The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-11-12


Macclesfield from the place he lived
in; but when l arrived at MARBLE station
L was at fault again, for no train had
been out for quite two hours, and al
though l waited till the last train to
Macclestield had left. La9mpEsX did not
9red the rasnondad uri+t c~,.n., +s,-. ,.+i
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 had lost, but
afraid that for once l had let my quarry
slip, and that l might never catch him,
now that he was aware he was being
tracked.
Sure enough, the something did tutn
up IN the morning, and something which
confirmed my fears, though | felt that
had got my man dead, if | had missed
MIN alive. The postman came round
soon after seven, before it was quite
light, and l had only just got I'D when
boy came running with a letter,
which had been delivered at the police
station. 1t bore the MARBLE postmark.
and was addressed to The Detective
from London
Tearing it open, l read sonnet thing
like this:
From John Lamprey. 1 know you
are after me, and l know what for. |
managed 10 keep out of your way TO-
hlght' and L 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 it. Look at the church
steeple when you get this tomorrow
morning.
The church steeple was a tall and
prominent feature whichever way YOU
turned and l had only to go to the end
OF the street to get full view of it.
when L got there and looked I'D. | saw
something that gave me start. IN
me 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 the
side of the spire, the figure of a man!
=, be no -uouDJ apuuU unau. -r,ha r,.1,..7si
so much for Jack Lamprey!' | said
to myself, as l hurried to the police sta
ton. He has saved me any more
tpOuble!'
by the time 1 had been to the sta
ton and back to the church ii 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 | remarked TO
the sergeant who was with me-
There was no one round Stockport
who would venture up the spire, and
telegram had to be sent to Stalybridge
for a man TO come and get the body
down. 1t was past midday before the
Eteeplejack 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
stoeple 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.
Il shall never forget the few minutes
that followed while the steeple-iack
(now looking the size Of little child
made his way very cautiously close up
to the body, and fixing a rope to it, made
his preparations for lowering it to his
assistant, who was waiting on the ton
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: 'Shamc.i
But all at once the hush which had
fallen upon the crowd was broken by
storm of jeers and laughter! The
thing which had given us all this
trouble was nothing but guy! And
never felt su4h fool in all my life.
80 that lie might get nearly days
start, Lampfey had cleverly missed me
the night before. While had been was.
ing my time at MARBLE he had been en-.
ployed i'll stuf1ing the suit of clothes
which he had taken from his lodgings
with straw. making 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 efligy there to deceive me
and lull me into inaction.
81 need not dwell upon the chaff I re-
c-ived. 1t is too painful, even now, for
me to recall without annoyance, but
you may be sure thai 1 quickly made
myself scarce"
did the fellow get clear away?"
asked some one.
eyes. He took the train to the east !
coast and succeeded in getting to Hol-
land unnnticed," replied INSPECTOR HOOK |