The Opelousas courier., 1894-10-13

been fooling the police Of New York
for the last three months. I've got re.
liable information, and with your as
sistance 1 believe / shall have him.
Butt was going to tell him ]
knew nothing about thief-taking, and
that / was afraid would only spoil
the affair, when he stopped me.
"'No butts he said; i know what
am about. You will be new to him.
He knows all the headquarter detec.
tives in the city, but he won't know
you. There's a big reward. If we
catch him I'll come down hand.
somely. Waiter, some mor beer!'
II drank his health. listened. while
he went on talking by the yard. and
telling me what l should have to do.
"He told me that the man nryie in
tended to catch vas going to commit a
burglary at a house on Washington
Heights-who informed him he didn't
say, but he said he knew it-and that
he meant to nab him in the very act.
The house stood in a piece of ground
inclosed by a low rail fence, and my
part of the performance wa to watch
for the burglar, and should he by any
mean give the detective the slip, to
chase and collar him if could.
"'But s'pose,' l said, as soon as
could get a word in. 's'pose a regular
policeman comes along and catches
sight O. me in those grounds at mid
night?'
well the little gent replied,
laughing, you've only to give the po-
lice signal, three loud whistles, and
tell them Detective Dawker has en-
gagged YOU
II was rather doubtful even then,
but the little gents quick tongue soon
smoothed it over and l agreed to go in
for a share of the reward.
ave left the saloon together and
parted just outside, promising to meet
at the house he had described to me,
IN Washington Heights, at twelve
o'clock the same night.
HE cautioned me again not to
breathe a word about the arrange
ment, and further mentioned that
when he met me at night be would be
disguised.
Twelve o'clock came. l reached
the meeting place on time, and found
the detective waiting for me.
He was dressed in clothes some
thing like my own, and looked the
fash gentleman no longer.
she seemed rather impatient, and
hastily pulled me into the garden and
into a part of it where thick shrubs
grew, making a capital hiding-place,
from which you could look up and
down the street quite plainly without
being visible yourself.
"'Now, mind he said, quickly, If
you see the burglar run, chase him; II
a policeman comes, give three loud
whistles. I must be off, or l shall
lose my chance. I shall be back in an
hour. If l want assistance l will give
you the three Whistles
with these parting words the man
disappeared.
II stood waiting there for quite half
IN hour, l should think, when I heard
on the still night air the heavy tramp
of a policeman.
HE vas coming my way, l fancied,
and I was right.
"Slowly he drew nearer and nearer,
until he stopped right abreast o. the
very place where l was hiding. close
to the garden gate.
"He put his hand and tried the gate
fastening. 1t opened; he came inside
and flashed his lantern full on the very
bush behind which / was standin'.
"Quick as possible 1 gave three very
loud, shrill whistles, but instead OF
the policeman being awed by the
sound he dashed at me and caught me
by the throat. in about half q minute
nearly choking me, and stopping me
from explaining why l was there.
binding l didn't resist, he loosened
his hold and questioned me.
81 told him plump and plain that De.
tective Dawker had engaged me-tha,
l was doing to my duty and that he
had not better spoil II game.
He only gripped my arm the tight.
er and laughed, telling me not to try
~ OA A4Iu, dAo OtC" AlS ShiSbtS.
I'm a few minutes another officer
arrived, and between the two of 'em,
what, with their laughing and their
questions, / had a lively time of it.
''This was another Of that Dawker's
schemes, they said. and 1 was put
down as an accomplish. trying on the
innocent humbug' with 'em.
ut was IN vain ] declared my limo
cence OF any scheme besides that for
the capture of a notorious burglar.
1T was no go. I vas taken to the
nearest police station and held on sus.
'picion.
1.-THE next morning, when brought
before the police justice, l learned. &c
my great surprise, that the man }