Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-04

little den there, expressly reserved for gentlemen like you, where you can be safe and snug into the bargain.
 Apparently very grateful for such wise advice, I availed myself of it, be- cause it was just the sort of speech I might expect if my suspicious were we'll founded, the more so because one does not expect such advice from a man whose whole appearance seems at variance with politeness. The room. he showed me into was certainly private enough to suit the most retiring customer, and the landlord was so kind that he insisted upon me taking my seat in an armchair. in front of which stood a little round table.
 After a rather long interval he brought me the drink I-had ordered, and after few commonplace remarks he left me alone once more. I took a meagre sip of the stuff and my suspicious, which were growing stronger every moment now, were not diminished. l detected peculiar flavor, slight but unmistakable. in the whisky-a taste which ought by no means to have been present. Yes, was certain that the whisky had been drugged, and. making sure that l was unobserved, I poured a good three fourths of the contents of the glass into a spittoon under the table. Then l wait ed for further developments.
 Presently I heard some one coming along the passage, and the next moment the worthy landlord again entered the room.
 "'Ah, I see you know what's what, sir he exclaimed rubbing his hands gleefully together, as he looked at the empty glass. Let me get you another. Though I say it, you won't get better drop of the gen. uine aboard your own ship
 "I pretended to be very drowsy, and mumbled some reply, which still further deceived the fellow; and then, making as if I would rise, I fell back and uttered deep snore.
 "'Aha, another bird in the net heard the old villain mutter in a gratified tone, and one with feathers worth plucking, too. He's safe enough already, but
 "He slipped from the room, and eau tiously opening my eyes again l looked warily around, feeling certain now that the mystery of the seven would very soon be cleared up. 1 was congratulat1ng my self on the fact that my ideas were all working out so cleverly, when suddenly I was startled by an event for which I was altogether nnprepared, and which made me speedily see that my position was just little more dangerous than I had anticipated.
 '"The arm chair in which l was sitting, together with the table in front of me, and half the flooring of the room, in fact, was sinking! Springing from my seat l leaped forward and scrambled without the least regard for my official dignity, on to the fixed portion of the floor, and, TlSlnS u IHy lGel, SdHSo No"h "ieh mingled interest and astonishment into a dark, damp-smelling vault. Deeming it high time to quit the apartment, found, though not entirely to my sur prise, that the door was locked from the outside. At the same moment I saw ray of light flash across the darkness be- low and then a volley of furious oaths greeted my ears, which told plainly enough that the vacant chair had already been discovered.
 "'Back to the parlor, Jake rough voice savagely exclaimed. I told you we was too hasty and that he wouldn't De gone off sound yet
 "'The games up and we're done for If we lets that cove give us the sip, heard the landlord say. But mind, no noise! Knives are quieter than bullets, and we've got to use 'em now, or else be eternally ruinedp
 "Then some door was loudly banged, and all was silent again. The words had caught were quite alarming enough and showed how really critical my posi- tion was but with a sort of grim satis- faction I now waited to greet the gang. They were good enough to keep me in suspense but very few seconds, for an instant later the door was burst rather than thrown open, and the landlord, iol- lowed by two powerfully built scoWfng ruffians rushed in-only to draw back with generations as they caught sight of the dull, black barrel of service pull dog leve1ed at them.
 "Forcing matters bit, I fired one chamber in the air. which was the sig nal agreed upon with my men should l require their aid in an emergency.
 Gentlemen I said quietly, I'll trouble you, if you don't wish to be rid dled, to keep a respectful distance. All low me to introduce myself-Detective Sergeant Nichols, who Is infinitely obliged for the novel and interesting mechanism you have rather prematurely shown him. Ah,' I added, with sense of relief, as I perceived two familiar faces, you see how useless resistance would be, for here are couple of my own men, accompanied also by two others of her majesty's guardians of the peace. Their presence will no doubt prevent us from engaging in hostilities. And now, instead of being your prisoner in that vault below, I must trouble. you all to consider yourselves my prisoners
 "The excitement was intense for awhile but 1t was soon over, for the ruff fans became as meek as lambs when they saw that their prescious game was ended. And whatever objections they may have had to changing their quarters to the nearest police station they did not press them.
 "Yes," concluded the ex-detective "I won a fair amount of praise over the affair. What was more to the point, pro- motion came in due time, and other re- wards followed as a matter of course"