Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-07-05

knew e wouldn't waste minute &C
the other end. Ed be into cab an
away afore the train lad stopped.
The next London train was not due
aht for an hour and half!
A sudden thought-an inspiration
yer might cali it1struck me, an
determined on a bold move. Hastily
making my way to the telegraph
orffice, dispatched the followin' mes
sage:
Station master. Paddington-Detain
man. frock-coat. top-hat. clean-shaven.
hair slightly grey. six-foot. travelling
2:A.-Macpherson. Police Supt.
It wus the only charnce. I would
bluff the stationmaster and get the
Dock transferred into my custody.
It seemed little eternity before
that train came in; and when at larst
we were fairly on the move 1 NUT
tered groan of 'eartfelt thankful
ness.
ing along the platform strobe into
the stationmaster's orffice. Two sta
ton police were guardin' an inner
door, and guessed my wire had done
it's work.
Macpherson of the Birmingham
police said. s'Have you got imp"
eyes, e said, 'e's in there. Been
kickin' up the dickens of shindy.
What's he wanted for?"
ooh, the old game" I returned.
'sAbsconding cashier; e1nbezzlement."
cts strange thing, Macpherson"
said the stationmaster, "but about
half an hour after I got your wire
J. had another from Detective In
spector Spragg."
'sWot?" I burst out, hotly, takin'
the buff slip from is and. 'Let's see
it. Wot's this?''
Birmingham, o'clock
Detain tall, gentelemanly- looking man,
frock-coat, top-hat. clean-shaven. about
forty. arriving on $3.50, until arrive.-De-
tective-inspector Spragg.
Hang Spragg!" I cried, savagely.
s'Wot the dickens does e mean by in
terferin' in my business? I'll talk to
i'm pretty warm when e comes. Now,
sir, if you please, vets ave a look at
the gentleman
The OFFICER threw open the door and
I stepped inside. And, as did so, my
heart gave jump, for the excited
prisoner within was not the Dock at
all, but some inherent individual
who answered pretty nearly to the
description given in the telegram.
"What in Heavens name is the
meaning of this detention?" e burst
out. "By CAD, sir, I'll make the COM
pany pay for this business
realized the gime lad got to be
played through now. Smotherin' my
feelin's laid a hand on is arm.
"Softly, Denniss, if you please" I
said, 'sthe games up. Betteh give in
quietly. It'll only be the worse for
you if you try any monkey tricks"
Hes a trife excited" I said, calmly,
to the officers. "Just odd i'm while /
send wire.''
| Half minute later I was bowling
away from the stition in cab. It
was maddening to think that the
| Docks smartness lad been is own un-
dom.
| I stopped the cab at Charing Crorss,
and, feelin' almost ready to cry wiz
modification and disgust, dived into
the nearest saloon ter ave a good
think. A grimy nipper thrust a 'spe-
shuP evening piper before me. took it
from i'm eagerly and looked it down
'urriedly to see if there might be any
mention O. the Docks capture.
Suddenly my eye caught a para
graph, headed in big letters: "Shock.
ing Cab Accident AS I read, my eyes
opened wide in astornishment.
The cab, it seemed, was turning
sharply rarnd the corner of one o
them side streets into Holborn when
it cannoned wiz bus coming the
other way, and the fare 'ad been
thrown out and SIS lex broken. They
lad picked i'm up an taken i'm to
the nearest 'orspital. e lad given the
name of Irish.
"By Jupiter!" I muttered, "the
Dook!" For the name wus one of is
many, known only to a select few.
A few minutes later I wus by is
bedside. Yes, it wus i'm, an no error
A look O. wonder took lis white face
as e saw me.
'sWhy, Ike" e said, quietly, So
thought you were miles away" An6
then, sitting beside i'm, told i'm the
tale.
'sBy Jove, Ike" e said, swhat {
stroke of luck that bus happened tt
NC "ditluS luz iuC. SuOu1u ave Ucct
in the jug by now if it 'adn't been il
the road.''
cts a fact, sonny" cried, smilin
grimly. "But the cheque?''
Don't worry" e said; "that's ne
gotiated all right. When they were
bringing me here I realized the bub
BILE was burst, so I crumpled it up an6
swallowed it. It was a disagreeab1t
pill, to be sure. but its efficacy 1 an
not likely to question"
''The best bloomin' pill you've eve,
took" I said. cts saved YOU from