Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1893-04-01

by the sarcastic comments OF tht
local newspaper on their want o
success. but ii spite OF all their eff
forts the thieves remained undis
covered.
A few days after this third bur
glary a sci1ec what shabbily attiret
individual, VINO. however, had thu
unmistakabie stamp Of good breed
ing i'll his cir and carriage, entered
the Bewley -Sttrattou police station
and asked to see the inspector. Ush
cred into the little room where ths
official was puzzllng over the mos
recent reports of his subordinate:
and anathe,natizing their stupidity
(as he characterized their want O.
success. the visitor coolly took {
chair and waited for the official tx
speak.
What, Mr. Fre:1!!' exclaimed the
inspector, as his glance fell on the
newcomer.
yes, it's me, Howard" was the
laughing response. Back again tt
see you like bad penny"
"Cf course you're perfectly enti
tied to come to Bey-ley, or any other
place, sir, said the inspector, some
what stifiiy; but l should have
thought"
''Ah, never mind, my old pal, my
wild oats are all soNTn. I've come
here on business. What reward is
offered for the capture Of these en-
terprlsing burglars Of yours!"
"Reward!' echoed the officer in
surprise; well, altogether about
$500. Are you going to turn thief
catcher, Mr. Fred7"
"Well, I'm going to :1y my hand.
Now just you listen quietly to ne
for half an hoar and perhaps we
shall share that So, 500 between us, if
all goes well"
It was {, dark night, the rain was
coming down ii torrents and four
men, who were crouching under q
hedge about eight miles from Bew-
! ley Stratton, were wet to the skin.
''IIark hear wheels, said one of
them ''Now then"
They emerged from the hedge, and
one Of their number coolly laid him
self down in the muddy road. AS
the lamps of the approaching vehicle
drew near one Of the quartet raised
a shrill hal1o!.'
Halo" came in reply from the
driver of the gig whats up?'
Here's a man been run over" was
the explanation; I'VE think he be
killed Be you & doctor?"
"Yes, l am, Was the reply, and the
driver dismountea ard walked up TO
the group.
And then a curious thing took
place. Two Of tho four men seized
the new arrival, who was no other
than st. John, and slipped q pair Of
handouts on his wrists, while the re-
crlnbent figure rose quickly and ran
to the gig.
''It's all right" he exclaimed ex-
citedly; every things here Hoo
ray
Possibly the three men who had
shared his watch under the hedge
were, il their hearts, as elated Is
was Mr.. Fred, though they were bet
ter trained in repressing their feel
ings. But when, after weary tramp,
the vehicle the prisoner end his cap
tors arrived at Bewley -Stratton police
station, and a very complete set Of
burglars tools we're drawn from
under the seat Of the gig, in the well
of which the proceeds Of a fourth
burglary were found, the force re
galed itself lavishly in celebration Of
the event.
Little remains to be told. St. john,
who had had a medical training in
youth, but had afterward gone to
the bad, was recognized as mem
ber of the swell mob. It Was subse-
ouently found that his testimonials
were clever forgeries, and that the
Brighton letter had been penned by
a confederate Aided by knowledge
gained during his professional"
visits to the houses in the country,
and by the use of the doctors horses
and gig, which allayed suspicion, he
was able to work in cooperation
with a gang Of depredators, who dis
persed after each burglary, carrying
nothing with them which would
cause suspicion, even had they been
arrested
Charles St. John was sent to penal
servitude for ten years DR.. West,
hurriedly recalled from the Cont
nent, gladly recognized the services
of his scapegrace ward, Fred Sin
clair, whom he had banished from
his roof some twelve months before,
owing to that young mans spend
thrift habits. It was during this
term Of banishnlent that, passing
away al idle hour in {, metropolitan
police court, he had scen st. John
brought up On suspicion of conspir-
acy to defraud, but discharged for
want of evidence, and tho features
of the accused had not been for
gotten.
A year in London, however. with
almost empty pockets, had tanned
Nj Fred's hig:l soaring spirits.
Very gladly Gid he accept his old
post Of assistant to the doctor, and
it is rumorcd in Bewley-Stratton
that before his guardian returns to
finish his interrupted holiday Nellie
will, with her fathers full consent,