The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1897-06-11

1T was the beginning of winter and
night had set in, so that II was extreme
ly doubtful II we could follow the man.
but we took a train which was just GO
ing out of the station. and in n few
minutes were at Cheadle. | there made
certain that my man had got out. He
had booked for Stockport and had given
up his ticket, but do all we could we
could get no trace OF him. He had left
the station Immediately on leaving the
train; no one knew him and we could
find no one to tell us anything more. SO,
hoping perhaps to pick up clew on the
road. we walked back to Stockport and
on to the town where he lived. which
was a few miles the other side but our
tramp was In vain.
I'VE had left instructions at Stockport
for Lamprey's lodgings to be watched,
but by some blunder man had not
been sent there for some time, and.
much to my anger and disgust, when
arrived at his house found that he had
been there, just for five minutes. his
landlady said, and had left again with
bag Of clothes.
Il was mighty savage. you can guess,
both with myself and with the police of
the place for not keeping a better look
out, but 1t was no use losing my head
over II, and at once set TO work dog
ging his footsteps after he had left his
lodgings In the public house which he
frequented ! came across a man to
whom | had previously spoken, who
seemed to know Lamprey In a very dis
tant sort Of way, and / turned the con-
versation on the man | wanted.
"'Ahl I've just seen him. said the
fellow About an hour ago or mayhap
little more. He was going to Maccles-
field, he said, to catch the early train
in the morning into Staffordshire, where
he's got another job. He seemed in
mighty hurry, too.
81 had reason afterward to think that
this man was the one who had given
Lamprey warning, but whether that
was so or not his information that night
appeared to be correct, for met several
people who had seen Jack going across
the fields toward MARBLE, which was
his best way of getting to Macclesfield
from the place he lived in; but when
again, for no train had been out for
quite two hours. and although waited
till the last train to Macclesfield had
left Lamprey did not show up.
''Tried and vexed beyond description,
| tramped back and got what rest
could, hoping that something might
turn up in the morning to assist me in
recovering the ground | had lost, but
afraid that for once had let my quarry
slip. and that | might never catch him.
now that he was aware he was being
tracked.
Sure enough, something did turn up
In the morning, and something which
confirmed my fears, though | felt that
l had got my man dead If had missed
him alive. The postman came around
soon after Z. before 1t was quite light,
and | had only just got up when boy
came running In with letter, which
had been delivered at the police station.
1t bore the Marble postmark. and was
addressed to The Detective from Lon
dom
Tearing it open, read something
like this:
"'From John Lamprey know you
are after me, and l know what for.
managed to keep out of your way to-
night and meant to try and get down
south, but you are sure to have me.
sooner or later, so I've determined to
make an end of it. Look at the church
steeple when you get this tomorrow
morning.
THE church steeple was a tall and
prominent feature whichever way you
turned, and had only to go to the end
of the street to get a full view of it.
When | got there and looked up | saw
something that gave me start. In the
uncertain light OF the early morning |
could discern against the gray sky,
hanging by the neck to one of the iron
loops which serve for a ladder on the
side Of the spire, the figure of a man.
So much for Jack Lampreyr | said
to myself. as l hurried to the police
station. He has saved me any more
trouble
by the time had been to the station
and back to the church 1t was broad
daylight. and of course the body hang
ing aloft had been seen and a crowd
had already collected. every one recog-
nizing II as that of Jack Lamprey.
"A strange freak remarked to the
sergeant who was with me-
81 don't think So he replied. Jack
had made himself sort of hero over
going up the spire to repair the vane and
there was nothing more likely to occur
to his mind than to finish his career at
the same place
There was no one round Stockport
who would venture up the spire and a
telegram had to be sent to Stalybridge
for man to come and get the body
down. Ii was past midday before the
steeplejack arrived and by that time
half Stockport had heard Of the affair.
Work was discarded and an immense
crowd collected to witness the sight.
Every foot was watched by thousands
of eyes. and when at last he approached
the swaying body OF Jack Lamprey the
tongues which had been loudly wag-
ging were hushed as by common con
sent.
"T shall never forget tho faxv r,fnr+o