Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-07-27

I DdpGI, lHl6N IL Ou LDS uOOl az ludL IL
went we'll under my chair. 1 then re-
sumed my seat and awaited develop
ments.
A few minutes later the man left,
and, with my heart in my mouth, /
picked up the paper and spread it ous.
Part of the writing was burned, but
what remained almost made me yell
with triumph. 1t ran thus:
attempt will be made tonight
Colonel Lewis house in
approach from back garden in Car
don st.
BLACK Jake and Ned Sawyer"
That was sufficient for me. 1t was
plain that Col. Lewis house was to be
| the scene Of a desperate outrage. Prob
ably the colonel would be murdered
and his residence blown up with dyna-
mite | shook with excitement. It was
as plain as daylight.
When the curtain of night dropped
like a stormcloud over the palpitating
city ( arather fine phrase), it found me
concealed in the shrubbery of Col.
Lewis garden, in Carbon street.
Determined not to be anticipated, I
had reached the rendezvous much
earlier than was necessary, so I had
plenty of time to work out my schemes.
"They will climb that wall" solilo-
pulsed "They will walk along this
flower bed, so as not to make a noise
on the gravel and no doubt the first
start will be made on that French win
dow. I will let them go on. The great
thing is to catch them in the act. Their
object is not plumber. They will burst
open the window and go straight up
stairs, with Nemesis on their track"
"Then,' | continued, comes the re-
ward of valor-the wreath of laurels,
the columns in the newspapers, the
universal admirat ton of my country
men. I shall be the idol Of England
the lion of the age. shall"
Something or somebody gripped me
suddenly by the back of the neck.
Somebody else put his hand over my
mouth, and the two together threw me
on my back with unnecessary violence.
For a moment l was stunned. When
my senses returned and | opened my
eyes, l could just discern the sinister
features of my friend, the william, who
was kneeling spltefully on my chest
The other man was there too. He was
holding me by the hair.
"Do you know him, Simpson," said
one.
mo, | have never seen him before
that l can recollect."
Seems sleepy sort for one Of Jake's
gang"
A light broke upon me. Gentle
men, l said, are you-"
| am sorry to say those few words
caused me still more humiliation. They
literally jumped on me and finished ul
! by ramming two handkerchiefs into my
mouth.
What surprised me most, and partly
confirmed my suspicious was that one
of them procured a pair of handouts
with which he decorated my wrists
Hav ng completed this little program
| they both sat on me and with the cool
est cheek you can imagine.
After listening to their conversation
for quarter Of an hour without being
able to join in, came to the conclusion
error. From their remarks I gathered
that the two persons whom I had the
honor of supporting were not Jack anC
Ned Sawyer, but two detectives from
Scotland Yard.
l tried TO make them understand tina
| wished to explain things, but the.
smiled in a most provoking manner
and were not at all kind tome. I triet
to think, but my brain was in a whiTl
Before I had succeeded in quieting i
the excitement of the evening com
menced.
A stealthy tread was heard, a sligh
rustling of the grass, which | SHOULD
hardly have noticed myself. Two darl
forms crept along in the shadow Of tn
wall. They made for the French win
dows and silently set to work. Tw'
minutes later a pane of glass had beer
cut out and deposited on the ground.
One minute after that Black Jake an
Ned Sawyer were surprised to fin
themselves looking stupidity down tn
muzzles Of two revolvers, Of murderou
appearance.
mo nonsense, jake said my frien
of the morning. you are fairl
, bowled out this time, my lad. TIL
!, house is surrounded and l have a doz
= en- men within call"
: l managed to get out of it, althoug
: circumstances looked so black agains
me. Detective McFadden and his as
sistants had noticed me followin
, tuem. They informed the magistrat
that I was more of fool than a rogue
which opinion my employer, who wa
t called to give evidence as to my char
acter heartily confirmed.
After this incident I tried many dill
ferent trades and professions in orde
to find the one for which l was mos
suited, but without successful Bit!
THE ,JEAT OL, THU, I,hDT,uI