Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-02-24
CAUGHT AT LAST.


reminded OF an odd adventure which
began one mad March night during a
journey from north to south, beginning
at the town OF Preston, Lancashire.
Having adjusted my wraps and made
myself comfortable In the corner Of the
third-class carriage which my porter
had got for ME, | took stock OF the
three other passengers who occupied
the other end OF thu compartment.
A big lusty, fresh looking fellow in
stout tweeds. and wearing a Scotch cap,
was seated with his face toward the
engine: young lady and young gen
tleman faced him, the young gentleman
having the corner the lady resting her
head on his shoulder.
From an opening In the folds OF his
overcoat | caught the CLEAN OF a pair
of handouts He was a captive
The lady, however, smiled tearfully.
and In soft. coaxing tones, said:
Mr., Sutclifie, couldn't you loosen
the irons? They're chatting his wrists
So"
Didn't he say he'd shoot me?" an
swered the big man, who | now under
derstood was a policeman In plain
clothes taking prisoner south.
Then the lady burst into tears, and
with laugh Sutcliffe met her half
way. unlocked the horrid bracelets. and
let loose one OF Dandy's wrists.
There, mon" said he, you can put
yer arm round 'er but moan of yer
little games wi me. I've carried
pris'ners all Ger England, Scotland and
Ireland and never lost a mon yet"
Then the lady pleaded splitting
headache and the cap was drawn over
the lamp by general consent. and |
curled up In my corner.
We sped on awhile. Sutcliffe was
asleep mountaineering heavily. Then
l dropped of, and remembered nothing
clearly till we pulled up with a jerk.
woke. Sutcllffe woke.
The lamp was burning low, but 1t
gave light enough to show us a car
rlage which contained only our two
selves.
MY groom" reared Sutcllffe MY
bird has flown Did we stop betwix.
Crewe and here?"
| couldn't say.
lie said no more Swiftly he grab
bed at his cap his wraps and a small
bag. slipped on his boots and opened
the carriage door
One evening, some three years later
my wife being down at the seaside, and
| finding the time heavy on my hands,
dropped into the pit OF famous play
house
Before the curtain had been up many
minutes my attention was drawn to a
big man who had a seat In the front
row OF the pit.
looked and looked--and then | rec
Ognized my friend Sutclinfe. the police
man OF my midnight journey.
After the first act he pushed his way
out. and touched him on the shoulder.
You don't remember me-"
lie scrutlnized me for a moment, and
then nearly shook my hand on
"Why-for sure | do-ehl II cost me
my place l. L fOOrce, did that lob.
Alive never clapped eyes on that pair
since"
Then we got to our places and saw
by his gestures and his looks at me
that he was telling his buxom wife the
story OF that mad March night.
Suddenly | saw his face turn rigid,
and he rose up In his seat. as II he was
about to leap into the stalls His wife
pulled him back and talked eagerly to
him
Down came the curtain, out came
Sutcllffe. grabbed my shoulder In his
hands. and said out loud.
I'm dommed IL that theer Dandy
beant a-sittin rect T. front o. me"
| followed his eyes. and at once rec
ognized that cynical curl OF the lip.
that rather efflemlnate prisoner who
had escaped from custody between
Crewe and Stafford.
lie was dressed In the height OF fash
ion. lie was standing with his face
toward the circle. peering at fashion
through pair of glasses.
"Hallo!" said Gutcllffe. why he's
getten "A new mlssus"
Yes" Kissed a heavily yelled woman
behind US. Now. arrest him, Mr. SUIT
cliffe. You're not going to let him go,
are your
We both started. II was the lady
who had escaped with Dandy.
Nay. mIssus, I'm not T. L force now.
70 mon catch him yerself--yo let him
60"
She was trembling like a leaf In the
wind, and casting a venomous look at
us swiftly left the theater.
We both Of us watched the unsus.
Decting Dandy during the last act. with
scarce look at the stage or an ear for
the music. But none enjoyed 1t more
than the cynical Dandy and his charm
Ing lady.
A few minutes before the finale we
saw him place splendid cloak upon
her fair shoulders and pass politely
along the row TO the door
Our party followed their example.
We raced round TO the front door, and
were Just In time to see the escaped
prisoner and his new missus get into
an elegant one-horse brougham and
drive on.
But behind them was a hanson, In
which sat a thickly yelled lady and
two men. And they drove on.
"Copped as sure as eggs IL eggs"
chuckled Sutcline. scotland Yard Is
after Dandy"
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