The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-06-16

light, and turning to me he said, apolo- getically, Ben! I don't ask yer to have any hand in this at all. You knows nothing about 1t. If the worst comes to the worst, we forced yer to silence, but all says is this: Will you give me chance to get the beggar off? I think can do it without danger to you or me. All asks yer to do is to know nothing about 1t, What say now?"
 Well, Bill," I remarked, "I bear the fellow no love, as you can see, but if by keeping silent I can do you a good turn to the tune of fifty pounds you can de- pend on me, though I must say I don't r see how you can possibly do the trick"
 You put your money on me-" he re- turned, smilingly, as he gripped my hand, and retired to the end of the ten- der with Deval.
 We had left Stafford behind some time since, and if nothing happened should run into Crewe In another tWen- ty-five minutes or so. Having to do Bills work as we'll as control the en- zine, I had my hands pretty full, and during the next ten minutes was fully occupied. At the end of that time Bill rejoined me and threw open the fur mace doors once more. looked round the engine. Deval had disappeared! Not vestige or sign of his visit re- mained, but Bills pocket bulged consid- erahly, and his grimy face was expand ed in a broad grin.
 1 A few minutes later we slowed up at our destination for the night. There they were, just as expected. One po- lieeman at the station gates and five or six stationed along the platform.
 Before we had quite stopped, out 1 jumps Jobson and rushes up the train. As the sergeant threw open the door of the compartment Deval had occupied We saw an expression of consternation cross the face of the bewildered detec- tive, but. quickly regaining his compos- ure, he superintended the examination with practiced eye. My mate had un- fastened the couplings, and we were just off to the sheds, when Jobson ap- preached the engine.
 "Ben," he queried, anxiously, did you see anything extraordinary on the way down? I've been sold nicely, and no mistake"
 T don't have time to see anything ex- cept signals ahead when I'm in charge of an express" returned, unceremoni- ously. "Did you see anything, Bill?"
 Cant say as I did" Bill answered artlessly. Have you lost your man, MT. Jobson?"
 T have so" replied the officer. T ex- pect he dropped off somewhere"
 If he did he's goner, for certain, '' said Bill. We were never under fifty since we left Willesden."
 'I'll look along the track for him go- ing back" remarked. Are you going on or back with the morning mail?"
 T hardly know he returned, disap- pointed. Well, thank you, anyhow Good night, or, rather, good morning, ' and he made his way to the telegraph office.
 We returned his salutation and steamed off to the sheds.
 What did I tell yer?" said Bill joy. ously. We drop him outside and lei him take his chance"
 Then he is on the engine?' I asked as we pulled up.
 For answer Bill got off and went tc see if the coast was clear. Returning 1T five minutes he proceeded to the rear o1 the tender and carefully lifted up g large piece of coal Underneath was the head of Deval! Bill had artfully walled him in against the side, and 1T such a manner as to defy suspicion, lit. tie bits being scattered about in the most natural manner possible. Quickly he was rescued from his uncomfortable position. and stood up as black as g sweep. Bill gave him drink from his pannikin, and then conducted him of the engine and round the back of the sheds.
 Did l ever hear from him again? Oh yes. About two years afterwards a let ter reached me one morning from Co., lumbia, enclosing Bank of England note for one hundred pounds. It wa. from Deval, and in 1t he told how ht had succeeded In doubling on his track. to Birmingham, and from thence haC worked down to Southampton in dis guise and got clear away. He ex pressed the hope that Alice and mysel were happily welded, and begged us tt keep the note and give it as present tt our first-born child.-JTit- Bits.