The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-07-20
dressed as | had anticipated, had alight-


ed from a first-class carriage of the
Leicester train there. He had booked
from London-but not to the station
nearest the scene of plunder; he was
far too shrewd for that.
Having gained a few other details,
important but uninteresting to you,
booked for Leicester; knowing that
the prompt discovery of the burglary
would have prevented the perpetrator
from leaving the district Immediately
The line to Leicester was branch one:
and / instructed the station masters all
along the line to telegraph to me if my
victim entered the train; but. | con-
iectured, and rightly, too, that he
would reach Leicester by other means
than by rail.
81 spent two or three days haunting
the Leicester railway stations, in the
faint hope of seeing my man, but to no
effect 1t would, of course, have been
impossible for me to see every person
entering the many trains each day,
and preposterous to expect the station
masters to arrest every gentleman clad
in green sporting clothes; therefore,
after a wearisome watch, | decided to
return to town and procure aid for a
thorough search after the scoundrel.
Accordingly. | took my seat in a
first-class carriage of the Midland ex-
press, which only stops at Bedford;
and made myself comfortable behind
a copy of the Times. The bell had
rung, and the train was just on the
point of starting, when the carriage
door was hurriedly opened, and in
sprang a person OF aristocratlc appear
ance, followed by a porter, who placed
a bulky handbag on the rack, and left
the carriage as the train was moving.
Imagine. if you can, my surprise on
recognizing in my fellow traveller the
very person whom had pictured as the
culprit in the Fernleigh court robbery
the very man for whom l had been
seeking for days, the man 1 had longed
10 meet. had unconsciously walked into
my clutches; the fly had walked into
the spiders web without the familiar
inyitation. ! knew, though, that l
must go about the business shrewdly,
guardedlyi and that any uncommon
action or indiscreet remark would up
set the whole affair. But | could not
refrain from inwardly chuckling as |
thought of my victims surprise, dis
gust and punishment, and the fame,
reward and promotion now in store for
me.
But | had reckoned without my
host. On seeing me the stranger
nodded pleasantly, and, opening a
newspaper. remarked:
Shocking affair, this Fernleigh
court robbery. 1t has caused quite a
sensation III the neighborhood; and no
wonder!'
You're right | answered, reticent-
ly, and endeavoring to screen my sur
prise at his audacious impudence.
"'Yes.' he continued, nothing
abashed; the rcgues have got clean
away, too, | understand. A smart par
ty, eh?'
1T does seem So
81 hear they have got Scotland
l.
on; but, bless you, those fellows are
not a bit of use-never have been
never will be. | understand that the
one engaged on this case hasn't got a
single clew yet. I'm very much afraid
he's like the man who fell out of the
boat-not in it,
"'Ha.' l laughed to myself; he will
sing in different key by-and-by! If
he only knew who / was he wouldn't be
quite so merry But l answered, in an
affectedly Indifferent tone: There's
something in that'
"'I'u ted YOU what It isl he went on,
eXcitedly, apparently encouraged by
my indorsing replies: The whole pack
of Scotland Yard detectives are not
worth that, sir!' and he snapped his
fingers. When they've got a little
intricate work on they're baffled entire
ly. Personally, I'm much concerned
about this case. It's disgrace, sir, "a
scandal, that such deeds can be perpe-
trated without any practical risk in
a civilized country, where small army
OF men is retained to investigate such
matters, who have no more idea of how
TO go about their business than a dom
key has of exerting himself / repeat,
sir he continued, vehemently, and
stamping his foot on the carriage floor,
its disgraceful scanda!'
Just because no clews are reported
in the newspapers it must not be con-
cluded that none have been found, | re-
piled, in heated tone. for his CALLING
and slanderous remarks had quite up
set me; perhaps you will be convinced
differently some day!
"'Never, sir, never. he responded.
quickly. Indeed, I'm going to show
them thing or two myself.
You are?' | replied, not without a
suspicion of sarcasm.
I'm going to show them a thing Or
two, he repeated, in deliberate man
ner. In confidence. I'm private de-
tective, engaged secretly in this case by
the duchess of Melbourne-one of the
finest women that ever lived!'
Indeed l calculated, in amaze