The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-10-20

nrared to be correct, for / met several
people who had seen Jack going across
the Fields toward Marple, which WAS his
best way of getting to Maccleslield from
the place he lived in; but when arrived
ut Nurnlc station Wasat fault again, for
no train had been out for quite two
hours. and although waited till the last
train 10 Naccleshe!d had left. I.a,nprey
did not show up
"rircd and yeXed beyond description. |
tramplcl back and got what rest i could.
hoping chat something might turn up in
the morning to assist me in recovering
the ground THAT had lost, but afraid that
for once had let my quarry slip. and
that might never catch him, now that
he was aware he was being tracked.
''Sure enough, the something did turn
up in the morning, and something which
confirmed my fears, though 1 felt that
had got my man dead if | had missed him
alive. The postman came around soon
after Z, before it was quite light, and
had only just got up when boy came
running with IL letter, which had been
delivered at the police station. 1t bore
the. Marplc postmark, and was addressed
to The Detective from London Tear
ing it open read something like this:
. From John Lamprey. I know YOU
are after me, and l know what for. 1
managed to keep ont of your way to-
night, and meant to try and get down
South, bat You are sure to lpve me sooner
or later, so I've determined to make an
end of it. Look ut the church steeple
when you get this to morrow mornings
THE church stceple was tall and
prominent feature whichever way ,you
turned, and had only to 20 to the end of
the street to get full view of it. When
got there and looked up Irsaw. something
that gave me start. In the uncertain
light of the early morning could discern
against the gray sky, hanging by the neck
to one of the lion loops which served for
a ladder on the side OF the spire, the
figure of Il mani
. So much for Jack. Lamprcym | said
to myself, as hurried to the police sta
ton He has saved me any more trou-
ble!'
by the time had been to the station
and back to the church it was broad day.
light, and, of course, the body hanging
alott had been seen and Il crowd had al.
ready collected, everyone recognizing it as
that of Jack Lamprey. 10 IA
a strange freak, IT remarked to the
sergeant who was with me.
- i don't think So, he replied. Jack
had made himself Il sort of Il hero over
going up the spire to repair the vanc, and
there was nothing more likely to occur to
his mind than to finish his career at the
same place.
There was no one around Stock port
who would venture up the spre, and Il
telegram had to be sent to Stalybridge for
man to come and get the body down 1t
WAS just past midday before the steeple-
jack arrived, and by that time, half Stock
port had heard of the affair. Work was
discarded, and an immense crowd collect
ed to witness the sight. Every foot of
the mans way up the steeple was watched
by thousands of eyes, and when, ut last,
he approached the swaying body of Jack
Lamprey, the tongues which had been
loudly wagging were hushed rs by COM
mon consent.
II shall never forget the few minutes
that followed, while the steeple- jack (now
looking the size of little child made his
way very cautiously close up TO tie body,
and fixing Il rope to it, made his prepare
tions for lowering it to his assistant, who
was waiting on the top of the square
tower to receive it. There was something
awfully sad and solemn about it ALI
In due course the assistant received
the corpse, which he let down to the
ground, and every one around me re
marked that he swung it roughly to the
earth, without showing the respect which
might have been looked for. In fact,
some actually called out 'Shamer
But all ~ once the hush which had
fallen upon the crowd was broken by "A
storm of cheers and laughter, The thing
which had given all this trouble was
nothing but guy! And never felt such
Il fool in my life.
SO that he might get nearly Il days
start l.amprey had clcverly misled me
the night before. While had been vast.
ing my time at MARBLE, he had been en-
ployed in stutfing the suit of clothes
which he had taken from his lodgings
with straw, making very passable rep
resentation of himself; and in the middle
of the night, he had climbed the steeple
(Which was child's play TO him) and left
his efligy there to deceive me and lull me
into inaction.
II need not dwell upon the chaff 1 re-
ceived. 1t is too painful, even now. for
me to recall without annoyance, but YOU
may he sure that quickly made myself
scarce
did the fellow get clear away?'' asked
some one.
YES He took the train to the east
coast. and succeeded in getting 10 Hol-
land, unnoticed,' replied Inspector Hook
yer. But he hanged himself in real
earnest some considerable time afterward,
leaving letter behind admitting his
guilt, and Stating that his conscience
troubled him so that he could not bear to
live. lid Bits
YOUR BOY WON'T LIVE 4
MONTH