The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-06-11
VOL. XXVII.-NO. 80.

taking him for somebody else; and if you
take my advice, my man, you'll go home
quietly without any more disturbance. "
"But tell you he did rob me, by pre-
tending to be detective remember
him perfectly, and I'd swear to him any
where y said David excitedly.
"What proof have you got?' asked the
disdainfully
proof! My own eyes to be sure =
.'That wouldn be enough for court of
law. am afraid If you'd seen as many
cases of mistaken identity as | have, you'd
be unwilling to swear to your own brother,
remarked the guardian of order. ''lt's
clear you're mistaking Capt. Spencer for
somebody else. If you don't want to be
locked up as drunk and disorderly, you'll
90 about your business at once. And
he took the little man firmly by the arm.
"You talk about my own eyes being no
proof; but what proof have you, except his
own word for it, that he is Capt, Spencer 2
returned the little Welshman, de6antly.
Haven't seen his card p drawled the
policeman with lazy superiority, as if that
were a most convincing argument. And
it is very singular, if the reader will reflect
a moment, TO notice the marvellous influence
a minute scrap of pasteboard, inscribed with
any name, however unfamiliar, has in calm
ING the suspicious and bespeaking the con
fidence of all ranks of society. Not day
passes but the production of visiting card
with flourish extricates many man aud
woman of dubious antecedents from many
an unpleasant dilemma, and serves them as
a passport to society.
"His card, contemptuously returned the
ieweler "He might have had it printed
on purpose, or picked it up it the street.
Pray what is there to hinder me calling
myself the Duke of Somewhere on card,
if | choose? l say he's the very man who
came into my shop at MOOrtOwn and swim
died me out of my money and my goods.
'There, that will do, said the policeman
very sternly, forcibly retaining David with
his strong arm, and mOtioning to the other
to get into the carriage, as the warning
whistle was sounding. 81 don't believe a
word of your story, and if you're not quiet
| shall have to lock you up. I'd advise
you not to compel me to call for assistance. y
As the train slowly left the station, the
last object to meet the escaping swindler's
eyes were David Roberts, with his face
convulsed by rage, forcibly held back by
the tall policeman, who lowered above him
very giant in size and strength. The
sight would have been most lulicrous, had
his escape been less narrow. He drew ;
long breath of intense relief and snbsideC
into a corner, with feeling of exultatior
at his own foresight in keeping two o.
three of the cards he had picked up in cas-
they might prove useful in an emergency
The plan which the perusal of Capt
Spencer's correspondence had suggested Il
him had not only prospered beyond hi
utmost expectations, but had also serve,
to stave off an unexpected danger in tn
recognition of himself by David Roberts
'Well, really, sir," began his good
natured opposite neighbor, with IN aHabl
smile, 'you must permit me to eongratu
late you on bringing about successful tel
mination to very unpleasant scene. You
nerve and Judgment were admirable unde
circumstances of great provocatlon. 10
an officer and gentleman ta be accused o
being Il common swindler was almost to
much for human nature to bear.
"The fellow was evidently half-drunk,
returned the sham Captain disdainfully
''I could not feel seriously annoyed with
person so far beneath contempt, That h
should be incapable of discriminating be
tween a man in my position, and fellON
who would steal jewelry and banknoteS
shows that his statements are not serousl
worth consideration.
"Certainly not, said the other warmly
"Rut all the same, it was trying position
for you to be placed in Captain - b
the bye, have forgotten your name 70
the moment
Godfrey Spencer.
"Ah yes of the Royal Reds, thinl
you said Very fine regiment, that.
had brother in it once. When | was
lad was wild to wear a red coat myself
and it was all that my father-he was
banker and intended me to follow the sam
profession-cou do to dissuade me frou
it. I've got over that weakness now; bu
still like chat with young soldier nov
and then, though soldering is very differ
egt from what it was in my young day;
They didn't require man to learn Para
disc Lost by heart before they though
him worthy of Il commission
At Basingstoke the train stopped for
few minutes, and there another passenge
got in. He was a fne-looking man q
about forty, with keen eye cleaning fror
beneath cloth travelling cap. Algerno
Mortimer's loquacious companion, VIII
was evidently not afflicted with shyness
soon began conversation with the strange
by asking if he would like to see an even
ing paper.
"Thanks, I've read it, said the new
conner, opening his cigar-case. "No new
worth mentioning. 1t appears that tn
police have as yet no clue to the Brixtol
murderer"
All England was just then ringing will
the details Of particularly atrocious an
dastardly crime, the perpetrator of whic
had for several days etfectually battle,
| JuSllCG, obCMCu " Ao .
although every day men who resemble
the published descriptions of the murdere
were being arrested in different parts of til
country.
81 see that two men were detained a
Gloucester yesterday, but afterwards Sc
at liberty, answered the old man. can
only the other day member of Parliamen
was positively arrested on the same charge
the police not knowing who he was, o
course.
aYes, there have been some queer case
of mistaken identity" assented the othel
"Aud, really you can hardly wonder at il
[ have myself made the most absurd mis-
takes at times, and l suppose that is tn
experience of everybody, more or less.
"There was case in poiut this yer
evening" eagerly assented the loquaciou
old gentleman, while the sham Godfre
Spencer, seeing what was coming, bit hi
lips in futile annoyance without daring t