Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-12-12
THE EARL'S DOUBLE.

hadn't bean very long in the force
when they gave INC plain clothes and made
me a divisional detective.
OF course 1t wasn't as good as the real
thing In the Yard. To be tull blown
criminal Investigator you've got to show
vonire 1t for lido something out OF tho
common. make smart capture or follow
up some blind olew.
But ono day l was sent for by the big
boss at the Yard.
"FIycoye," says no to mo quito quietly,
screwing glass in one eye and liking me
with It as II 1t was q gimlet, 81 hear
you're smart young chap, and that you
want to come to headquarters!
/ got rather red and felt like fool, but
stammered out something like " Yes
$50 you shall, " he went on sharply,
"when you've earned It. Now, tell me
how much do you know abont your dis
trict and the swell people In 1t, "
said knew my way about bit and
Ind seen something of the blokes and
.Johnnies, but that my game had been
mostly the chaps ON the cross.
Have you ever econ Lord Stutterton,
who lives in PlantaRenet square, Would
you know him again
bsd been shown to me the first time by
friendly cabby and again by pulls who had
been on beat through the square. He was
always dressed up to the knocker, but In
a coInical old fashioned way. Short, light
brown cutaway Newmarket and brass
buttons, buif waistcoat, white spats and
a low crowned hat. Looked like sports.
man. with chin tuft over his blue helchef
tic, and as often as not wisp OF straw III
his mouth
told the chief oil this, and no seemed
pleased.
"well, you've got to shadow him, mark
him ont, and where lie goes follow him all
about and sec him home agnin.
'That isn't all. He's bit peculiar.
You understand He's-hc's'-
"Dotty. Is that it, sir;''
Exactly, and the way he shows IL Il
likely to get him into mischief. He
doesn't always remembef what's his and
what isn't"
'Prigs, in short, sire"
you've hit it, Flycoye, and some day
he'll be getting run in by those who don't
know his little why's, Thero'll be n scan.
dal or worse, and that's why want yon
to keep your eye on him.
The long and short of 1t was that the
the west eTd shops and lifting what nc
could - jewellers and silyersmiths for
choice.
1t was my business to watch him
through tho plate glass, md be ready, II
there was any trouble, TO go in and OK
plain.
But, bless you, the shop people didn't
mind. They liked 1t. 1t suited their
book for they lost nothing.
They sent in their bills md either got
tho things back with big fine or sold the
goods at thor own price.
Tho old peer had IA confidential valet
who emptied his pockets every evening
compared the things with the invoices and
cleared up the whole in "a regular business
like way.
Ny lord starts of along Piccadilly, look
ing into all the shop windows as he goes
then up Bond street, across Conduit street
down Regent street and home by Waterlo,
place.
He'd done right well--made big haul
You could see that In his face.
But one day there was n bit of fuss
The chief sent for men, and as much "a
said wasn'S doing my duty.
1t appeared that the family had com
plnined-iny lod's daughter, believe
who lived with him.
The complaint was that the bills sen
from the shops didn't tally with what wa
found in the old chaps pockets.
My young lady had been smart cnoug
to find this out, and she suspected tn
valet, So did l.
Only the young lady insisted one fin
morning on comparing the goods with in
voices herself, and sho had found the
didn't agree.
The shops were all straight spoken an
fair. They could swear to the goods thu
had gone and who'd taken them.
So 1 put u watch on the valet. l 500
got my chance. l was free enough of II
evening, you know, for my lord playe
his game by daylight, generally durin
his afternoon walk.
Ono night about the valet comes lol
ing up the area steps, looks around slyl,
doesn't sec me, and give chase.
He makes straight for tho circus, throup
Cockspur street TO Seven Dials, and stol
short opposite rag and bone shop
1t was u fence's--a recoiver's--we
known to the force, although we new
could lay hands upon the old man as kcl
1t. l called up the constable on the bca
meaning to run In the whole bloomir
lot. But now-who should come GRIMM
tounu bne CorIer Nv tnls inOfneht Dut IL
lord himself
He goes straight up 20 his valet, sla
him on the back and says:
What oh.sr, old pals Here am wi
q fine haul Seven tickers, two sets
sparklers and II rings.
Then looked at him again more clos
ly, and l seemed to see difference.
1t wasn't his lordship at all, only /
double, and n monstrous good double to-
We run 'em in-sham lord, real vail
the fence and all-and soon got on the /
side track OF the whole game.
1t was the valet who'd planned It, al
as he had my lords cast OFF clothes
had more than enough to disguise his pr
The rest OF the game was easy as 50
us the real lord was safe home with
takings and was out Of the way 4
sham chap started of ON the second rouI
but different road, and swiped all
could.-London Daily News.
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