Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-07-29
| L.

Detective Hartly, proving through
the East end in search of such thieves
and transgressors as he might with
dignity escort to the "lock-up," was
turning corner, when he suddenly be-
came aware that On the opposite side
of the street q familiar and not exact
ly pleasing figure was ambling along at
rapid rate, with something peculiar
in the bulgy appearance of his coat.
There's that Crooked Jem again"
said the detective, 10 himself. He east
It suspicious eye at Jem's pockets, pulled
Mt his eycbrow-which was way he
had-and then beckoned to policeman
to follow him.
When he was within an inch or two
Of the said pockets he suddenly clapped
the unsuspecting Jem on the Shout
der-so suddenly that Jem's jaw fell,
and he made an abrupt, half undecided
movement as if 10 fee from the wrath
of the law.
"Now, them" said Hartly, severely,
"none of that. On with the handouts.
And, snaith, you come here and take
his arm"
Jcza looked from one to the ether IL
something like dismay.
II amt done nothin'," he expostu-
lated,
"Well, We'll see" said the detectives
"and you'll remember, if anything is
found on you, there are three years off
that last Job that you've got to finish"
Jem's face grew dark. His hands
fdgeted strangely after his handouts
and if it hadn't been that he was a
hardened, hopeless criminal one might
almost have fancied that his under lip
trembled
"Well, I'm bowed if I ever tries ter
cheat tn gallows agen," was his vague
and ungrammatical remark, and then
they marched on to the police station.
There, inside the bare room with its
wooden benches and square desks, with
the dingy green ledgers and musty pa
pers, Detective Hartly proceeded TO turn
out the unhappy Jem's pockets. As he
did so his eyes first opened in astonish
ment, then screwed up in bewilder'
ment; and finally he looked as if he had
suddenly been confronted with the rid
die Of the Sphinx.
Out of the depths Of Jem's capacious
pockets he turned on to the table &
chicken, tin of soup, some eggs, c
packet of sweets, a sticky piece Of can
died peel, and last, but not least, bottle
'What's the meaning of this?" saii
the detective, sharply, feeling vaguely
that some trick was being played upor
him. "What is it? A picnic, a card par
ty, or what? Apparently you're in ;
new line"
ooh, yes" said Jem, sullenly; 'Tyt
stole 'em ALL" And after that he made
no remark. lie sat staring at the stone
floor, with his coarse hands clasped to
gether by the handouts, and with {
strange, almost bafaed expression OF
his face.
"rll tell yer wot," he said, raising
his head suddenly, 'f yen cum WI mt
I'll show yer The bloke as put me VI
ter this job. It's straight-no ldddin'
an 1 swear as if yer does I'll cum bacl
quiet--I swear l will. Yer can bring
Snaith with yer an some more 'coppers
if yer lille-I don't care"
The detective looked at Jem in silence
for a moment. Something about th'
case struck him as peculiar. 1t was no
like Jem Brooker to steal eatables wher
better things were 70 be got with The
same risk, and he felt desire 10 knGR
what it meant.
So, with fine disregard for the rules
and regulations of her majesty's prison
he bundled Jem and Snaith into cab
and with another policeman on the boz
they were driven to a small and filthy
court short distance away. --.,'sl..