7
16
THE MOI.NING POST, AUGUST 27, 1899.
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1
DETECTIVE'S SEARCH FOR
PIRATES AND THE RESULT k'
(Grant Allen in New
When news first reached me that a
distinguished M. P. had been set upon
and robbed by .a well-dressed high
wajman on the main stream of the
Thames, just below Cliveden Wood-;. I
confess I was more than half inclined,
on the first blush of it, to treat -the
whole affair as a cock -a ml bull story.
I had 'been Ilisra Constable of the
County .for fifteen years, and as my
own place at Kray .slopes down with
its lawn to the river's edge. I know
perfectly well how ero wiled this part
of 'the Thames is with punts and row
ing boats during the whole summer
season. Moreover .the particular spot
chosen for the extraordinary attempt
seemed so very unlikely. Cliveden
reach Is the most frequented stretch
of water on the -whole river: hundreds
of holiday-milkers pour down from
London every day to Taplow or Mai
denhead: so that the channel is alive
-with scullers "ami steam launches toi
lsome five miles up -stream till a late
hour in the evening. : J pooh-poohed
tthe policeman who first told me the
tale:
"Nonsense," T said: '"the gentleman
must have been dining at "some river
side hotel, perhaps with casual or '.un
desirable acquaintances, and having
had his pocket picked by them, or be u
diddled out of his money, he has in-
Tented this extremely improbable storH
to allay his wife's well-grounded sus
picions." For, I am sorry -to .say, one cannot
(be High Constable of a riverside coun
ty for fifteen years and yet retain a
childlike trust in the perfect goodness
of human nature.
But. "When the Right Honorable Ed
ward Symington himself, the respect
ed member for the Plympron Boroughs
appeared before me and told his tale,
I confess I was staggered.-
Mr. Symington was not the sort of
man, I "took it. to be the victim of
a delusion: nor did he look parti cularly
guilible. Tall, thickset, stoutly built,
a typical, hard-headed English squire,
a good rider to hounds, a conservative
country member, he had the solidity
and credibility which we always at
tribute to the honest, straightforward,
unimaginative .John Bull.
He told his story with perfect frank
"uesis. He had been out on the river
-with a nartv of friends .intimate
friends, and had dined he did not :it
itempt to deny the fact of dining at
that well-knowned conducted house,
the Ferry. Inn. at Cookham. After din
ner, about nine at night, on a fine sum
mer evening, he started in a Canadian
canoe for Maidenhead. He Avas accus
tomed to manage a boat, and was a
pood sculler and paddier. Where the
stream divides he too'c the inner chan
nel, under the Cliveden Woods: and
there, jinst behind the island, he was
surprised, as he passed, to see another
canoe glide rapidly out. in the gloom,
and a man accost him threateningly.
'Fork out whatever you have m
your purse! Quick; hand it over, this
minute, or I shoot you!"'
"What sort of man?"' I asked, eyeing
my informant hard.
.Symington answered like a truthful
peivon:
"I could hardly make out. as it was
growing dusk: but he -seemed to me
tall, with much black hair about his
if ace -'beard, moustache and whiskers.''
"Armed?"
'Certainly: armed with a revolver.
He pointed it full at me and cried. 'Xo
hesitation, or I fire'.' He was bland,
hut peremptory."
'He dared not have fired," 1 said.
'He would have aroused the neighbor
hood." '"I am not so .mre of that; .it. is lonely
behind the islands, and the hour was
' late. I passed only one other boat all
the way from Cookham. The river is
crowded, I admit, Colonel, till eight
or half-past; but as soon as it grows
dark not a soul is left on it."
"And you gave him your purse?"
"Well, it was cowardly of me, 1
own; but what would you have? He
was covering me with-his revolver; I
was quite unarmed, And remember,
too, in a Canadian canoe, which is not
the sort of place one would choose for
ia tussle. the least thing upsets one.
Besides, I don't swim, it's rhe sole
manly accomplishment I never ac
quired, having been brought up inland,
far away from any river. When I
went to Oxford I was either too eld
or too ashamed to learn, and I have
never learned: so the rogue had me at
Ills mercy."
"How much money did your purse
contain?"
"Oh, nothing to speak of about sev
en pounds. But. that's not what I
imind. It's the principle of 'the thing
that a pirate should he permitted to
go about unchecked on the upper
Thames with ''Your money or your
.life.' in this nineteenth century."
1 paused and reflected.
"Things of the sort will crop up," I
said, "in spite of all the pains one may
take to prevent them. But nothing
like this shall crop up again, I prom
ise you. I will have the river properly
patrolled and guarded."
"You must," he said warmly. "Such
an outrage is a a disgrace to our boast
ed civilization. You must catch the
rogue. Till he is imprisoned. Col.
Venables-Hughes, you have not ful
filled your duty to the coinmunitj-."
As soon as he had gone I asked my
chief detective, who had been present
during our interview, what he thought
Of Mr. Symington's story. He stroked
Bis smooth chin warily a chief detec
tive's chin is always smooth, as he
has to get himself up in so many dis
guises and answered with great dt:
liberation:
"His account has a ring-of truth in
it, sir. I should say, myself, he was
probaMy rohbed. Of course, a gentle
man may give away money, and then
desire to account for- it; but Mr
Symington is not a very young gentle
man, nor a very toolinsh one; and it's
the young ones and the foolish ones
that trump hp stories of such adven
tures. My impression is, we might
watch . the reach carefully from the
bank for a week or two." 1
"Atkins," I said, "we shall watch it,
but not from the bank. You're the
York Evening Post.)
man to do it. You know 'the river well.
and von manage a boat. W e must
fight the fellow with his own weap
onsif there is any fellow, which is far
from certain. lie uses a Canadian
canoe. He's right, of course; no boat
is so noiseless; with none other can
you see so well ahead exactly where
vou are going, ami guide yourself so
perfectly. You must have a Canadian
canoe: pervade Cliveden reach, and see
whether any such outrage is attempt
ed again."
"It will be attempted again, sir."
Atkins said, decisively. "You may
count upon that. If the story's true,
tiie fellow will have learned that he
can induce a strong and viborous man,
a member of Parliament, and a good
sculler, to deliver up his purse by just
presenting a loaded revolver at his
head. The process is simplicity itself.
Is it likely he won t try toe same game
on asrain , wlien he hmls it so easy.'
e debated where we should post
hi in. My own idea was that the rob
ber, having tried Cliveden reach once,
would make his second attempt some
where near Marlow or Bishain. just
to avoid our precautious. But Atkins
said no; and Atkins' experience was
worth much in such matters. The only
reach where the fellow could be sure
of catching somebody worth robbing.
he saw, was the most frequented piect
of water. At Marlow or Bisham. fit
ter dark .he might wait for hours with
out seeing any one. But on Cliveden
reach there was always a passer-by
Besides, he would need the cover of
the reed-beds. I agreed that Atkins
was right, and made all arrangements
for the canoe, well as for a coti'ile
of policemen with a double scullin
skill' to be in waiting close by when
ever Atkins sprang his rattle
The magistrates laughed at me. "D'
you really suppose. Colonel," one of
them said to me. "such things can
happen in England today? I call it
prciosterous. Old Symington had had
quite as much as was good for hi in.
that's the long and short of it: lie lost
his purse, and then invented this cock-
and-bull story; or else, he found some
agreeable person who relieved him of
his cash, and he wanted to explain
the little mishap away. The tale's not
worth investigating."
However, I went on with my plans,
l . . I . , . : i . . l
ami sei -yikiiis to wort., r-igiu uayrj
later. I
t rates.
had the laugh over the magis-
Two young ladies, daughters of Mr
Tabot Evatt. the well-known stock
broker, who lias a house on the river
near Quarry Woods, had gone down
towards Taplow bridge after dinner
in a skiff, both of them pulling. About
a quarter past nine they returned, and
just as they neared the larger island.
one ot theiu.sa.nl joKiiiglj- to t lie otn-T,
"I hope Mr. Symington's highwayman
won't come out and catch us!" Even
as she uttered the words, a Canadian
canoe appeared before them, darting
like a narrow out of a high reed-bed
A man was in it. with very bushy.
black whiskers. He drew a revolver.
"Hush." he said, resolutely. "If
either of you speak one word, I will
fire. Mind I have six cartridges, and
I can kill you ioth. Don't make the
slightest noise: take off your jewelry
ana your watcnes. ami pun ont your
purses and hand them over to me. If
you delay one second. I shoot. Sharp's
the word, rork over!"
the two girls were too terrified to
do anything but obey. They pulled
out their pursns. stripped off their
bracelets and rings, and handed them
across to the expectant huffiau. He
took them without a word
"Xow, mind," he said, "I go off, but
I shall watch you from the reeds. If
you give any alarm till you rea-h
Cookham, I tire: I'm a dead shot, and
I promise you I won't miss you.
He disappeared into the reeds. The
girls, terrified for a moment, sculled
on in silence. But as soon as thev
reached the opener part of the river
beyond the islands, thev recovered
their nerve a little, and shouted aloud
"Help! help! Murder! murder! Hob
bors: at the top of their voices. The
Cliveden ferryman heard them, but
belo-re he could put out his boat, At
kins, who had been hidden a little fur
ther above the reeds close by, came
out with his canoe, crying. "What 'is
the matter, ladies? I am a detective,
and I have a couple of policemen here.
Has anybady molested vou?"
The girls told their story, and At
kins, with commendable speed, sprang
his rattle, and got his two nolicemen
out from under the shelter of the bank
where they were waiting. Then he
took one of the 'girls and a policeman
down one side of the islands, while
the other girl and the second police
man went down the other. In a quar
ter of an hour he had communicated
with tlie lock-keepers above and lie
low, and had gathered together half-a-dozen
other men, with lights and
boats, to make a cordon round the reed
beds and the islands, while he had
some few selected boatmen thoroughly
search them.
This second outrage naturally arous
ed a great deal of feeling on the river.
Ladies had been accustomed to row
about freely alone, without fear of in
terruption: and the unpleasant discov
ery that they might be set upon and
robbed caused a most disagreeable
awakening for riverside households.
Mr. Talbot Evatt himself offered a re
ward of tive hundred pounds for who
ever caught or exposed the robber,
and the county added another Ave huu
dred. But for three or four weeks
nothing further was heard; and it be
gan to be believed that the matter had
Dlown.over.
At the end of that time, however,
I received information of another and
sun more extraonuary outrage. Mr
Kegmald Wybroc ; of Bourne
siu oiti iauy universally respected
tne river; sue takes the part of
almoner to the district, bein
wealthy and benevolent, ami is
intrusted with the charities of
people.
une rainy afternoon, about
SI ' "'
- -. r , rvi u ner i wo
iiieces. uoiu excellent oarswoTiien,
when a cttri(us episode happened. Mrs'.
Wybrook had failed at Maidenhea 1
on her way up from t lie Ilray Hospital
(wlieiv she had been visiting tin in-
matcs of that picturesque almshouse.
d she hail cashed a cheek at t:j
ml- for ("(). as was her wont once a
ortnight. She carried the amoirit in
I I . .11 ... . 1 . .
ir:nu in il smaii riiiMiiss na?. i oe
river was ue-enei. as it was raining
heavily, ami few boats ha'l wiitur "l
our; in the inhospitable weather. All
ar once, ar tne corner near toe --eco.ia
. t i
island .a Canadian canoe shot swiftly
across the stream, amid the Minding
ra n, and a man with a bU,M: b'.irdi
aud whiskers raised his hand w..i 1
menacing gtsture.
"Not a word." he said abruptly.
You know my busineris. If you wA
me over tnat sixry pound ju go.u.
without any trouble, yon can go on
vour way unmolested. Make a mo-
Hunt's delay and I fire without mer
er
Mrs. Wvbrook, who is a det.r-ni;nil
old lady of the ancient school, an Ad
miral's widow, answered promptly,
with great spirit. "I shall do uoth'Mg
of the sort: I will not yield to he
threats of a highwayman." But h-.-r
y .;ngest niece, .miss tiiaays yorooii.
i
a t.mirt uirton girt, suaicneu tne
of sovereigns from her aunt's ha id
and flung it frantically to the robber.
lie caught it in one hand, tossed
up in the air with careless glee i.ke
a ball, and recaugnt it as it ten. mien
lvs hat politely, and darted Pack round
the island again. As soon as he ws
one the ladies raised a shout, but
no one heard them. They had almost
reached Cookliam lock before they
came upon Atkins, paddling about
quietly in the discharge of his duty
amid the torrents of raw which were
still falling slantwise. I
Atkins was half incredulous at first.
-.i i i . . . I
as f tne possioimy or me rascai n iv-j
ing ventured to attack ladles in bro id ;
daylight and on the open river. "Seems
almost liKe nystena. sj. ne saiu i :
nie afterwards, "especially as Me
young lady was so very much agita-
ted. But he returned down stream
with them and soon satisfied him
.
-i i
as to tne reality or ineir siory oy hum-
ing the mans revolver tiling out on
the bank just opposite the island. i, ;
was clear the robber had got rid of
it in order to avoid suspicion in case a ,j,.sjH.r;lte strugsje on the leads -he
was overtaken. Looking down into tj. nvo mo riM-il: then "hailie
the river close by again. Atkins also
discovered the canvass bag. an lucrim-;
nating object, at the bottom rf the
stream: there could be n loubtuig
its identity, as It hail the bankers
name printed on Its side in legible
letter:?. i
Atkins was now convinced that the ;
highwayman must have Ieen calling
at the bank at Maidenhead when the
check was cashed tsinee he knew the.
amount I. and must have hurried up,
the river surreptitiously in his can'oe,
creeping close under the tree, before
Mrs. Wvbrook's party. This gave the
detective good clues; first, the revo'.v-'
er. which was by a Birmingham ma-
ker; secondly, the point that the rob-
ber must have been seen at Maiden-
head that evening. Atkins himself.
uufortunatelv. had spent the whole at -
ternoon around the Cookliam lock. J!s-
cussing probanirities and possioie cities
with the lock-keeper and hi. -assistant,
I will not weary you with the ac -
counts of the two or three subsequent
outrages (detailed in the daily pap-rsiwas making for the lnr.it again: he
of the moment), each taking place' at;
the most unexpected time, and cadi
unfortunately so well planned to take s'.de towards Taplow or Ureal Wy
place In Atkin's absence that that as- combe.
tute officer began to suspect either his:
ixdicenian or the lock-keeiers of be-
ing in league with the villain and giv -
ing him notice when the detective was
away on some other part of the river.
It seemed now to be clear that we
must take more active measures, and
must patrol the whole district of tne
Thames between Bray and Marlow
with a perfect cordon of policemen.
While I and my brother. High Con
stable in the adjoining county, were
discussing the details of this scheme
so as to adjust the expenses between
our respective rate-payers (for the op
posite banks are here occupied by
Bucks and Berksi, an uncxiMfted de
velopment occurred. 1 think 1 had
best narrate it. in the way it seemed
to me at the moment.
Being anxious to watch for mvself
the possibilities of such episodes oc -
curring in the evening. I had strolled
out. one night through the riverside
path (privatet that threads the grounds
of TapJow Court and Cliveden. I had
almost readied the tirst island near
the marble steps, when I saw in the
dusk a skiff rowed by two girls com
ing slowly towards me. As it reached
the reed-hed I was aware of some com
motion, l.azing through the gloom, I
saw the very episode I was anxious lo
see a Canadian canoe glided sudden
ly and noiselessly across the bows of
the row-boat. I rushed down to t he
bank to note what would happen. I
could make out rhe pirate raising his
hand with the revolver; I could hear
him cry, "Halt, there; your nionev!"
Next instant the most unexpected in -
eident took place. The girls, instead
of screaming or turning away, rose up
resolutely in the loat. and seized the
man with great pluck. One of them
pointed a revolver in return: tlie other
wrenched the weapon from the
wretch's -hand. Then I saw that the
canoe was upset, and the assailaut
was struggling for his life in the wa
ter. I pulled off my coat and Iwots ind
swam across to help them to secure
him. As I approached one of the rirls
called
voice.
out to me in a very mauish
Wl 1-1 -- -r..
. iiu .ill- o il ;
"Col. Venable-Hughes." I answered,
"High Constable of the countv."
"Oh, yes, it's you. Colonel, is it?" the
voice answered: and I recognized !t
was a man's. Next moment I knw
them the two young Wybrooks. broth-
ers oi xne nieces wno nad been caught
before; they were dressed up as girls
to deceive the pirate.
It was a capital ruse. But they had
counted without their host: the rogue
was too much for them. Taking id-
vantage
momentary diversion
al? ? -,l, him
t ..
1 Ml am
tint the
fellow dived under the lv in-
lat-cliac;, and came iit -ni-qn K-nt
or the mniiiiitqKtr .u..--,! V ..,,-...i 1.1... . ' . " - - iiicuo-M r r-. .t ...1
'S : nrnniail hv in t- .1 ,.! 1 . , . , , , 11111-1 11...' ...... (. ...... . .11 la rjUilv ' - . 1
I .' l ......... ...... aL llliri'. t.i. I. 1 ... ! I II 1.. ..!. jrw. I... . - . . 1... ...a
Vnri . 1 -i 1 1 . l" " . .-1- n t- i a i uc gave up an about urn. lie lei: till note. ti vl 'or cae.aai-.
fc-nd j .suddenly srhook himself fr... .tn,A-...l for lost, mm.) l .- t n.. , ' .. .i";'"1 ' ." " , I..ia .o , . t.. -
on Hinder their arms with .Vq' : " e . . V n,T i .... . ."A . . ' I .'.'" . " a: r,-a" ": l ...ttr
chief ; address, and swam iVni.fi:. i "! -r . ''J V vr 1 I.ai'1 n'M' ! "F-rve a tiy.ng titan one outburst the .'
W!i:n. ,...i7 .1 " ' v r..""""liH ",r- ", ver. cf sSlcen. .n.l .l-.:rt be too hard on SOL'TUWksi.
of .m ! n 1 " luv l- l1 tl... n.pe at the u.y w ife and family." , . ' . r, ...... ,.1
othexl .lipfld him ennM, ,.,...e. r "l .,:o-;,,!"-' 1 -'5 It may In- weak of me. but I will' For rate.
! OiarLi; Wv VooTV: pi;, I1.;.: , . ?.V"J:rMlor 1 "M frankly confess it was I who uXAm. other inro--- ia. :
i " ....-.ti uii . eiiiii "in mii. i ;ii rn-rt t-.oi- . ..i-i... .... ...... ... .. -iirwin 1 n - . 11
c:v i .......11 ......I m - - .... - ... . .. v, IM, ltT- ii ... .lilt. lis tiiv- if.isi ail i.i.iir in
rry. . ,,. . , uau. i - ...... w...,, ,,,, ii;mu4 man-
The two Wybrooks scuUed on U3 fast!acled, and his feet tied with the "op",
.is they could get their oars In. I
struck afur him for dear life. But
that cunning rascal wax again fore
hand with u. lie knew the bank we'd,
and made down stream for a hard
spot. 1 trid to land nearer and high
er, and found myself entangled In mud
and weeds. It took me half a minute
to drag myself almn. with the a-Nt-ancc
of the Wybrook. By tint time
the pirate had made good hi lauding
and was striking across the tlelds in
It
the direction of the big white hoMe
known a the tisherv.
Chariot Wybrook leaped ashore and
bolted after him. Charlie was a splen
did ruuner: he won the 'varsity qua
ter-niile when he was undergraduate
at Oriel. As he lauded lie ton off h.s
woman's hat and skin: but he h i I
still the bodice. Arthur ran di.igoti.iily
across the field als, half man. half
.woman so :is to cut oft the wretc.i'.s
retreat by the farther end. in case h
doubled. As for me. I made for t'.i'
opening by the fo.itp.it'.i to Cookha.n.
But the field, a low-meadow, was ,n
tcrsected with ditches, both d;ep and
wide, and they hampered us great i
i e could sec rhe pir.ite knew tiiein
all well, and was evidently acquainted
with the little bridges here and there,
for lie never turned aside, but made
straight in the dusk for them. Charlie
, Wybrook leaped the dikes, narrowly
escaping a ducking. As for Arthur
ami myself, hi the eagerness jf pursuit
wo ran through them bodiy.
But where was Atkins ail this tlm?
I drew my whistle twice, and blew
long end loud for him. Strange to say
ubiquitous as he had always sc. nied
, when danger lowered lefore. he del
not now answer. 1 iiegati to rear our
prisoner would after all escate u
Still. Charlie was gaining on him now
wh,. an at om.,. j. bolted for the
. .
garden-gate or the J Uiiery. To his
evident surprise he found it locked;
i. i,a(i llol runted on that mishap
-lo;irly. I could gather ho was sonic-
i;,iv who knew the ground well, for
the moment the gate failed him m
'....,.-. i it.. ... , i. . . ..,..,
r. ....
I J lllin I 111. Kilt III! H III"" .Mll-illlll'"
wiiorc fli i n n is ketir. .-mil then ill nit
n,r 1r tlie house, like a cat or a iicm
k,.v Charlie Wvbrook. never pans, ng
followed him as quickly as he himself
mounted. For second there was
threw his man. bus the r.gu n
a-rain. unhurt, and twisting himself
4)nrl. more with siirprsing ease out cf
,-aitor's -'rasp, descended straight
into niv arms and Arthur
How we missed him 1 reallv don't
know: but we did miss him. With ex
traordinary agility lie du k.-d as he
passed us. and seemed to slip ULc tii
eel through our closing lingers.
"5ive him chase, Arthur. I cried.
"give him chase!" And at the s.i.ne
niomeut Chuilie came scampering
down tin sloping roof and joined us
in the pursuit. For half a minute the
pirate made as though lie were go.ug
towards tin corner by the footpuih
the most natural mode of escan. now
that the garden gate was locked, with
' its high and dangerous spikes; hut Lis
' cunning and swiftness of resource
were really marvelous. No so.mi r
mid ne separated us m our etiorts t
head him tiiau he suddenly and uue-
' pectedly doubhsl back towards the
river. I saw what be meant now; he
would put himself across, and escape
up the hills oil the Kuckinghams.iiro
"Cut him ofT. Charlie; cut him off! I
shouted, "lie's making for the skid!"
' But again we were too late. A dit.-h
inter loosed in our path and stopped :js.
The man's tactics were masterly; I
understood now why he had g.t otf
scot-free so often: he had a marcl
ously Intimate knowledge uf the coun
try and its intricacies.
We made after him for the lwat. He
reached it before us. .lumping in. he
seized the sculls. But Charlie was too
quick for him. He followed, and
wrested the "blade with a Jerk froai
the man's grasp. It was now too
dark to sec much; but Arthur and I
followed him. We were all four in the
boat, and clung hard to our prisoner.
It was the most exciting hunt I have
ever taken part in.
"If only Atkins were here!" I crkd.
,"He would have handcuffs with him!"
A 1 spoke, the 'Irrepressible crea:ure
bounded to his feet .nice more, as if
I had stung him: half-upset the boat.
and sprang hastily overload, l saw
he was determined not to be caug'at
If lie drowned for it.
He swam like ji water-rat. We row
ed after him. and. finding all other
means fail. Charll" Wybrook gave him
a light tap on the head with his scull.
That brought the htan to reason. He .'et
us come up with him. ami pull him out
of the water, though struggling still
as hard as he could struggle. But
he was quite exhausted. His breath
came and went, and lie was In a state
f collapse. At least, so I thought,
though, after all the trouble he had
' f-ivn us, 1 deemed It best to take
nothing for granted. He might be
fhamming. ami might jump overboard
again next moment, if we relaxed our
attention. For it was certain, at least.
mat our captured pirate was a man
of immense resources and a most con
summate acrobate.
"Search his packets!" I said sternly.
"He may have another revolver c.m
'cealcd alMiut him!" For Charlie Wv-
brook had snatched one away fr.iai
him in the course of the tirst struggle
when the canoe went over.
( narlie did a I suggested. Arthur
holding the man meanwhile, for in
still made ineffectual attempts at se
slstance. "Tills Is odd." Charlie said at last.
"The fellow has no more fire-arms, but
of all things on earth to come in han-
dy at such a minute, he has a pair
of
nanucuiis.
"Pass them over," I said. s;iH as
! unsuspicious as a child. "What on
earth can he want with them, though?
However, 'tis the biter bit We'll ue
them for himself. Charlie'"
soon,
ma r i . . i r .... . . . .
!. i.iunuiiiK Bl 111411 flleceSS
kent zuanl over rhlr t.-i
; As for the b iffl.nt f .... -. .-.
I hu hpnrt iu.1.1 .un ., ui .
man-
he rerr picture or despair
lowncast. and JJeeeliles. He seamed
thoroughly eo'.vi-d. He never SNke a
word till we reached t .xikh.iui liw-k.
tefore we could tell t!e ).-kni.i!i eir
Iory. however, one f the kc jer
came aioiigsi te wnn ;r-.mge i. dings
whia added ; otir imiplieation.
Heard the news, sir':"" lie i-aiied ni:.
rec iga.zing me. .Mr. yn:..!g:on
g cie off his head: they've tok mm :
ati tilu:n. It ap:Mrs he never went!
u the r;er that day at all; t was :i
a deletion."
Our prisoner rocked himself to
in 1
:!!
All
fro and muttered In a tone w
-:r.cd s-um iiow jam.Uar i me;
a dehisl.iu! Only a delub:i:"
We liauh-d him out. still dr.ppltig.
and held him tight till the consiab;..
could come up and take ii:u in -barg-.
He was wearing a f.-ile 1n-ard. wh:ca
Jo had kepi through the r.u-e. I re-
move I it and gaz-d at Ji.rn.
VOU klloW llle n. iw. Colonel."
w d.
t
grutlly. I sto'fl aghast. 1: wa A;-
kins!
We had been employing
detective to dejeet lltaiself
the Irate of X'l . islcii Ilea
i
him a
it
wa
h !
le
had
Committed all the outrage!
Before b:ig the p d;cenieii came i;p
and took p isscssio'i .f him. We mar i
1 him to the l.H-k-up. It was a u; !
ancholy jT.icf-sUiti: every one of in
knew him. As si.m a the young Wy.
brooks had formally charg-d him 1
held a few minutes' conversation ai:ie
with the prisoner.
"Atkins." 1 said, "we may as well be
frank with cine another. I m-ed m
cauti n you alut the that may I e
made of auyth.ng yni may say. but I
ask you one qtnnttoti. a !! who
knows you. and not in my !!i-:al w
p,icit -do you me.ia to jl a I gu.Iij
He" liung his head doggedly. "Oh.
its all up now." lie atisuereii: "l may
as Well be hj.lgd f-ir a sheep as a
lamb. I shall plead guilty to the
every blessed Job. .Hid tliroW IIIV If.
on liie Judge's mercy. But it y., i
that dil lias th. ug! Il wa o.i :.ut
sugg. ste.l :t!"
"I":" 1 broke in. ati'.hed. "Haw
do you make t'o.i out. A :k:us';"
He cross,-1 handcuffed hands :,.
twccii his les wirii a gesuin
o;
le
sjiait. and replied siowiy:
"Bv sfM-miug lo Indiext
thal old f.d.
Teddy Syniitig:.-:!."
"T'.n-n y hi nbb-I Mrr S 'niitigton ;"
I t l.iimed. He looked up wiCi a
m.iiiij.ius gr.n.
"Ie made a go.d business of iCi
sort of job f ir year." he aii.ver-l:
"but it's all up now. and I may ;u e.-t !1
li ave done witii it. I've w .ti ked
lift :iv
a gMnl burglary or two in town, wh
iioIhhIvM i-vi-r u;h-: a couuity lie-
lective; but it was ol Cl.lt -t me oil
ibis. jjevt-r have thought of It.
Bobbed Mr. Symington! So.
11 i'i.
1y
eer robin-1 oi 1 Symington.
see. The moment he t Id
don t I
h. tory.
I c.illld tell he wa toad a a hat-;
ter: and if it had Im-.-u me that li.nl ,
had to manage 1;. the tr.au I'd h ic
called in would h.ie been the Ii I j
i. oial doetor. Oil S liiitigl ti took a
faney into li is head he'd lc-u robbed j
robbeil on Cl.v.deti Beach atld W.i.lt,
y.u said -set rre thinking. It aadn'i
ii. cn done; but it w as c jy ciioiigii t
do. on m:I for my canoe, and I t
a light collapsible uii-."
"Atkin." I said, drawing back. "I
shall n ally hae to rciiiud y.ni. aft.-r
all. that anything you may .t " (
He lo.ike-l tip at angrily. J
"Stow ;t. you old idiot. he erd.
"!. yon tii'nk I'm t. dling you a!! fir
anything except for my own rc.ia.?
oltd lN jt. r !!: U. 1 1 11 ilejp o;i ,'
future in o.;r ottb-ial dutie. I Uiu'it
a canoe, and I lurked aU tit the ra-r.
I was there, as a detective, author.?. . -1
to guard the place; .ttid I could l.i.t-l
o!l the private gr ilttlds. pretty Well
where 1 l.ked. an I carry my ctdl.ip'.'!e
canoe, foluctl. with me. 1 could .".in
along the bank twice a fat with i;
under my arms a any two men c.-i'-l "
iscttll an ordinary rowlniat. And 1 d d
run w ith it. too. 1 In gau w .:h :'ie
Fvatt girl: I knew tluy had gf I Jew
el .y. and 1 got t all from thc.n. Fir.:.
I ran along the bank to the rcd-h:-!;"
there I got in again, and headed ilnvn
stream, pulled my fale whiskers . fT.
and . .une to their aid with rlo-ir brace
lets hi my io;-ket. It was a eay a
pap; and it was you that jdiowed It
to me."
"Atkins." I r.ai-1 severely. "I decline
to hear any more of this self iucrlai
in.it ing story. It Isn't seenily." ,
He laughed a peculiar la.tg'.i.
"YouM bet;er hear it o.n." lie a-.d.
"You won't "l ive atio'her chance. Th a
there was that Wybrook wo:ii.n. Siie
told tlie a feW days before lis.lt he
supposed th.-re wasn't any danger m
coming -back by daylight. f.r she ,1
ways brought sixty pounds in gild
every M-cond Wednesday from the
bank at .oaidctiite.nl. 1 told her in;
the least; and. the rain turning on i:ii
tie nick of time. I ran down the path
wit n my canoe tinder my arm. top;e.l
hr and took it. chucked my revol.er
on shore where I could find it again.
stuck the money into my ivket. and
tiling away the bag. and not ue o,
you even thought of searching my!
pockets! Yolt thought a detective
could do no wrong. Oh. you're Just"
nltont as lit to be high constable t.f
a county a" I am lil to be Archbishop
of Canterbury. And I wish lo go-d-?
ness I was; with fifteen thousand a
year, no man has a temptation to be;
anything but virtuous." j
I with Ire. v from the cell. "Atkins."'
I said, with dignity, "this Is a pain.'ul
business. I can listen to no more. I
feel 1 nr.tst have you."
"All ri'it. dd man." he answered in
a most Insolent tone. "Ii:i"t you in
.ifr.iid. I w .ii t expose y,mr incoiitp.
tence." N.xi morning before bnukfast I
was surprised to nii-lvr a viit froai
the kti'cr of the lock-up. His fa.-e
was very grave.
"Well. Nicholson. I s.i!l.
antlc-irw
"wa.t's
ting evil from til appearance
the matter thi mT:iing:
"This, sir." be answered,
has poisoned hinisclf. We
A 1 kit.
must have had prussje atld
to the I'pper Iownton Inllrmary.
It is istill undiH-ifbil wheth er fi!iir;
for suckers Is an ubtu.e ur aa acme
- for -n
avSlZ
Atlant
.w wwuL uine
AND It H AX "ii t-t
io'0 coast ;:vn
OU.N'a.
caJ Schedule la ZZ
lt.
TRAIN'S GOING fr.. .
Xo.
arrive
V.
-
iz:i0 p. m.. i. 4
c
"k i : a
23 Daaiv i ... .
arrlvr Horlty . ...
p. m.. v.
rrs.. iv
lc Kjih V,
pa ioj Dnr r;.4 :
trriv .... .
1 r . r.. ' w
! rive G1i,i- ; l;
apo. il Daily. u-v, i.u ,, ..5
m.
I
Dally. Ii p.r. v jj. I: 7"
m,. Wi'. ,n ;:,'"-,.
lfve CVc.;v!r. r ; .
I"av Msc-ioiu r j
Tftsr ..... . '
I v. "i-x-s. UU1.0 NiJjmt.
leave Fa-rt.rv..; ;j
p. m.. lrv sv;n. I 3 -
rriv W.)-un : ;
pre Ito. k- Mouat : i T. r "
- ieava Tartar i: 21
leave fUxk M -!.'. : "i
- , arriv Wrijj j -1
No. 102 Daily Cicept Sasiiy
toijior .
XV;V"fl - 5 . .
J-L-f .. . .
Tt. , lvt
NO. 2 Dallj.-Iave FWeac 7 4;
m, leare Faye;r.:n i x
m.. leave K-laia b, .'k
rrive Wtl.jj jj zi
lJB ...
r r.
. iison j -j
live lUKkv Jtojr.t -m..
Iav itocVy Mj
1:
1 A
- m.. arri. vl.
A fl
No. DalJy.-Leav tv,!-----, - ,
p. n. Vav Mcr. ! a r -m..
laf rj.vr. 4; 1'
TH.. leave W.Jvn jr, - . '
rrlve IVocky Matiii
No. 4S Diliy.-Iare W.lm rir-.- si
a- leave Mini i 11 11
rn . leave ; J : .- r ::
p. m.. Iv W;-n 1 ic
m.. arrive itocky i:.t.: : ;j
! m.
Wilmington -nJ Weldoa Rush
AlUnrle and Yadk.n I.v5.a yn
I.tne Train Ieavc Wilajiajrv., ;c4)
n. m.. arr.ie Favettevilb- 12 15 -It-are
ljyettevilb? 125 n ra a:- t
anford l i.i p. ,. tutnTU uZ
san ford p. m.. arrive Fjt. "-t :
p. m . leave Faye::ev.J :.: u -
Wilmington and WcJJoa
n jinttsv.ne Branch -T-!a :..,.
BeuaeuniJle s.m a. m.. JLMaxva . c
viT.ag :?., 9. a, i! -M.JU
101 a. m. arrire pJt(..,Mi;
1U:4. Beluraiac leare, Fjj.-t .
4tt p. tn.. Hjir ij;ju 4 ",2 p ra, tl-j
K;uing r.iX'. p. ta.. Maxtoa a IV a. a
arraes BenaettsvdV 7:1.". p. ra.
iViantlons a; iaye::ev.:
trala No. Ts at JIaxtoa w iih :u cir
l:aa Cu-ral ltairoad. at Bed sre
with rhe Bed Spr.ag, an 1 !t.
KatlroaJ. at San fori with ;4 si
loard Air Line aad Southera Ui.iar
at ;tdf vriCa tUc Diubm Ci.t
lot:e Baiiroad.
Trim on the 5er!:.tr-1 Xe-fc rr-
Koad HiVf Weldon 1 iS p. m.. H: t
4.1- p. rn.. !rfiv Sr.c.i j ;,at.
S:01 P. rr. . 0'-n i;ie C 17 j jr.. :
tton " p. m. It.:ry-..nc J-jv-i K.r.
ton 7:iO a. m.. reenvi:je l -
arrlvir.? at Halifax at 11 11 a -,
den 11:11 a. m... la:3y r c -;.! s.r.:y
Tnin. r Vjh.'r.on ltrr-i 3-i
Uatdortoa S:lu a. ta. aa. l' 1 1 - .
arrixe J,- rfr.f J:l9 a. m r4-l 5 ?
I:urn.ng !rae tarrr!;e 5 a. -r. f 1
C:2G p. m . arrive VainT" 11 a.
m. and 7-30 p. m.. da-' j except Saalir.
Tram leave Tartar j. r j .x.
crpi Sunday S:a p m . S jr.dar. 4 s
m . arrive Ib rou!h .n t m t -m.
Iteturn:nc. leave I ;-n -.-:, 4. f
except SureJajr. ?;i.a ;r . 5j- J y. t "t
a. m . arrie at Tartxx 16. al s..
11:00 a. m
Train en Midland K. C. rtrsrsz-jj iti
Go0h.ro dallr 'fK S-Jftda jr. T t; .
in., -rrivinc saiin-l J 1. .
turniRK U-.VI- Snjojif.-; J w a. c.
arrive GoUfbrtro p:i a. n-
Train- 03 Nashvtl.e Draarh Jat
Reeky Mount at fi a. m. 4 ?J p. ss.
arrlve Naav;;ie 10:10 a. m.. 4 (5 p .
spring Ilooe 10:41 a. m.. 4 l ; rr. J.
turr.m.t leve Spring Ho;. u CJ a ..
i.li p. m.. Nahvti:e irr: z r. . z
m. arrive at Itocky M.jr.i 11 1 - s
(, tii p m. d-illy rxrp; Sar. lay.
Tr.Jn on .lmta tran-a ;- TVr
av I'jT c:in;..n ".i::. exv j',i.f.
a. rn. and 4:11 p u. Iteturr :
leaves Cllntoa at l-tw a. m. aai Ij
a. rn.
Train No. 7f nrsak T I Mif!:i--i
a: vJJon for all p.ot Norta dr,
all raiJ via PJctmor. I.
11. ; hm nr. .?".
General Vttr.c-T r-3t-
n .. '
J. n. KkNi.T. 'ienerai M'-.rer.
T. M. CMCn50S. Trai"Se j5.f.
fii;
ELECTRIC UCIITnO!
STEAM HEATED!
VKSTi:tLI.i:i TKAINI
WITH rUELMAN M.KEi'I.Vti AMI
di.sevc; CAU.
alary boor nu'-clr aaJ rnilej aar.t
Jiau oilier fuUlB
TO THE
WEST AND NOUTinVEST.
Ton enn brkf : "r l-ir 15
elza. take C. aal O Ka j:.J
morrow" breakfa: at - u .-.a-a:. -
urpcr at Chicago or S: : -r jj
can breakfast :l ' V ttl
upptf four diy aft-r-r
Frauds. Ta- C aaJ u " " ,
oaly one bj wb.ch a. k
I The railroad of
v r-. - 1.' - 1 fr
nect
hi .pioting roti t!ie ra--s ' ' ,
ROUTE, trhich. a .
ihei hv otter I.aei. i
t Itl.ll. l . 1. .- -
mimm l Oiio il.
. r . .... . t . - t
tlrbuiond. Va. . i
or JNO. D, rOTT A. O.