The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-05-29

TTFTFTVTF
To be noticed by professional ferrets, the
really cunning keep themselves well hid
den; Knowing that In the hue and cry I'M.
mediatey following the crime they will
certainly he pounced upon / therefore
was not surprised To discover nothing OF
Pete OF Jenny; and as for .Snoddy, had
decided from the first that he was more
drunken loafer than "A man living by
crime alone. Ny only concern was for
the intended victim, and 10 avert as far
az possible coming danger ! had every
likely shop I'm the city warned or the
distinguished visitors they were likely TO
receive. Here, however. perhaps from
or perhaps from an overlook. made 4
signal blunder: | warned only the cloth
merchants IN Edinburgh.
On the third morning after the inter-
esting interview. | was startled by news
OF a burglary having taken place AT Leith.
the details of which agreed 80 exactly
with the scheme Of Snoddy that | at once
identified the work. and. OF course. went
down and had the porter OF the estab-
lishment arrested on a charge of furnish
Ing the thieves with plan OF the build
irg and certain information as to it's con-
tents The man was thoroughly fright
ened ana awed. but he was so stupid and
low I'm intellect that he either could not
or would not recollect having an inter
view with Snoddy, or indeed the slight
est knowledge OF such a man. Probed
sharply on the point by me, he admitted
having hazv recollection OF being adj
dressed by some such man, and treated To
several glasses OF whisky. but swore
any OF the conversation which occurred
TO remain In his memory.
This was a severe blow for me. and tho
more irritating as the plunder not only
amounted to about Goo worth OF cloth
| and drapery goods, but to above go In
bank notes, which, though known by the
numbers, might be paid I'm at any mo-
| ment. More: I had foolshly expressed
conviction that thought could lay my
! hands on one at least OF the gang
meaning Snoddy-and here was left In
| the lurch. with only stupid and quaking
! porter I'm charge, whom | knew IL would
he useless TO try to seriously implicate.
| Again, when i came back TO the Office
| with the dolefIl intelligence that l be-
heved i WAS helpless, our Lieutenant
merely smiled. and said confidently to
some one-"Oh. he knows more than he :
| inclined to tell. He'll certainly have them
before long,, and no assurances OF mine
to the contrary could shake their conf
1T was exactly at this point that my Gu
| rious clue came in.
ON the morning after that on which the
ROBBERY mad been reported l was stand.
| ing In the Police Court helping TO ac-
celerate the business by hurrying the
prisoners In and out as they were charged
ana dealt with. when one insolent pris-
oner, upon being fined five shillings. or
| seven days, for being drunk. impudently
addressed the bench with the words
Seven days? Dae We think that fair?
Hoo wad you like To be.sentenced 90 seven
| days on bread an water IL We had ia en-
"a Eless owre muckle last nicht?"
laughter among the audience: but above
| all the laughter, and even the sharp
tones Of the Fiscal ordering the prisoner
| ly sounds OF the words
| Copital. copitali"
! started round. pale TO the ears with
wrathfully fixed thes>eiinquent In the au-
dience With his eye, and hurled out the
words-"silence there. in Court" and
there ! saw the blotched face of a
| drunken topper of some fifty years. grin
| ming delightedly. and quite una dashed by
the rebuke OF the bench
| L stared at the mail-who did not see
| me-for some moments. with fast beat
1 ing heart and trying hard to swiftly de-
eide upon course of action. IL Is true,
| could have jumped forward and arrest
! ed him there and then; butt guessed that.
| like the gripping OF the porter, the action
| would put me farther tnan ever from the
| actual burglars. while the plunder itself
| would probably never be seen or heard of.
| | wished 10 throw out a hook TO eaten
| both thieves and plunder, and was tryin,
| 10 decide how could bait that hook with
the estimable Snoddy himself Unable 10
| think OF any better plan | sat down and
scribbled the following line to the Super
intendent, and had 1t handed across to
| him.
PLEASE TO have that man who shouted
| Copitalv detained and fined, however
this line was being read. the prisoner had
| been brought back and sentenced to other
| seven days for contempt of court--four-
teen IN all-without the option of fine.
Better make IL fourteen years, while
| ye're at it, he recklessly remarked
whereupon the. audience again Uttered,
and snoddy boisteronslyy shouted
At the same moment my line was
| handed to the bench. read slowly, and
then the Sheriff simply nodded to me,
and called the next case. While. the
1 prisoner next on the list wps being
| brought I'm. i went through to the back
4 part OF the Court reserved for the au-
a st..xr hal Mud vraD
| without touching him, said sharply and
| clearly-"Snoddy"
| Instantly his blotched face was turned
| i'm my direction and his eyes scanned my
| face I'm uncertainty, as III trying I'm vain
TO discover I'm me an old acquaintance.
| Did. YOU speak TO me. sir?" he cring-
| ingly inquired.
| n did. Come through here: there's a
| gentleman here wishes TO speak TO YOU.
| Snoddy seemed to hesitate. with a faint
| suspicion OF coming trouble; but
| quickened his motions i'm the direction of
| the bar. by colaring him and bundliue
| him through with as hearty good will as
1 ever handled prisoner.
The case at the bar was speedily dis
| posed OF, and then. In spite OF his voluble
| protest, Snoddy-whose whisky-laden
breath would have Knocked .cuddN
| down''--was arraigned and charged with
| interrupting the business Of the Court
Five shillings. or seven days" was
the calm reply to his whining entreaties
| Next case"
Il havena hvepence in the world, >
| cried Snoddy as | dragged him out. and
| hurried him down with my own hands
TO a separate cell, and saw him safely
| locked up.
| Very likely not" was my dry re-
| joinder; but you'll have friends, ! sup
pose?'
mo friend in the blessed world" he
1 shouted
Then you won't be missed for seven
| days" was my feeling rejoinder, and
there left him
In spite OF his protest. however. nc
\ soon came 20 his senses, as | had an
| ticipated, and decided that he had friends
| who could help him, and that whether
| they were likely TO miss him or not Il
| were much better 10 be roaming the
| streets and hard ale shops In freedom
| than pining In prison at the monotonous
| oakum picking or stone breaking. Al
| hour or two after he was locked up, hs
| very humbiy asked for pen, ink and
| paper, and then wrote out the followin,
| affectionate epistle. which he addressed
| TO his dear friend. Pete:
| I've got teken up, an fined for laffir
| I'm the police Court. please give Bearer
| Ave bob an keep II of my share. it'll
save a lot OF truble N you don't refuse
/ You kno' what mean. SNODDY."
This emphatic note. which clearly
| proved that snoddy could be stern as wei
II lor ir,fo nd 81