Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-01-29
THE EAHL'S DOUBLE.

tnlng IN the yard. 10 be full blown
criminal investigator you've got to show
you're fit for lido something out of the
common, make smart capture or follow
up some blind clew
But one day i was sent for by the big
boss at the yard.
"Flycove," says he to me quite quiet
ly, screwing glass in one eye and fixing
me with it as II 1t was gimlet, al 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
ayes"
$50 you SHALL" he went on sharply,
"when you've earned it. Now, tell m
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 Sttuterton,
who lives in Plantagenet square7 Would
you know him again ?"
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 fash
toned way. Short. light brown cutaway
Newmarket and brass buttons, buff
waistcoat, white spats and low crown
ed hat. Looked like sportsman, with
chin tuft over his blue belcher tie, and
as often as not wisp of straw in his +,
mouth.
/ told the chief all this, and he SEEM
ed pleased.
"Well, you've got to shadow him,
mark him out, and where he goes fol-
low him all about and see him home
again.
"That isn't all. He's bit peculiar.
You understand He's-he's"- 0
"Dotty. Is that 1t, sir3' C
Exactly, and the way he shows 1t is n
likely to get him into mischief. He c.
doesn't always remember what's his and c.
what isn't" D.
"Prigs, in short, sir?" u
you've hit 1t, Flycove, and some day % u
he'll be getting run in by those who ~
don't know his little ways. There'll be -
a scandal or worse, and that's why l
want you to keep your eye on him."
The long and short of it was that the
Did lord was In the habit of going to all Tn
he west end shops and lifting what he Sc
;ould-jewelers and siversmiths for IN
,hoice. Ill
HIt was my business. to watch him We
through the plate glass, and be ready, I'm
there was any trouble, to go in and pa
xplain.
But, bless you, the shop people didn't
nind. They liked it. 1t suited their
ook, for the ~ lost nothing. att
They sent in their bills and either got me
ne things back with a big fine or sold TIL
he goods at their own price. be
The old peer had a confidential valet, ace
no emptied his pockets every evening, the
ompared the things with the invoices an,
nd cleared up the whole in a regular TIL
isiness-like way. not
My lord starts off along PiccadilIy, lar,
oking into all the shop windows as he DOS
'es down Regent street and home by will
Taterloo place. bur
He'd done right well-made a big tior
lul You could tell that by his face. of
But one day there was a bit of a'fuss. But
E chief sent tor men, and as much as and
say wasn't doing my duty. ofiC
1t appeared that the family had COM
lords daughter, believe,
10 lived with him.
The complaint was that the bills sent I
I'm the shops didn't tally with what old
IS found in the old chaps pockets. rece
My young lady had been smart en- chu
gh to find this out, and she suspected age
, valet. So did l. she
Only the young lady insisted one fine staff
'rning on comparing the goods with Her
oices herself, and she had found thou
y didn't agree. and
The shops were all straight spoken RENE
fair They could swear to the goods in IT.
I had gone and who'd taken them. Bibl
10 put watch on the valet I soon spok
my chance. l was free enough of Lappa
evening, you know, for my lord conn
yea mis- game by daylight generally cript
ing the afternoon walk.
Inc night about Q the valet comes
ng up the area steps, looks around, T.
y, doesn't see me, and give chase. host
e makes straight for the circus, ,hs 4
Oh 10 seven Oiais ballo'
stops short opposite rag and bone ends