The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-11-28

letter lookout; but it was no use losing
my head over it, and | at once set to
work lodging his footsteps after he
had left his lodgings. In the public
house which he frequented l came
across a man to whom | had previously
spoken, who seemed to know Lamprey
in very distant sort of way, and
turned the conversation on the man
wanted.
"'Ahl I've just seen him. said tie
fellow. About an hour ago. or mayhaP
little more. lie was going to Maeeles-
field, he said, to catch the early train in
the morning into Staffordshire, where
he's got another job. He seemed in
mighty hurry, too
81 had reason afterward to think that
this man was the one who had gi,tn
Lamprey warning, but whether that
was 50 or not his information that
night appeared to be correct, for met
several people who had seen Jack 60
ing across the fields toward Marble,
which was his best way of getting to
Macelesfield from the place he lived
in; but when arrived at MARBLE station
| was at fault again, for no train had
been out for quite two hours, and al
though | waited till the last train to
Macelesfield had left, Lamprey did not
show up.
Tired, and veXed beyond description,
l tramped back and got what rest
could, hoping that something might
turn up in the morning to assist me in
recovering the ground l 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 | felt that
| had got my man dead, if had missed
him alive. The postman came round
soon after seven, before it was quite
light, and l had only just gas up when
boy came running with e. letter,
which had been delivered at ti-e police
station. 1t bore the MARBLE pof tmarl1,
and was addressed to The, De- ective
from London.
Tearing it open, read meioaipg
like this.
From John Lamprey. l know iou
are after me, and | know what for. |
managed to keep out of your way to-
night, and | meant to try and get down
south, but you are sure to have me,
sooner or later, so I've determined TO
make an end of 1T. Look at the church
steeple when you get this tomorrow
morning
THE church steeple was tall and
prominent feature whichever way you
turned, and l had only to so to the end
of the street to get a full view of tt.
When l got there and looked up, saw
something that gave me a start. In
the uncertain light of the early morning
could discern against the gray sky,
hanging by the neck TO one of the iron
loops which serve for a ladder on tie
side of the spire, the figure of mani
so much for Jack Lamprey!' | said
to myself, as l hurried to the police sta
ton He has saved me any more
troubled
"By the time | had been to the sta
ton and back to the church it WAS
broad daylight, and, of course, the body
hanging aloft had been seen, and
crowd had already collected, every one
recognized it as Jack Lamprey.
"A strange freak l remarked 10
the sergeant who was with me.
There was no one round Stockport
who would venture up the spire, and a
telegram had to be sent TO Stalybridge
for q man to come and get the body
down. 1t was past midday before the
steepleiack arrived, and by that time
half Stockport had heard of the affair.
Work was discarded, and an immense
crowd collected to witness the sight.
Every foot of the mans way up to the
steeple was watched by thousands of
eyes, and when at last he approached
the swaying body of Jack Lamprey, the
tongues which had been loudly wagging
were hushed as by common consent.
81 shall never forget the few minutes
that followed while the steeple-jack
made his way very cautiously close up
to the body, and fixing rope to it, made
his preparations for lowering it to mis-
assistant, who was waiting on the top
of the square tower to receive it. There
was something awfully sad and solemn
about it all!
I'm due course the assistant received
the corpse, which he let down to the
| ground, and everyone 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: 'Shaucl'
But all at once the hush which had
fallen upon the crowd was broken by
q storm of jeers and laughter. The
thing which had given us all this
trouble was nothing but a guy! And
never felt such a fool in all my life.
80 that he might get nearly days
start, Lamprey had eleverly missed me
| the night before. While l had been was =
ing my time at MARBLE he had been en-
ployed in stufiing the suit of CLOTHES
which he had taken from his lodging,
with straw, making a very passable rep
| resentation of himself; and IN the mid
die Of the night he had climbed The
steeple (Which was child's play to him),
and left his effigy there to deceive me
end lull me into inaction.
81 need not 3'vell upon the chat I re-
ceived. 1t is coo painful, even now, for
me to -ss,ali without annoyance, but
| rnn -. be sure TINT | Quickly made