Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-07-09

'"'pi'iouS' 1 WAS ueRlnnlng 10
grow warm at the thought Of the I'M
peasant quarter of an hour / should
nave TO face presently, wher Toop OK
Claimed. excitedly:
"Blest II didn't think so. sir. There
is Il false bottom in this trunk. It's
three inches shorter inside than out.
see. upturning the trunk, 1.-THE false
bottom is screwed from beneath.
Hand ne that chisel, there, for a
screwdriver.''
quite as excited as Toop. l looked on
WIN GREATNESS attention as he drew
out the screws. Giving a smart tap to
the trunk, the false bottom gave way,
ana we both uttered a sharp exclama-
tlon. There lay part of the spoils of
the robbery.
DO you remain here. Toop.'' / said.
after we had congratulated one an
other: Il shall walk over to the bridge.
and when he returns from the river |
shall follow him in here and arrest
him when he gets inside
| told Pately of our success. The
good fellow was wonderfully excited.
and would have had me go and arrest
him that minute.
Shortly after / he came up from the
river on his way to lunch. | stepped
up to him as he reacbed the inn door.
LEO Valli,' l said, you are my pris-
oner. Here is my warrant" and laid
hold of him.
Pately came up and took his other
ARM: but he was too dumbfounded TO
offer resistance. and stood staring In
ludtcrous surprise. At last he con-
trolled himself and asked the meaning
OF it. He tried to laugh. and said We
had made n great mistake, for which |
should have to pay dearly.
Our prisoner resigned himself very
quietly. Let me have a glass of whis-
ky" he said. land. tell me, has Pardon
been takenT'
NO" l said; "but we are sure to
have him in a few days. If you will
tell us where he may be found it will
stand in your favor"
A smile crossed our prisoners face,
but he said nothing, and / sent Toop to
get the whisky.
Valli was now very cheerful. and
was drinking u health when the door
opened and the other angler walked in,
with an air of easy confidence.
'Oh, good morning. all" he said, in n
tone of great good-humor. you've
nabbed him. / see. Really, superin-
tendent, I'm bound to congratulate you
on a very smart capture, and you must
not think l mean it in. any ill-will IL l
say | wished you had been a few hours
later. But. at any rate, you have re-
deemed the whole character of the pro-
vincial police in my eyes"
We stared at the man in complete be-
wiIderment. Il am sorry" / said, but
really / do not understand you"
"Noy" he said, with the same air of
easy confidence. then | must congrat-
ulate myself, also, on having played
my part with credit. Let me introduce
myself. superintendent. l have been
m%asouerading here the last two days
In the character of Mr.. Roberts. a Biz
mingham gentleman with a penchant
for fishing. The truth is, i have been
angling for the fish you have so credit.
ably hooked-Leo Valli. / am Robert
Featherstone. of the detective depart.
ment, Scotland Yard. at your service
| was so astonished that l could not
say a word, but our prisoner broke III
to a fury. 'And SO, you scoundrel. al
your goodfellowship down by h river
was only TO entrap me! You-yor
bio dhound!'
.Just so.'' said the detective, will
the greatest good-humor. You are 9
sly old fox, Valli, and a bloodhound Ii
needed TO hunt you. But never
dreamt my friends here were on YOU
track. They have robbed me of my
triumph, but they thoroughly deserv,
all the credit"
'NNe have something more" | said
and Toop lifted up the false bottom o.
the trunk and disclosed the stones.
MAN alive!'' lie exclaimed. you dt
not mean to say you have these, too
I thought Pardon lad the swag witt
him. Well done, indeed"
He listened eagerly as told him on
story. and we could not help feeling
proud at the compliments he showeret
upon us. 1t was something to meri
the encomiums of a Scotland Yard de
~tective.
"TIl tell you what had better b'
done" he said, after a moments 81
lence. You shall drive us into Biz
mingham, and I'll take Valli on from
there. 1t is hardly worth while you
coming to town this afternoon, as 70,
will have to come in a day or w Il
give evidence. You win have a lette
; from the chief that will make yo,
proud. But, stay! / have not shown
nv authority and he produced {
memorandum. on official paper. signed
by the chief, requesting the police gen
orally to render him any aid he nigh
require.
We arrived at the station some TWEEN
ty minutes before the train was due
md. at the detectives suggestion, W.
went towards n waiting room. w
were making our way along the plat
form when a woman, dressed in tn,
, height of fashion-though rather gaud
. ily. / thought-came hurrying up to u
/ in great excitement.
"Good heavens, Leo she cried, hav'
they taken both Of you? You sill.
I foolsv' i.
~Featherstone turned ON her. red wit
anger. "Stand out of my way, VIC
mani" he said. what do you mean
! This is my prisoner. What do yo'
, know of him? 2"
She comprehended us all in one brie
| glance. .I've made a mistake, see
sir: / thought your prisoner was
, friend of mine"