The Washington times., 1906-01-21

kind" / suggested.
1t was a bitter night and the inspec-
tor and / We're blowing our tobacco
from seats confronting before a roar
ing fire The wind rafting at the hasp
of the window added the luxury of
reminder that it must be extremely un-
pleasant in the sleet-swept streets out
side
Not how bad men are; it is how
good they are that is surprising"
quoted Grey. with a nod of his head.
We sat in silence for awhile before
ne spoke again.
u have let & breaker of the law go
free in my time-perhaps more than
once he continued. The law cannot
take cognizance OF all the tricks that
Fate plays on man"
I smelt a tale, ana remained silent
Grey laughed.
You think you have driven me into
storytelling" he said.
Il am at your mercy; but / hope So
I told him.
He leaned forward. tapping the ashes
from his pipe against the brass of his
fender. Then he began:
About a year ago / received a mes
sage from Guys hospital that there
was a patient lying very i'll who
wished to see me. I recognized him
the moment ! set foot in the ward-a
gentleman born and bred who had
slipped down from the ladder from
running his own horses TO lodging the
police as a bookmaker's tout. He was
n half-and-half man-tOO laZily clever
20 be quite honest. and too honest To
he quite d criminal Foor Jack Hen
derson. A good man gone wrong-let
that be his epitaph when ii comes 10
setting up his headstone.
80 We'll. Henderson I said. what's
the trouble?'
.. I'm done. Grey he whispered
They've no more USE for me this side
of the black river; but l wanted TO see
You before I answered the call
- You mustn't talk like that I said,
though he was looking pretty bad.
They'll put you on your legs again I'm
a month. You can bet on that, my
lad
1t don't much matter either way
he smiled. in a quiet way he had
so let us get 10 business You had
your share of trouble, 1 understand in
the matter Of Julius Craig last spring.
II nodded
II was in that job he said. and
after what happened I should like to
tell You the truth about it. I may
have been a pretty bad lot in my time,
inspector; but I had my limits. and
murder was one of them
II won't try to give YOU his exact
words. for the poor fellow spoke very
slowly, with big pauses in between.
But this is close upon the story as he
told it 10 me.
expect YOU know the Blue Shield
In Percher street. Take them one with
another. the customers are about the
worst crowds in all London. One Sat
urday night, toward the end OF March
last year, had Joined the gang there.
hoping 10 meet some friend with the
price Of a drink upon him. car | was
broke 10 the wide. wide world Bill
Redman. who was afterward Jagged for
banknote forgeries I'm Manchester. had
just ordered me a whisky. and / was
sitting on a stool watching the bar
man reach down the special Scotch.
when in walked a moon-faced fellow.
very fat and prosperous. with a dark
blue overcoGt and a diamond IN his
necktie. He looked about him, screw
ed his eyes as a near-sighted man viii
do, and then came over TO where ] was
sitting.
Mr.. Henderson. I believe?' ne said
That's may name" 1 told him. won
dering who he might De.
II have been recommended to YOU
by a-by a mutual friend" he said
hut I cannot discuss my business here
Ny carriage is waiting, if YOU viii give
me your company for ten minutes"
I hesitated a moment, until Redman
who seemed TO know him. leaned
across, whispering that I should be a
fool TO refuse The stranger pushed
me into brougham that was standing
by the pavement opposite the door
and we started off a a smart pace
Once in Regents Park. however, the
driver pulled his horse TO a walk. and
my companion began 10 do his talk.
ing.
Five hundred sovereigns would bs
useful 10 you these days-eh, Mr. Hen
dersOn %
There was a smile all over his fat
face as he said the words. and h,
chuckled softly TO himself with SOUND
like water coming out Of a bottle i
seemed an offer OF life 10 me-a prom
ise Of everything the lack of which
makes each day a torment TO the MAJ
who has known clean comfort
rs il murder2' l asked him.
'Oh, my dear sir. you surprise me"
he cried, lifting his fiabby hands
What a horrible suggestion! Allow m,
10 explain at once, Have you eyel
heard OF Julius Craig?'
THE company promoter who organ
lied the Spanish mine swindle? o
course l have
Did you know him by sight?"
He used To come racing. y tail
thin. melancholy-loOki fellow. with
black beard-wasn't he?.'
Yes. that is Julius Craig. He Is nov
in the Princeton prison with six mOrt
years TO run. The climax of Dartmoc
is not suited to his health He il
anxious TO change his residence; no
do | blame him Mr. Henderson. for {
Is the most desolate spot in all Eng
land. I am in a position tO Offer yo,
the sum 1 have mentioned If .7ou ar
range his escape Do you agree?"
yes" l told him.
''Ah. that is most satisfactory. To
morrow ] will send YOU half the monel
with some little suggestions OF my owl
as 10 your plan OF campaign. The sec
Ond half YOU will receive when Mr.