The true northerner., 1895-10-25


And 1 respond, or course I have. Lives
there a man who has not done some foolish
things in his salad daysY / should like to
see him. But you want the narrative, and
1 don't mind giving it to you. My
triumphs have been many. Why should !
fear to tell the world of my few failuresY
1t was some years ago. 1 had just en-
tered the force, but had shown so much
skill that they had quickly made me an
inspector In the Kensington district
Young as 1 was, knew all the criminals
in London, all the famed burglars, all the
mobsmen and swindlers They knew me,
too, and friendly enough we were when
our relations were not business relations.
We even chatted, laughed and drank
together, and it was no very extraordinary
occurrence when old Ben Briggs, the bur
glar, met me on the top of bus in Ken
sington one afternoon and shook me
heartily by the hand.
"What are you doing, Benz" / asked.
When he had borrowed pipe of tobacco,
he replied:
"Nothin, mate-waitin for job"
'Ha, hal You'd like me to take trip
to Paris, eh, Benz"
'Well, / dunno as / would. Yer amt
likely to come In between me and my
livin, with all yer cuteness / tell yer
what, old hoss, I'm going for Bell
weather's, the bankers, in day or two,
and I'll bet yer 95 yer don't cop me-.
The offer was astoundingly impudent.
knew well enough that Mr.. Bellweather
was with his family in Germany. We had
been ordered to watch his house closely,
as it contained large number of treas
ures and we had done so. What could be
the matter with Ben to "blab" the whole
thing in this way? Was he drunk? Not
bit of it! He was as sober as was.
''Tell you what, Ben, +" said l, after
moments thought, "I'll bet you e5, and,
what's more, I'll pay squarely if lose"
"That's GO" he cried. "I'll take
week, and If the job ain tpulled off by that
time I'll send yer the paper.
was glad TO get away, for it dawned
on my mind that they might be about to
undertake the job that very night. Nor
could I possibly divine the strange behav
ior of such an old hand as Ben.
jackson, who talked the job over with
me, said: "Look out, my boy. Bell
weather's is not the house they're going
for. They've got some big plant on in the
neighborhood, and we must keep our eyes
open. That Ben would deceive all the
detectives in all the capitals, let alone q
beginnerP'
said, Certainly" but in my own heart
thought that / was jolly, clever fellow,
and in that mood L strolled into Palace
gardens and took look at the banker's
mansion. 1t was fine house, carefully
guarded. One manseryant remained as
watchman, and took an opportunity of
chatting with him, explaining that 1
thought an attack would be made on the
place in night or two. He laughed the
idea to scorn.
"were shut up like prison." said he,
land you may just sleep easy. They
won't get much this road -
But, knowing Ben thought otherwise,
and chuckled as l returned to the police
station, saying to myself, You old fool,
Ben, you must be going mad in your
dotage!
Now, had settled on a plan in my
mind l would watch Bellweather' $
house myself every night during that week
and would take two smart fellows with
me that we might thoroughly surround It,
This plan followed, watching diligently
in the raw January cold for five hours
every night and continuing the business
for the five days of the allotted week
Nothing transpired, however. Not soul
came near the place. There were no rob.
berries in the district. Old Ben had evil
IDENTIFY been foollng me-
On the sixth night 1 was preparing to
go out, as usual, when of sudden the
whole Office was surprised by the appear
ance of Mr. Bellweather himself, tall
gentlemanly man, with an aristocratic
bearing and most polite air.
IL am sorry to have To trouble you at
this hour of the night" he said "but I
have received letter from my man Will
liam saying that he fears burglary at my
house.
Strange men have been watching about
IL during the last four days, and yesterday
man in the uniform of n soldier endeav-
ored TO get into conversation with william
He wired TO me at once, so have left my
wife and children at Dover and have hur-
ried home"
/ said that he had acted most wisely
and as / gathered from his remarks Will
liam expected the burglary to be attempt
ed that night or perhaps the next. This
caused me TO be prompt in my action.
"I'll return with you, and we'll watch to-
gether, -" l said 1.-TWO men will be enough,
for they will be well armed, and IL we take
more we may disturb the gang and lose
them"
"Quite SC" said Mr. Bellweather. "It
would be as well once for all TO rid the
neighborhood of these pests. 1 have my
French valet with me, and that will make
five OF us in all, for have sent William to
Dover TO look after the luggage and TO help
my wife. If you can come up to the house
at once, it would be safer"
Evidently there was not minute to be
lost. Calling two trusty men, bade them
load their revolvers and instruct the police
on the beat to keep about the place Then
we set out, and when we arrived at the
bankers house / saw that supper was laid
In the dining room, and that there were
lights in the kitchen.
you've got too much gas about"
said. But he remarked:
1--WE can close the shutters when we get
In and it is little early for them yet"
This was true, and 80 we entered, being
careful TO close the whole place up that
not ray Of light might shine outside.