The sun., 1893-02-23


the bewildering story he took home
to Daisy. There could be no question
as to it's being Widgery who had en-
deavored, though unsuccessfully, to
plumber his fellow-guest at the Crown
and Dolphin, and it was equally GER
tain that he had returned to London,
and was at the present time some
where in the purlieus of Paddington!
"Apd the shooting-the pistol shot
that was fired at him?" asked Daisy,
anxiously. did he appear to be in
jured?"
"Don't | tell you that only saw
his pack2 He was sauntering along
easy enough-taking it far easier than
q. sane man would whose description
no doubt is by this time in the hands
of the London police. He is mad;
poor. fellow; there cannot be ashadow
of a doubt as to that. And all the
blame is mine, Daisy! Even if in his
insane desperation he committed a
murder, it would be my crime as
much as though this hand dealt the
blow" And Mr.. Flineher hid his face
sobbing in the sofa cushion. "If I
could but find him and persuade
him to come here with me" Sc
Daisy uttered q little scream
''Whatt mad as he is, Joseph, and
most likely as jealous as ever"
''Well, well; it could but find him
and get him to accompany me so that
i might explain matters to him, /
might be able to assist him out OF the
dreadful dilemma he is in, | shall
have no moments happiness till do
my best to trace him, Daisy"
And that same evening Mr.. Flincher
was at Paddington again anxiously
perambulating, not only the particu-
lar dingy street. into which he had
seen Widgery turn, but every other
shady thoroughfare in the immediate
neighborhood; but all in vain. Next
evening, however, after he had re-.
turned from the Office and partaken
of a hasty meal, he was haunting the
same locality once more, and after
three hours of untiring waiting about
and watching, his perseverance was
seemingly about to be rewarded.
At q corner of a narrow alley
there was a shabby little public
house, and just about eleven o'clock,
unless his eye-sight was altogether at
fault, Mr.. Flincher caught sight of the
plum-colored coat, as the wearer was
entering at q side door. He could not
feel absolutely certain, however, for
the night was dark and the tavern
lamp shed but feeble light, 30 he ap-
preached more closely and peeped in
at the side window. Now he felt con-
vinced. Widgery was standing with
his back towards him, out what was
more there was the dark brown soft
hat he had seen his friend wearing q
hundred times. Mr.. Flincher no long
er hesitated. Softly opening the side
door in the alley he stepped inside
and clapped the other on the shoul-
der, at the same time whispering, as
suringly,.
'It is all right, Widgery, it's mel"
But he was quite unprepared for
what Immediately followed. With
out facing him Widgery struck out at
him sideway,. and suddenly with his
fist striking him in the pit-o the
stomach, doubling him up" as the
saying is, and depriving him of breath;
then, darting out at the door. Mr..
Fincher dashed after him hoping to
overtake him without attracting pub
lie notice, but the spectacle of one
man pursuing another in that shady
neighborhood was so irresistibly sug-
gestive of a. robbery-and the delights
of the chase, that there Immediately
rose cry OF "stop thief! "And it
being late, the streets were compare
lively clear, ndssthe pursued one had
a fair start and would no doubt have
got clear away had not policeman
suddenly emerged from side street
and clasped him in his arms.
But he fought like wild animal es-
capped from it's cage, and had the stall
wart constable down on the ground
with him in twinkllng, and the two
were rolling and struggling together
when another policeman and the
crowd came up, and he was effectually
secured. Pantingfor breath Mr.. Film
cher was among the last. to reach the
spot just as the police were putting
on the handouts. "For heavens
sake don't hurt him." exclaimed Mr..
Flincher." 1 know the gentleman
we'll, and assure you, policeman, that
he is perfectly harmless" - s
"Oh, you know him, do your" re-
marked one of the constables. "You
can tell us his name, perhaps?"
"Of course I can; it's Widgery-Mr.
Samuel Widgery, OF Cutler-street,
Bloomsbury Square"
But at that the man with the hand
cuffs burst into q gruff laugh.
lnV1'4 bnnU tyh0 Won hJ1t
it's very kind of you to give
me a character" he remarked in
a voice that caused Mr.. Flincher to
stare in astonishment. eff you know
Mr.. Widgery you can give him my
compliments and tell him having no
further use for his togs took the
liberty of borrowing OF him, Peter
Wimble of Dartmoor, will be glad to
have his own back in exchange for
them.
Early next morning a telegram was
received at Darmoor from Scotland
yard, announcing the capture of a
runaway convict, who knowing, as he
recklessly remarked, "that
the game was up, made no secret of
how he obtained the clothes he was
wearing Wn0n Uaken. Lie lASb NEIL
toned information formed part of
the telegram, SO that within a. few
OF it's arrival the counterfeit
Wimble, who still modestly declined
to confess who he really was, WAS
confronted by the prison authorities
as Mr.. Samuel Widgery, of Cutler
street, Bloomsbury.
But dreading the inevitable conse-
quences, Mr.. Widgery demurred to the
and it was not until an
hour or two later, when he himself re-
ceiyed q telegram of considerable
length from Mr.. Joseph Flincher, that
he evinced any disposition to act on
the governors suggestion that since
no one there had any right to detain
him, the sooner he took his departure
the better.
He had been stimulating insanity
more or less during the eight days he
had been in durance, but had never
shown himself so undoubtedly "off
his head as when he had perused
the precious contents of that buff en-
velope. He begged permission to stay
MT fha 1riaon ) until the aftar.noon