Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-10-11

~ a
! W police court, but
short i m G
ago, happening to be seized with a
sudden and unaccountable curiosity, I
wended my way toward one of those
interesting institutions and effected
an entrance.
say erected, because it was mat
ter OF no little difficulty, the entrance
and Railways being crammed to incon-
venience with forty or fifty individu-
ais, mostly women, o-thirds of whom
seemed in the last stages of despond-
ency, while the remainder afforde l
contrast by exhibiting a sort of un-
healthy cheerfulness.
The court policeman on duty that
day was an old acquaintance of mlne,
and upon noticing me, he Immediately
beclsoned to me.
"Ihere'sa peculiar case just decided" :"
he said; lone you might like TO know
something about. The fellow is dis
charged, and will be coming out in a
minute. Why, here he come 81" eiacu-
lated the officer, that man in the
shaggy suit"
The "man in the shaggy suit" had
only just got into the street when |
overlook him.
He was standing still, looking up
and down the thoroughfare, apparent
ly undecided what to do, all the time
feeling in his trousers pocket as though
he had lost something, i OWNED his
thoughts, and, accosting him quietly,
said:
After the unpleasant proceedings
just concluded, perhaps little light
refreshment might be acceptable"
Just what was a-thinking, SIR" he
replied, smiling; IAN was just a-feel-
in to see if I'd got the price of a
schooner of beer, but find I'm quite
broke"
'Never mind" / observed, and in
less than couple of minutes had
him comfortably seated at table in a
neighboring beer saloon,
He was fine specimen of the work
ingman, tall and broad-shouldered,
with frank, open face-not at all one
who could be judged as belonging to
the criminal classes.
was anxious to know what crime
he had been charged with, and mild
ly inquired II it had been matter OF
assault and battery"
mo, sir" he said; "but it will be
next time-that is, if lay hold O the
chap that made fool Of me"
"Is it long story?' queried
mot very long Would you like tc
hear it, sir?"
lassented eagerly.
"Well, then" he began, after he hat
drained his glass, ''ye see, I've beer
out o. work now for nigh two months
scarcely knowing which way to turr
for meal, and glad to pick up quar-
ter when and where can.
"Well, one mornin' l went out a
usual--that would be just nine day
ago-and found myself with only {
dime in my pocket away up town OF
the west side, in the neighborhood o
Amsterdam avenue and One Hundred
and Sixty-sixth street.
mo Job was to be had that mornin'
so, feeling rather down at heart, and
little thirsty and hungry, turne'
into saloon where l knew l coul'
get a snack O free lunch with m.
beer.
81 hadn't been sittin' there long be
fore a short, stumpy gent, with no en'
o. watch chain in front of him, come
sauntering in. and seats himself plum
alongside O me.
81 ought to have felt flattered, M
doubt, and perhaps did a little bit
when he said, presently, in very pleas
ant way: Nice mornin'.'
eyes, said, it is for those in work
but the morning doesn't seem partik
ler nice to me-.
you're out O work, eh?' he asked
well, / might have guessed as mucl
bv your crest-fallen expression. Wha
would YOU say If put little job il
your way?
"I should say Heaven bless ye, AM
mean It, answered, pricking up m
ears and looking full in the little gent
face.
ale looked at me, too, very hard
I thought, as If he were trying TO rea
wbat was inside O me and couldn'
quite manage 1t.
~ can trust you| he asked
Perfectly, i said.
".Now look here, he says, speaking
auite confidential like, and In yer
low voice: I'm one of Supt. Byrne'
detectives. Tonight I'm going to hav
good try to nab Il fellow who ma
been fooling the police OF New for
for the last three months. I've got re
liable information, and with your al
sistance l believe shall have MN.
But was going to tell him
knew nothing about thief-taking' an
chat 7 was afraid / would only spoi
the affair. when he stopped me.
" NO butts, he said; 1 know what
am about. You will be new to hin
Ua Knows all the headquarter dete'
tives in the city, but he won't kno'
Won There's big reward. II W
catch him I'll come down hant
somely. Waiter, some more beer! :,
at drank his health, listened, Will
he went on talking by the yard an
telling me what should have to do:
ale told me that the man he II
tended to catch was going to commit
burglary at house on Washing 20
Ha;ghts--who informed him he dlon
saw but he said he knew lt-and and Una u"
he meant to nab him in the very ac
The house stood in q piece Of groun
inelosed by low rail fence and m
o ,o-. - the performance was to watc
for the burglar, and should ne 10y, oy an !.
means me giv--sae detective the slip I
shsss and collar hin ! J SSals,