The Winslow mail., 1899-08-10

IN green sporting clOIneS; therefore,
after a wearisome watch, L decided to
return to town and procure aid for a
thorough search after the scoundrel.
accordingly, l took my seat in a
first-class carriage of the Midland eX-
press, which only stops at Bedford;
and made myself comfortable behind
copy of the Times. The bell had
fung, and the train was just on the
point of starting, when the carriage
door was hurriedly opened, and in
sprang a person of aristocratic appear
ance, followed by 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 1 had pictured as the
culprit in the Fernleigh court robbery
the very man for whom L had been
seeking for days, the man had longed
to meet, had unconsciously walked into
my clutches; the fly had walked into
the spiders web without the familiar
| invitation! L knew, though, that l
must 90 about the business shrewdly,
| guardedly; and that any uncommon
action or indiscreet remark would up
set the whole affair. But L could not
refrain from inwardly chucllling as
thought of my victims surprise, dis
gust and punishment, and the fame
reward and promotion now in store for
me.
But L 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 in the neighborhood; and nc
wonder!'
"'You're right L answered, reticent-
| ly, and endeavoring to screen my sur
prise at his audacious impudence.
"'Yes,' he continued, nothing
abashed; the rogues have got clean
away, too, l understand. a smart par
ty, eh?'
1T does seem So
"'I hear they have got a Scotland
Yard detective on the track he went
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!' 1 laughed to myself; he will
sing in a different key by-and-by! If
| he only knew who | was he wouldn't be
quite so merry!' But | answered, in an
affectedly Indifferent tone: There's
something in that!'
"'Tll tell 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 little
intricate work on they're baffled entire
ly. Personally, I'm much concerned
about this case. It's a disgrace, sir, a
scandal, that such deeds can be perpe-
trated without any practical risk in
a civilized country, where a small army
of men is retained to investigate such
matters, who have no more idea of how
to go about their business than don.
key has of eXerting himself. Irepeat
SIR he continued, vehemently, ano
stamping his foot on the carriage floor
its disgraceful scandall'
! Just because no clews are reported
in the newspapers it must not be con
cluded that none have been found, re-
piled, in a heated tone, for his CALLING
and slanGerous 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 a thing or two myself
"'1ou are?' L replied, not without q
suspicion of sarcasm.
Tn going to show them thing OIL
two,' he repeated, in a deliberate man
ner in confidence. I'm q private de-
tective, engaged secretly in this case by
the duchess of Melbourne--one of the
finest women that ever ived!'
"Indeedn 1 calculated, in amaze.
ment, and wondering whether [ had
been mistaken in my conclusion after
all.
| he'b 10 SO, AiC IC pIlSu. anu what is
more, l arrest you, Henry Graham, on
the charge of robbery at Fernleigh
court four days ago!" And he pointed
a business-like revolver at my head
Hands up, or | fire. Right! Now
move, and you are dead man. So say
ing, he drew a pair of handouts from
my pocket, and before | had recovered
from my amazemcnt actually had the
audacity to handcu1f me there and
theni
"'Sir!' / shouted, when l had suffi
GENTLY overcome the shock, this is an
off Immediately, and allow me to eX-
plain!'
You needn't trouble to do that!' he
replied, with n self-satisfied smile; 81
will do that for you. You are Henry
Graham, the Scotland Yard detective
| should never run down the force to a
stranger. Allow me to introduce my
self, John Smith-no connection with
the bookstall people-but the perpetra-
tor of the Fernleigh court robbery. But
now, with or without your acquies-
cence, we will exchange names and
bags; you are John Smith, the Fern
leigh culprit; l am Henry Graham, the
successful and praiseworthy detective.
Twig?'
Il now saw through his little game
how completely he mad fooled me; and
when l saw him change bags-the con-
/ n