Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-01-02

Of the prince would cause him some trou-
BILE, did as he was told, hut soon returned
GREATNESS.
"He is not there!' he cried. Neither
the prince nor his valet has arrived
His highness had certainly disappeared.
well, you may hang ME if he is in
Charing Cross station" muttered the in
spector as the attache~ departed.
The daily papers issued extras that
day with headlines in the largest type:
"A Prince Stolen. A Suspected Anarch-
list Conspiracy"
The extras naturally gave a most exag-
gerated account Of this extraordinary oc-
currence and were sold and devoured in
the shortest time possible.
The street vendors gathered in groups
to discuss the robbery, regardless of wait
ing customers or the purloining of the
crossing sweepers. The newsboys were
besieged. On the buses, in the shops, at
the hotels, the missing prince was the
one subject Of conversation, while in high
er circles no other topic was allowed.
By 10 o'clock that night Charing Cross
station was deserted. About II O'Clock
Of the same evening one of the two men
VIM "a Wcu uc plluCt i d dduSOLu IL
came back to Charing Cross and stood
again beneath the large timepiece.
Two minutes later Detective Brading
of the Scotland Yard force, leisurely
smoking a cigar, Joined the waiting indi-
vidual.
Come over to the Office, Norris" said
the detective as he acknowledged the
mans greeting. "We can talk there
without being disturbed"
"No, no; not in your Office. We can
arrange here, Mr.. Brading. You receiv-
ed my telegram
"Yes."
Jim Norris looked cautiously around
and was silent for a moment. Then his
restless eyes fell on Detective Brading's
immovable face.
"When you think it worth WHILE" be-
gan Norris, with a knowing look, Il can
Il can tell you exactly where''-
"What! What" exclaimed Brading.
"Where at this very hour the lost
prince u.s." said Jim, slowly emphasizing
each word.
whats thatT' cried the detective, TAX
ing a step nearer and b%etraying some agi-
tation. "Are you speaking the truth,
Norris?"
Goods TRUTH" protested Norris, cast
ing his eyes h~eavenward.
II will tell you what, Norris, if the
prince is really in your hands OF the
hands of your pals" putting his cigar
slowly, 'you will take me to the place
where you have him secreted. I will see
that you receive the usual reward"
1T is a bargain" said Jim joyfully. 81
want nothing more to do with the black
guards. They go too far; they go too far.
There's no limit to them"
"And they will receive their just pun
ishment, too" remarked the detective de-
cidedly.
"This is the way it happened" COM
menced Norris, letting his eyes rove sus-
piciously around the deserted station.
"Some Italian anarchists in Bath
street, Clerkenwell, determined to kidnap
the young prince, and all their plans
worked so smoothly that the prince is
o sitting in a back room in Bath
street, carefully guarded by the conspira-
tors, and they intend keeping the young
fellow there for two or three weeks, when
a handsome sum will be demanded for
his return"
"As a ransom" said the detective
knowingly.
Exactly, as a ransom" returned Jim.
Then Norris gave the addresses of
those implicated, and, in fact, all he knew
about the affair, to the detective, who
wrote this information carefully in a
small notebook.
"Now," said Norris expectantly, what
do 1 getY
Without replying Detective Brading
turned and motioned to a man who had
kept in the shadow at a distance.
II don't want to exactly arrest this
man, Perkins" he remarked to him, "but
keep him in custody for about one hour.
Give bu a glass or two in the mean
N'hile.*
%Detective Brading," said Norris, with
a grieved air. "is this the way you
: "And Norris" said the detective, tax
Ing no notice of the interruption, "if you
will visit me in a week or so, l will prob
ably have a pound or two for you"
"a pound or two" screamed Norris in
dignantly, latter all I have told you!
Only think-a prince travels and is sto-
len; l come and give away the whole sto-
~, anu lHcu you speak VI d pOuuu Or
two! 1t is a prince, a royal prince-bear
that in mind-and you come and offer me
a mere bagatelle like a pound or two.
Seems to me-" said Norris, with a grow
Ing bitterness, that princes are unusual
ly cheap nowadays"
"Now, look here, Norris" said the rep
resentative from Scotland Yard in an
apologetical tone, "this affair stands this
way. Your kind always comes too late
with his confession. All you have told
us we knew in time to have the prince
leave the train at Cannon street and come
peacefully into London on the under
ground railway. The young man that
your friends have kidnapped and are hold
ing in Bath street is Detective Peron,
who is a very fine linguist, and il he uses
his ears and eyes for an hour or two he
will'-
"What" cried Norris, Keeling and strik-
ing his head with the back of his hand.
'The deuce take it!'-Translated From
the German For Short Stories.