The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-12
AN UNRELENTINC CHASE.


time could have described as unnatural 1t
has long since grown automatic, and II Is
now pursued mechanically by official peo-
pie who never so much as heard Of its be-
ginnings. It's not very cheerful story, but
ii has the merit Of being true. The name OF
the principal character in the story is of
no moment but he shared IL with the most
eminent statesman of his time. and this
was unlucky for him, because 1T inspired
facetious reporters to play upon 1t, and
brought the trivial cases in which he was
concerned into prominence OF which they
were not worthy L picked him up so very
long since as the year before the Russo
Turkish war, when L was exploring the Tar
East OF London for the sake OF copy In
the interests Of Mayfair. society journal
long since defunct. had the best OF intro
auctions TO the police, and was accompa-
MED in my wanderings by very bright
and obIiging officer, whose boast II was
that he had piloted Charles Dickens over
much of the ground we traversed-
We came across our man In Kitchen
not far from Lascar Safs old place OF bust
ness. and nearer still TO Chinese Johnson's.
Our main interest that night had been
amongst the opium dens, and we took the
kitchen almost as an accident 1t was a
bitter night and the place was thronged-
zone OF the worst dens in our DIVISION,
said the inspector I'm asked sometimes
by people who can't understand business
why we don't break it up. but what would
be the good of that? We focus good deal
of our work here, as a matter or fact.
The men and women gathered there looked
ofcrIaf h1xv
little good to single intruder, but we were
i've In number. Even the inspector did not
care to carry his authority into this partlc-
ular den without having some support be-
hind him. He had two stalwart ofncers
with him, and Mr.. Wallis Mackay, VINO
did the drawings with which the story OF
our tour was illustrated. completed the
party 'dillol' said the inspector, there's
a fellow you might find interesting If you
can get him to talk to you. A glass or
something hot will start him most likely.
He raised his voice ever so little, and lifted
a reckoning finger. Victim" he said' L
want you" The man addressed arose.
something OF a contrast to his associates
He was tall, and he carried himself with
certain elegance. He was attired in frock
coat and a silk hat, not greatly the worse
for wear, but both curiously old-fashioaed.
and he wore paper collar. 1t Is not easy
to describe his face, but 1t looked as IL 1T
orally everything but bone and muscle had
worked out of it, so that his. big hollow
eyes and his high aquiline nose were like
the eyes and beak Of bird. He was fairly
clean-shaven, and his neck. which was very
slender and very long, looked all wire ana
piping. He came towards us. leisurely pick
ing his way through the crowd, with a
neatly folded umbrella under his armpit-
an article which, on inspection. would not
have realized threepence at the rag shop.
what is it this time. if you please?" he
asked as he came up to US His manner was
neither acquiescent nor defiant, but some
thing gloomily between the two. mo
HARM" the inspector answered. Il want
you for minute or two, that's all Come
with me-" The man followed and we went
outside. In the passage between the kitch-
en- door and the street he paused to put up
the umbrella, which was a network OF bent
and broken wire and ragged alpaca 1t was
about as efficient protection against the
driving rain as a fishing net might have
been. but fortunately for the silk hat 1t
was evidently meant to shelter, we had not
far to go. Thirty yards from the kitchen
the inspector thrust his hand against a
darkened door. The two constables were
>left on guard outside. and we four entered
a dimly-lighted passage, which brought US
in few steps to kitchen where wom-
an and girl were sitting at the fire.
Through ragged red curtain we could see
q barroom, and there was a great noise OF
voices and clatter of pots and measures.
The Inspector, with a nod. led the way into
another room, in which a comfortable fire
was burning, and the girl followed US to
light the gas. "Jims bottle" said the In
spector. ''the kettle. a jug. four glasses, a
lemon and the sugar. And see we're not dis
turbed." The inspector brewed a jug OF
grog, and did it like a man who knew his
business. sit down, Victim" The man sat
down and carefully laid the silk hat beside
him. His hair was cropped as close to the
bone as scissors well could go, and but for
the CLEAN and motion of his eyes he would
have looked like a deaths head. You can
take one without harm, SUPPOSE" asked
the Inspector. II hope so, sir" 'Smoke?
mo. sir; thank you I miss 1t too much
when get inside again." WELL" said the
Inspector comfortably. that's sensible
Now, Victim. these gentlemen are friends
OF mine They're taking a little bit of a
look at life and think they'd like to listen
to your experience. Don't pile 'em out toe
long" IT won't do that, SIR" said the Vic
tim. Good health, gentlemen" He slipped
by the way" said the Inspector, "before
you start. hows the hat getting on?' "It's
as you see Il, sir" The man answered, set
ting IL gingerly on the table. 1--WE had
nine months wear out of il in something
like ten years. and so it has lasted pretty
we'll" YES said the inspector, ''it ha:
had good deal of repose in its time. Same
with the coat, too, eh?'' Same with the
whole set-out. sir. The fact is, gentlemen
that out OF the last nine years and nine
months I've done nine years in gaol The
inspector knows my story, gentlemen, and
II i go a hairs breadth from the truth HI
can stop me. I'm a lost man. I'm past com
planning and past praying for, and I'm tn,
victim OF as pure an accident as ever ruined
man in this world. / was a baslt. man
ager-Mr. Field will bear me out, and
hadn't blot upon my character. 1 was al
abstemious man. 1 knew my business, ant
did. and l was respected There was
sudden pressure at the bank. 1t came abou
through Justification of the books, and
was UP three nights running hardly snatch
ing an hours sleep all the while and eat
ing next TO nothing. There was no suspicion
resting upon me- 1 appeal 10 you, sir.