The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-08-13
Al LUCKY HAUL.Y

"Dad," exolaimcd Kitty unconcernedly
whom the old man was comfortably en-
sconced In his chair, ''you mentioned 10
~ tho other night the name Of Dan Fs-
ioney, the burglsr. Will yon tell ~ how
you caught hjmf Jack would like 10 bear
the story"
AYE, he wss clover rogue, wss Dam"
b spurmured sdmiringIy ~ he bs0t tat.
too on tho fender with two wooden stumps
that did duty for his legs HE was the
slipperiest customer ever knew, and for
years hs baked all our efforts 20 capture
him.
1T happened ono Sunday night about
nve years after / Hrst Joined the force.
Ny bent consisted thoD Of tho shady part
Of Bermondsey, which was intersccted BY
the railway, and ! was generally kept
fairly busy about ~ O'Clock with abusive
'drunks' and blasphemous rowdies of both
sexes
"Tbore were not many of the inhabit-
ants who did not know me under my sig.
nificant sobriquet Of Spider My pres
ence acted az an effectual soborer, quiet
word Of caution from me being generally
acted upon more or less gracIously.
ION the Sunday night of which I tell
you q cold, drizzling rain had been falling
ever since came on duty. had been
walking round for perhaps an hour when
determined to shelter for Q moment OF
two In friendly entry.
1T was while pulling out my knife with
the intention Of cutting piece from my
plug that suddenly remembered that the
shop adjoining belonged to an old pawn.
broker.
II cannot think now what whim pos.
sessed me to walk up the passage and tvy
the door. It II one Of the inexplicable
freaks Of fancy that happen to every man
and which sometimes change the whole
current Of his existence.
"The fact remains, however. that 40 the
burst Of light from my bullseye shone on
the heavy padlocks saw that they had
been tampered with, and the door was un.
secured. cautiously made my way down
the entry again and flashed my light sig
nifcantly three times In each direction.
1t was the signal of alarm agreed on st
night, for TO sound the whistle would have
been to put the wary marauder upon the
alert for possible danger.
II threw of the heavy regulation Goa,
and freed my truncheon from It's case
Pulling myself together, ! retraced my
steps and silently pushed open the door
that led into the passage.
"As listened-not, confess, without
some feeling Of trepidation-I detected tht
musical chink caused by the handling oi
metal substances. Noiselessly stole Il
the door and peered through the keyhole.
"Tbe interior was dimly lighted up by
gutterlng candle fixed by some ingenious
means to an enormous safe that stood
against the farthest wall, and as gazed
perceived a man on his knees busily en-
gagged In trying the effect Of various ske)e
ton keys and other contrivances upon th'
look.
Apparently 1t def]ed his efforts, for al
length, with smothered curse, he stowet
them away and took out small roll from
his capacious inner breast pocket. Quick
ly unfastening it, he displayed to my view
variety of delicate instruments for saf
lock picking.
cit was at this moment that noiseless
ly slid through the door and stood JUS
within, with one hand grasping my
truncheon and the other on my lantern
ready to direct the food Of light upoI
him. A murderous looking revolver Ia!
on the floor close to his right hand. / hat
made one silent step forward, when II
manipulating the glass he must hav,
caught a reflection Of my face as ] crep
warily toward him. Without appearing
to notice anything, however he droppei
his hand unconcernedly as IL to take III
one of the picks, but with sudden gral
he secured the revolver, and almost ere
knew 1t had confronted me with th'
weapon pointed at my heart.
" Stand back, Spider, curse youP h'
whispered harshly, and with start / rec
ognized him as Feloney. Stand back, or
by Jove, I'll let light through your
"'It's no go, DanP replied. 'DroI
that plaything. The games up! My
mates outside only waiting for the sig
nal And advanced toward him.
g Il don't believe youp he snarled des
perately. Stand back, / tell you! dom,
want to murder you, man, but if'-
with a sudden movement he dashed
out the light but even as he did so with q
leap was npon him. Clutching his right
arm In deadly grip, we grappled for the
mastery of tho weapon.
Silently we engaged In tho terrible
struggle there in tho darkness, when un
expectedly, as wo swung round, locked In
close embrace, my head crashed against
the corner of the safe, half stunning me
and causing mo to momentarily lose my
hold.
"But 1t was enough, for with fearful
wrench he twisted his arm downward and
fired the revolver at my body. There was
an excruciating pain In my left shoulder
and my arm fell helplessly at my side as
staggered backward to the wall.
"Tho burglar turned to fly, but even rs
he did so the room door was dashed wide
open, flood Of light streaming upon him,
and through the gloom / dimly disccrnod
the form of the pawnbroker, with pistol
extended full at the breast of the adyano
ing houscbreaker
Startled by tho dazzling light in his
eyes, tho burglar started back, and In
that moment, disabled as l was, l spranp
upon him from behind and bore him u
the floor. For some time no fought like d
madman, and it required the combined ef
forts of the pawnbroker and myself, to.
gothor with tho significant threat Smplicd
by the cleaning barrel pressed against his
forehead, before we could overpower him
and had the darbios safely planted on his