The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-11-16
THE EARL'S DOUBLE.

I hadn't been very long in the force
when they gave me plain clothes and made
me divisional detective
OF course it WASH t IS good as the real
thing ia the Yard 70 be full blown
criminal Investigator you We ~ to show
you re fit for lido something out OF the
common. make a smart capture or follow
up some blind clew.
But one day I was sent for BY the big
boss at the Yard.
ssFIycove, says he to me quite quietly,
screwing a glass in one eye and fixing me
with 1t "a if it was a gimlet, 81 hear
you re a smart young chap, and that you
want to come to headquarters
I got rather red and felt like fool, but
I stanmered out something like Yes "
$50 you shall, y he went on sharply
when you've earned it. Now, tell me
how much do you know about your dis
trict and the swell people in it. -
said knew my way about bit and
had seen something of the blokes and
Johnnies, but that my game had been
mostly the chaps on the cross.
Have you ever seen Lord Stutterton,
who lives in Plantagenet squareY Would
you know him again2"
Now, there / was in luck. The old swell
had been shown to me the first time by a
friendly cabby, and again by pals who had
been on beat through the square He was
always dressed up to the knocker, but in
a comical old fashioned way. Short, light
brown cutaway Newmarket and brass
buttons, buff waistcoat, white sDots and
a low crowned hat Looked like a sports
man, with a chin tuft over his blue belcher
tie, and as often as not a wisp Of straw in
his mouth.
I told the chief all this. and he seemed
pleased.
"wsn, you've got to shadow him, mark
him out, and where he goes follow him all
about and see him home again.
THAT isn't all He's a bit peculiar
You understand He's-be's''-
'Dotty. Is that it, STRIP
Exactly, and the way he shows 10 is
likely to get him into mischief. He
doesn't always Fememb Der what's his and
what isn't"
s.PriRs In short sir9''
you've hit it, Flyoove, and some day
he'll be getting run in by those who don
know bis little ways. There'n be a scan
DIAL or worse. and that's why want you
to keep your eye on him
The long and short Of it was that the
cid lord was in the habit of going to all
the west end shops and lifting what he
could - jewellers and silversmiths for
choice.
1t was my business to watch him
through the plate glass, and be ready, if
there was any trouble, to go in and ex-
plain.
But, bless you, the shop people didn' It
mind They liked 1t. It suited their
book, for they lost nothing.
They sent in their bills and either got
the things back with big fine or sold the
goods az their own price.
The old peer had a confidential valet,
who emptisd his pockets every evening,
compared the things with the invoices and
cleared up the whole Ia a regular business
like way.
My 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 Waterloo
place.
He'd done right well-made a big haul
You could see that in his face.
But one day there was Bit Of fuss.
The chief sent for men, and as much as
said I wasn't doing my duty.
It appeared that the family had com
plained-ray lords daughter, I believe,
who lived with hi1m.
The complaint was that the bills sent
from the shops didn L tally with what was
found In the old chaps pockets.
My young lady had been smart enough
20 find this outs and she suspected the
valet So did T.
Only the young lady insisted one hno
morning on comparing the goods with in
voices herself, and she had found they
didn't agree.
The shops were all straight spoken and
fair. They could swear to the goods that
had gone and who taken them.
So put watch on the valet. I soon
got my chance I was free enough of an
evening, you knew, for my lord played
his game By daylight, generally during
his afternoon walk.
One night about the valet comes Iop-
ing up the area steps, looks around slyly,
doesn't sec me, and I give chase.
He makes straight for the circus, through
CociSspuE street to Seven Dials, and stops
short CPD osate a rag and bone shop.
1t was a fence s-a receiver swell
known to the force, although we never
could lay hands upon the old man as kept
It, I called up the constable on the beat,
meaning 10 run ia bhe whole blooming
lot. But novv-who should come grinning
round the corner at this moment but my
lord himself
He goes straight up to his valet, sIaps
him on the back and says:
What cheer, old pal2 Here am with
a fine haul Seven tickers, two sets OF
RparkleEs and IL rings. .
Then locked at him again more close
u, and seemed to see difference.
It wasn't his lordship at all, only his
double, and a monstRous good double too.
We run 'en in-shaEa lord, real valet,
the fence and aH-and soon got on the in
A2u5 oAaoA o. the WAcas game.
1t WAS the valet who planned it. and
as he had my lords cast of clothes he
had m ore than enough to disguise his pal
The rest of ehe game was easy as soon
as the real lord was safs home with his
takings and I was out OF the way The
sham chap started OF on the second round,
but 9 different goad, and swiped all he
could. London Daily News.
higher Than a Kite.