The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-09-01

Travelling from London to Edinburgh
on the Great Northern, l found myself
in the same compartment with Il well
dressed, gentlemanly man of about 80.
We chatted pleasantly about the scenes
through which We passed, and when the
train stopped for refreshments we went
together to the restaurant. | was help
ing myself to Il slice of fine Yorkshire
ham, when my companion said:
Would you oblige me by cutting
slice for me? Unfortunately l have lost
the use of my left hand"
OF course | did as he desired, and after
we returned to the car and the train was
in motion he said, extending his left
hand:
This hand is good enough to look at,
but some years ago the tendons were sew
cred near the wrist. and for all practical
purposes it is useless
was young then, and my curiosity led
me to ask how the accident happened
Academy" he said with a short laugh.
at can hardly be called an accident. You
see. l was on the London detective force
at the time, and y thief whom l captured
slashed me with Il knife. | held on to
him nevertheless, and my gentleman got
a long term. The government dealt lib
orally with me, and so did the firm who
profitcd by the capture. that when l
resigned soon afterward l was able to go
into business ami have succeeded beyond
my expectations"
You must have had many curious ex-
perienceS? ~ l said, hoping to hear some
of his adventures in his career as il de-
tective.
well, few" he answered. You see,
there is good deal of commonplace, IN
interesting work which detective has to
do of no interest in itself except as to
those who have suffered loss or injury.
There is one incident, however, l will re-
late TO you if You have no objections, and
l think you will find that it is Il good deal
out OF the common"
l answered him that it would please me
greatly If he would do so. What follows
is tie story:
| had captured an escaped convict Che
said) for whom the detective force had
been looking for some time, and this
man, in hope, no doubt, of securing le
niency, gave me important information as
to Il burglary contemplated by his pals.
The place WAS the residence in one OF the
midland counties of u country squire
named Horton, n man of wealth, whose
Two expert thieves, who had operated in
the British colonies and America, and
were unknown to the London police were
to do the job; and the convict gave full
particulars as to the locality. the time
and so forth. In the afternoon before the
night fixed on for the robbery | and an
associate, dressed as cOuntrymen, visited
the place and inspected it. We were very
careful .S that Mr. Horton
lived there, and we learned further that
he was attending Il meeting of ironmas-
terS in the north.
Everything around the place was quiet.
At half past ., when it was pretty
dark. we went across the field by foot
path and struck the road, which ran by
the side of the house, some distance be-
yond the door in the wall. The lane at
this point was thicllly wooded and an
other road ran to the left. As we passed
over the stile into the lane l saw, almost
opposite and in deep shadow Il carriage
and pair. l pulled my companion down
into the hedge and we saw the carriage
pretty distinctly. At the same time we
discovered man approaching slowly
from the direction of the house, and so
we cautiously crawled back over the stile
into the field
The man stopped when he reached the
carriage, and we had no doubt that he
was the driver, for he opened the car
rage door, looked in, drew down the
blinds, fumbled with the harness and
then walked on and turned down the road
leading to the LETT. lighting his pipe as
he went. We instantly climbed over the
stile into the road and FASTENED in a
crouching attitude toward the house.
keeping well in the shade. We were pref
ty certain that something would happen
soon, and so it did.
The door into the lane opened. and u
man, wearing long oyercoat, came out,
followed by n woman. Immediately be-
hind came another man, carrying Il large
valise. The door was carefully closed,
and the three walked toward the car
riage. We followed with nOiscless tread
walking on the turf side of tie path and
keeping in the thcbest OF the shade.
The driver WAS already on the box.
with the rcins gathered in his hand The
man and woman entered the carriage.
The other man handed in the val:se aZd
closed the door. Then he mounted the
rumble.
Jump up and keep him silent with
your revolver" I whispered. I'm take
the driver.
The carriage was already in motion as
we mounted 20 our respective places.
IF you utter sound, I'll blow your
brains out" l whispered to the coach
man.
He was startled and would have fallen
from the seat if hadn't clutched him.
He recovered himself, and away we
went. AS learned afterward, my asso-
ciate was equally successful with his
man. We drove for six miles and reach
ed a railroad station, as we could see by
the lights. AS the carriage drew up I
jumped down, and when the man and
woman alighted clapped the nippers on
the man. My associate did the same with
his man, each one saying in the usual
form. you're my prisoner"
l called my associate and gave my Dris-
oner into his charge. In an instant we
had them locked together, and then l J
took charge of the woman.
Now, you must understand that while |
this was going on all of them were pro-