the Inspector, puzzled
at Perkins knowledge.
He never went by that name
here, did hep" asked Perkins, hand
ing the boot to the Inspector, on
the lining of which was written "A
Compton"
Never" He was getting more
and more puzzled.
Compton, alias Watkins, alias
Crowder, and now alias Tonce; I've
wanted him these two years, said
Perkins, cheerfully. 1--WE got him
now"
Yes" said the Inspector, grimly,
"he's safe enough here" And he
jerked his head toward the river.
"Bless you," laughed Perkins,
she's nearer China by this time
He'll die with a rope round his neck
yet. It's plant, man. Don't you
see? He has murdered himself and
bolted with the swag. That room
somehow looked queer. 1t was over
done; too much blood and too reg
ular. When / found that boot !
thought how it was, and this settled
it," said Perkins, pulling the sheets
of blotting paper out of his pocket
and handing them to the Inspector.
There, all over them, were the
words "Cowie, Nabob & Co.," in a
neat clerk-like hand, with that pc
culiar flourish at the end which
those who have dealings with that
eminent house knew so well.
THAT letter to the Balston bank
is forgery. 1t is not the first time
he has served Cowie, Nabob & Co.
this trick. He was in their count
ingroom for five years-came over
with forged character, robbed
them to the tune of $4,000 and bolt
ed. He's been smuggling and thiev-
ing all over the world since then.
But when is the next train to town.
l wouldn't miss him for anything"
Perkins was right.
The manager Of the Balston bank
found to his establishment that
Cowie, Nabob & Co. repudiated the
letter which purported to bear their
signature. II was forgery.
On the following Tuesday the Cap
tain was arrested at the London |
docks as he was booking his passage |
for Melbourne, and at the Balston
assizes he was tried by the name of |
Joseph Tonce, on charge of forgery,
and sentenced to penal servitude for |
the rest of his natural life. His
creditors at Bradtown were the only |