Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-20

| them But it's quite possible we can, and
| without all the disturbance and, perhaps,
delay that calling in the police would in
| vclve. Consider. now. in reference to your
| own arrangements. Wouldn't it pay you
better to get him back quietly. without a
soul neutrality-suspicious. not even Dandy
! knowing-till the heat is run tomorrow?
WELL yes, 1t would. of course.
Very good then. so be 1t. Remember
what I have told you about keeping your
| mouth shut: say nothing to Steggles or any
| body. Is there cab or brougham your son
and can have for the EVENING"?
There's an old hiring landau in the
stables you can shut up Into cab, II that IL
do"
Excellent. Well run down to the town
| in it as soon as it's ready But, first a
word about Crockett. What sort of lad
| is he? Likely to give them trouble. show
! fight and make a disturbance?
NO / should say not. He's no plucked
| un. certainly: all his manhood's in his legs;
!, believe. You see. he amt big sort O
| chap at best, and he'd be pretty easy put
upon-at least, l guess So"
Very good, SO much the better, for then
| he won't have been damaged. and they
will probably only have one man to guard
him. Now the carriage, please"
Young Kentish was a six-foot sergeant
| of grenadiers home on furlough, and luxu-
rating in plain clothes. He and Hewitt
walked a little way toward the town, al
| travelled in it to within hundred yards
| of the empty shops and then alighted, bid
| ding the driver wait.
| Il shall show you three empty shops
Hewitt said. he and young KentiSh
walked down Granville road Il am pretty
sure that Sammy Crockett is in one of
them, and l am pretty sure that that Is
| the middle one Take look as we go
past
When the shops had been slowly passed,
Hewitt resumed: Now, did you see any
thing about those shops that told tale
of any sort?''
No" Sergeant Kentish replied 81 can't
say noticed anything beyond the fact that
they were empty-and likely to stay so,
| 1 should think
Wen stroll back, and look in at the
| window, if nobody's watching u.s. Hewitt
said. You see, it's reasonable to suppose
they've put him in the middle one. be-
| cause that would suit their purpose best.
The shops at each side of the three are oc-
cupied. and, If the prisoner struggled, or
shouted, or made an uproar, he might be
heard if he were in one of the shops next
those inhabited. So that the middle shop
is the most likely. Now, see there he
went on, as they stopped before the win
dow of the shop in question, over at the
back there's staircase not yet partitioned
off. 1t goes down below and up above.
On the stairs and on the floor near them
there are muddy footmarks. These must
have been made today, else they would not
be muddy, but dry and dusty, since there
hasn't been a shower for week till to-
day. Move on again. Then you noticed
that there were no other such marks in the
shop. Consequently the man with the
muddy feet did not come in by the front
door, but by the back; otherwise he would
have made trail from the door. So we
will go round to the back ourselves"
1t was now growing dusk. The small
pieces of ground behind the shops were
bounded by low FENCE, containing door
for each house.
Hewitt said, but there is no difficulty in
climbing. l think we had better wait in
the garden till dark In the meantime the
jailer, whoever he is may come out; in
as he opens the door. You have that few
yards of cord in your pocket, 1 think? And
my handkerchief properly rolled, will make
very good gag. Now over"
They climbed the fence and quietly ap-
preached the house. placing themselves in
the angle of an Clubhouse out of sight from
the windows. There was no sound, and no
light appeared. Just above the ground
about a foot of window was visible with
| grating over it, apparently lighting a
basement. Suddenly Hewitt touched his
companions arm and pointed toward the
window. faint rustling sound was per-
ceptibe, and, as nearly as could be dis
cerned in the darkness some white blind
or covering was placed over the glass from
the inside. Then came the sound of a strik-
ing match, and at the side edge of the win
Wv" 'litit " DIS IL idiHl SlEedk HSnt
That s the place. Hewitt whispered.
come, we'll make a push for it. You
stand against the wall at one side of the
door and I'll stand at the other. and Wen
nave him as he comes out. Quietly, now,
and I'll startle them
He took a stone from among the rubbish
llttering the garden and flung it crashing
through the window. There was a loud eX-
ciamatl ton from within, the blind fell, and
somebody rushed to the back door and
flung 1t open. Instantly Kentish let fly a
heavy risht-hander. and the man went over
like skittle. In a moment Hewitt was
upon him and the gag in his mouth.
Hold him." Hewitt whispered, hurriedly
Il II see II there are Others"
lie peered down through the low window.
within Sammy Crockett, his bare legs dan
gling from beneath his long overcoat, sat
on a packing box, leaning with his head
on his hands and his back toward the win
dow. guttering candle stood on the man.
telplece, and The newspaper which had been
stretched across the window lay in scat
tered sheets on the floor No other person
besides Sammy visible.
They led their prisoner indoors Young
kentish recognized him as a public house
loafer and race-course ruffian. well known
in the neighborhood.
so it's you, is it, Browdie?" he said
I've caught you one lard clump. and I've
half mind to make it score more. But
you'll get it pretty warm one way or an
| other before this jobs forgotten
Sammy Crockett was overjoyed a his res
cue. He had not been ilI-treated, he ex-
planned, but had been thoroughly cowed
by Bowdie, who had from time to time
threatened him savagely with an iron bar
by way of persuading him to quetness and
submission. He had been fed and had
taken no worse harm than Slight stiff
ness from his adventure, due to his light
under attire of jersey and knee shorts
Sergeant Kentish tied Bowdie's elbows
firmly together behind, and carried the line
around the ankles. bracing all up tight
Then he ran a knot from one wrist to the
other over the back of the neck and
left the prisoner, trussed and helpless, on
the heap of straw that had been Sammy's
bed.
You won't be very jolly I expect"
kentish said, for some time. You can't
shout and you can't walk. and know you
can't unite yourself. You'll get a bit hun
cry. too. perhaps, but that'll give you an
appetite. l don't suppose you'll be dis
turbed till some time tomorrow, unless
our friend Dandy turns up in the mean
time. But you can come along to Jail
instead, if you prefer it,
They left him where he lay, and took
Sammy to the old landau Sammy walked
in slippers, carrying his spiked shoes hang
ing by the lace. in his hand.
T he