The Winslow mail., 1899-08-10

sight of you owing to the necessity of
visiting my agent. Dame Fortune, how
ever, has thrown us together once more
"a little closer this time; and had |
not been more sharp-witted than you,
should have had apartments booked
for me in prison for the next few years.
Now, MIR. John Smith, what do you
think of your Scotland Yard detec-
tives?'
Il made no reply.
"'You intend to remain silent, then,
like. an obnoxious phonograph? he
went on, jocularly. 1t is just as well,
for 1 must be now about my business.
So saying, he opened my bag, and, TAX
ing from it a sheet of my official note
paper, wrote in a good hand:
"'To the station-master at Yelling
borough: Telegraph Immediately to sta
tion-master at Bedford to have policeman
and sergeant ready to meet this train in,
to arrest the leader of the Fernleigh court
robbery gang. Am obliged to go on to st.
Pancras myself, to arrest confederates,
who will be there, with portion of booty, to
meet their leader.
"'HENRY GRAHAM, Scotland Yard
Having shown this to me, with
chuckle of satisfaction, he threw it out
of the window as the train flew through
Wellingborough, and it was picked up
by one of the porters.
''This done, he drew from his bag
suit of clothes similar to mine, and
changed. This, with a little touching
up which he performed, gave him the
appearance of quite different person.
l have never known so complete dis
guise effected in SO short time.
"All arrangements completed, he
again devoted his attention to enter
tanning me.
"'Hm afraid, Mr.. Smith, that you'll
have to spend night in Bedford prison.
That place will get quite name for i'm
prisoning innocent people, what, with
John Bunyan and John Smith, won't
| it?'
| "On arrival at Bedford, explanations,
demonstrations and furious threats all
proved unavailing, thanks to Smiths
ready wit.
"'He's the most cunning rogue | have
ever had to deal with, was Smiths an
swer to all my detailed charges. Not
a bad conscience to accuse me of being
the culprit, and claiming to be the de-
tective himself! But it won't work,
my friend, it won't work. It's useless
to try to impose upon the Bedford po-
lice, Mr.. Smith; they know a thing or
two too many to be had on" like that!
They're not to be fooled, bless you'll
THE fattery on the police was, I
knew, alone enough to settle my fate,
but | determined to die hard, neverthe-
less.
"'Only bring the fellow to the sta
ton with you, and send to the yard for
some one to come and say which is
which, l pleaded. That is all ask. He
is rogue, a scoundrel; don't let him
escape, whatever you do. Take me, if
you wish, but bring him, too
"'Ha! the poor fellow pleads hard
and well for his confederates' liberty
the scamp said, in a feigned sympa-
thetic tone. He wishes me to miss the
train, so that his fellow-rogues shall
escape with the whole of the booty. Only
such a clever scoundrel would ever
think of such a scheme; but it would
never do for me to stay--I should lose
my place if [ did. See, here's my com
mission, sergeant; and look in his bag;
there are some of the stolen jewels and
notes, a complete disguise, and set of
| burglars tools
This fairly made me furious. 1T is
my commission, and his bag 1 in
sisted.
"'Ha! Ha-a-a-a!!!' - burst forth
police, porter scamp, and a crowd 81
multaneously, in mocking laughter. { A
purity fine tale, that added the SER
geant; you must come erlong a me-
"'I'I remember you to your accom-
plices presently remarked Smith, as
the train steamed out of the station;
| you'll meet them in the dock shortly
''Triumphantly the police led me
| through the streets of the quaint old
town; and all the way we were accom-
panied by giggling, delighted and in
quisitiye crowd. My indignation and
fury can better be imagined than de-
scribed.
MY explanation to the chief con-
stable met better reception; but in the
prison l had to remain until some one
came up from the Yard and identified
me.
John Smith? Oh, he got clean away,
and wasn't seen again for years. How
he managed it [ don't know, for half a
dozen detectives waited the train in at
St. Pancras, by orders of the superin-
tendent of police at Bedford; but no
John Smith did they catch" !"-Tit-Bits
VentiIating the House in Summer.