The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-05-05
SIR DAVID
PEAKS
By EDWARD B. TwEEDAlE.
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.


Before he went up he reproached me,
with tears in his eyes, because had
taken livelihood from his wife and
children. felt so sorry for them that
I kept the wolf from the door during
the term Of the husband and fathers
imprisonment. When he was dis
charged he came to me. thanked me
and said II II ever came in his way he
would do me good turn.
Some time after this l received an
anonymous note stating that Dan Nc
Connell would attend an evening func.
ton to be given by Nathaniel Ames.
prominent In society. that night, for
the purpose of plunder. Mcconnell
had got away with perhaps hundred
thousand dollars Of loot, and there
were rewards out for him to the
amount of $4,000 If could nab him
would be well set up. l rather fam
cied the information had come from
the crook whose family had befriend-
ed, though / confess 1t was the first
bit Of gratitude from criminal had
ever heard of.
Unfortunately / didn't get the infor-
nation till about 10 o'clock at night.
/ got into evening dress, hurried
around to the house in question and
was ushered up to the mems robing
room. had thrown Off my wraps and
was going downstairs through hail
when I saw gentleman coming out
Of one of the rooms. He gave an In
voluntary start upon seeing me, but he
persued hts way while l, walking slow
ly as passed the room from which he
had made an exit, looked in. From the
apparel / saw lying about and other
Indications Judged 1t was lady's
bedroom.
This made me suspect that the man
who had emerged from 1t had had no
business there. Could 1t be that had
had the luck to light on Mcconnell on
my very entrance? ! hurried down.
stairs and saw the man ! had observed
just going up to speak to the host and
hostess.
"Who is that gentleman" ! asked.
"Sir David Peaks. an Englishman re-
Gently arrived, in search of an Ameri-
can wife, they say. He brought let
ters to Mr.. Ames. believe"
My hopes of an easy find were
dashed
From that time forward I kept my
eye open for a suspicious character.
Mcconnell had never been convicted
and no picture of him had yet been
taken.
Feeling some one jostle against me
from behind l turned and there was
Sir David. He begged my pardon with
an English accent and passed on. II
wasn't ten minutes before l saw the
host coming for me with an ominous
look on his face.
"Have you received an invitation
here?" he asked.
"No; have your replied without
showing the least discomposure,
though felt that something had gone
against me.
"COnfound you sir; live here"
"Well, all have to say to you is that
you live in n deuced fine house"
was trying to gain time to get
away from several listeners. While we
were talking Sir David came up and
heard the dialogue. Then he broke I'm
That's favorte way of robbery
among the London crooks They go to
functions as guests and take away the
jewelry. You'd better search him."
: was marched into room by the
host and two others, where there was
no one to see what was going on, and
searched. What was my astonishment
at the finding in n pocket in the skirt
OF my dress coat of n brooch belonging
to one of the young ladies Of the Ames
fariily.
Like lightning, my having seen Sir
David Peaks coming out OF ladies'
bedroom and his having jostled me
cast food of light on the situation
He was Mcconnell personatlng q
knight. which he could well do since
he had come from among the better
English classes. being his family'f
black sheep. Knowing that had seen
him leaving a room in which he had
no right. he had slipped the brooch
into my pocket and then In some way
. directed the hosts attention to me.
' "Pm caught" said 81 have O
confederate In the house. Telephone
the police and permit no one to leave
till they come Keep quiet; you dom
want disturbance, I'm sure"
"Who's your confederateT
''He whom you call Sir David Peaks
Watch him for the present. but dom
accuse him"
They all sneered at this, but called
Z the police. l asked them to tell Char
lie Bowers to come also. Blower:
knows me-" explained. "I'm an ole
offender"
They did watch Sir David, though
they would not admit to me that they
were doing so. When the police came
= Bowers and another man In plair
clothes were admitted by back door
:, "Charlie," ] said. "McConnell, whom
Vou've been looking for, is in thii
k house, incorporating as Sir Davit
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