LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1662, 18 June 1879, Page 3

LITERATURE.

A DETECTIVE'S AD VENTURE. One of my joumsys called me away to a town in Suffolk, where I was ordered to take charge of a prisoner to be discharged the next day from one of the local jails, in which ho was unelergoing a year's imprisonment for a criminal assault. The man had been let out on a ticket-of-leave from tho Defense hulk at Woolwich, and had speedily, as it appeared, got into trouble down in the country. As he was merely "wanted" to complete his original sentence having broken his tieket-^f-leave, there could be no bother about appreher ding him inside the prison, and using i uch precautions for his safe keeping as seemed best to my judgment. Just aB I was about to leave the office in Bow street, one of my comrades, with whom I was rather intimate, came in, having finished a journey such as. I was myself about to cet on. ' Going out, Tom,' he asked ; and on my telling him where I was bound f >r, ho conoontiaucd : ' Retter have this barker, Tom. You may find it useful.' At the same time he produced a small pocket pistol, which he hold out for my acceptance. ' I have not got any powder,' he added, ( but here are some caps and bullets.' It seems needless to remark that this was before the days of revolvers and patent cartridges. We had then to load in the old fashion way and had merely got as far as the introduction of the percussion cap. I had never before canied anything more deadly, by way of protection, than a life preserver, but as my friend seemed to mean a kindness, I made no ado about accepting his offer, and having * capped' the pistol there ond then, I consigned it to the side pocket of my pilotcoat, which I woro buttoned over my uniform. My journey down to Suffolk calls for no particular notice. In due time the railroad deposited me at my destination, and left me with ample leisure to call upon the Governor of the prison over night with a view to arranging for my carrying off my charge the next morning. I asked what sort of a customer I would have to deal with, and must confess I did not fed much encouraged by the reply. • He is what I would call a nasty customer, ' wa.l the answer. ' He haa given us a

more than once he ha 3 tried to oommit suicide in the most determined manner by teaming open the veins in his arms with his finger-nails.' This account of matters was not, as may well be supposed, at all enlivening; and when the Governor added that the man was a perfect giant, and had been a 'navvy' before he fell into evil courses, I began to fear that my work was cut out for me. However, there was no help for it. We Bowstreet runners had as fickle customers to deal with as any of your modern detectives. All I could do was to ask that the prisoner should be detained until I goi over in the morning. I told the Governor where I had put up ; but he did not seem disposed to offer me his company for an hour or two in the evening, and to me he hardly appeared tho sort of man I ciuld ask in an off-hsnd way to take a f;iendly glass; so, my arrangements being thus far completed, I there and then left him. The inn where I had taken np my quarters stood opposite the jail entrance, and aa the street was somewhat of the narrowest, the most complete view of all comers and goers could bo commanded from tho front of my temporary residence. As my land'ady knew the errand I had como on, and had a most becoming respect for the representative of the law, she kindly accommodated mo with her own private parlor as a sitting-room, and a very pleasant evening I spent in the company of the intelligent daughter of tho house, business leaving her mother but little time to bestow upon me. Next morning found me seated at a very comfortable breakfast, and the weather being fine the window of tho private parlor wa3 open, affording a perfect view cf all that might take place at the prison door opposite. While I was absorbed in tho good cheer before me I was startle 1 by an exclamation from both the landlady and her daughter, which caused me to look up and instinctively to glance across the street. ' Did you ever see such a big, coarse and clumsy-looking woman V exolaimed the younger of my entertainers. 'Or is it a woman at all?' added her mother. My attention was at once riveted upon the new comer, whom I somehow could not avoid connecting with the criminal it would soon become my duty to apprehend. Without saying a word to the two ladies, I carefully and closely watched every movement of the party opposite during the remainder of my morning meal. More than once I caught myself mentally repeating my landlady's q uery : ' Is it a woman after all V

The ' it' mutt be excused, as the point was so entirely doubtful. For a woman, the individual was very considerably above the average height, and her whole physique indicated far more than the average strength of womankind. There was a swagger in her wa'k, too, most unlike the carriage of a female ; and once during her pacing in front of the jail door she stopped to adjust a bootlace, or some such matter, in a fashion that showed an entire absence of delicacy, and at the same time showed a portion of a limb which might have done credit to an athlete in the highest state of training. I was fairly puzzhd, and the less so that I had twice noticed her ringing the prison bell, and that I knew there was bat one individual to be discharged that morning, and that it was close upon my time to go and look after him. I had barely finished my last cup of coffee when one of the prison warders came across to say that the wife of my prisoner was waiting outside, and had twice made a demand to see him ; but that the Governor did not care to accede to the request without seeing me. After casting the matter over in my own mind f.:r a minute, I told the warder that I did not mind the woman being admitted, but that the two ought to be very closely watched during the interview. The man re-entered the prison, and within a few minutes the woman was called in. Punctual to my time, I crossed over to the prison, and found my charge waiting for me. hia wife being atill with him, and no one in the room but the Governor. Contrary to my expectations, the prisoner held up his wrists and submitted to be handcuffed with the moat lamb-like docility. When we got out into the street I suggested, as there was time to spare, that the stalwart pair should have a bit of breakfast at my expense before sta t ng on the'journey for town. I thought the woman seemed a little taken aback at my invitation; however, it was acceded to, and we entered the inn parlor, where I requested the landlady to produce a plentiful supply of ham and eggs; and, as the pair preferred ale to tea or coffee, I ord jred them a pint apiece I had, of course, to un!ock one hand in order to allow my prisoner the free use of his knife and fork; and after what I had heard the night before, I thought it was rather a risky thing for me to do, as, though he might not attempt to do me any mischief, it was just possible he might try to inflict Borne seiiouß mischief on himself. All, however, passed off safely, and when breakfast was finished I told him he must wish his wife good-bye, as I did not want to attract any attention at the railroad station. A kiss was accordingly exchanged, the bracelets were again adjusted to his wrists, and we set off at a brisk pace. When we got to the station I learned that the next "up" tram was an express, and that I would have to look sharp, as it might be expected immediately, and made but a brief stoppage. The train, in fact, came in almost to a minute after the iaformation was communicated toma, and I hurried acro:s the platform, got my man into a secondclass c image —the compartmbnt I had only just time to notice was empty. The whistle sounded and the train was beginning to move, when the door was flung violently open, and in jumped the prlsoaer's wife, taking her seat right opposite me. Tksre was but time for the porter to elam to the door, when we were off. It need not be said that I was very far from b2ing satisfied with the look of things, aud that I had made up my mind to be carefully on my guard. I said nothing, being fully determined not to betray any uneasiness, though it must be owned I felt much. Before we had gone any great way, my prisoner turned sideways to me and said : * Master, my missus and me have some small matters of cur own we would like to talk: over, and, as they don't concern you in the p'raps you wouldn't mind looking out of the winder for a minute or two whilo we have onr tal".'

' That I could not possibly do,' wai my immediate answer. 'My duty is to keep you always under my eye and control; and, beside?, cs you have just said, your domestic arrangements can he a matter of no concern to me, eo you can discuss them as freely as you please without minding my presence. This answer seemed to disconcert both of them ; but, as by way of compromise, I at the same time leaned toward the window of the carriage for a moment and glanced oatside. My hearing is sharp enough now, but at the time I speak of was even more acute. Just a 3 I turned my head I heard or faucied I heard the man whisper the words, 'Both together.' Instantly the suspicion Hashed across my mind that these words related to myseif, and I turned round and faced the couple in a moment. What I saw in the expression of each of them seemed to warrant my acting with immediate do ciaion. I seized the man between his manacled wrists so that he coald not raise i.is hands. With an instinctive thought I plunged my right hand into tho pocket of my pilot coat, pulled out tho pistol my mate ha 1 handed to me, cocked it with my thumb, and holding it within a few inches of the face of tho woman opposite, I looked steadily into her eyes, and said, with emphasis ; ' If you attempt t > stir before we roach the next station you will certainly be a dead woman.' It was something fearful to notice the immediate change on that woman's countenance. She became of a palid whiter ess, and her lips had the purple-bluish tinge that indicates so unmistakably an excess of deadly fear. In tho hig .ly dramatic positic ns I have just described we speel until the next stopping station was reached, and that occuvieel fully more than twenty minutes, Tho moment the train came to a Etop, I thus addressed the woman, keeping her 'covered' with the muzzle of my pintol : ' Leave the carriage ; and if you value your liberty, make what speed you can to get into hiding.' She disappejred instanter ; and I felt a hoavy load of anxiety lifted off my mind as she left us, for. of all tho encounters I most hate, an ebcounter with a woman is to be clasecd foremost. From the moment I eaw the change in her face indicative of such interne fear 1 knew I was master of the situation ; but still I was glad to be rid of all further riak of a struggle. Not a word

which we were no great while in reaching, and where I duly delivered him into sufe keeping at Bow street police office. Next morning I had to conduct my prisoner to Woolwich, there to deliver him to the authoritiea of the hulks from whom he had obtained his ticket of-leave. He seemed to have recovered from the scare of the day before, and on our journey spoke freely enough, and with an earnestness that left no doubt of the truth of his communication. 'Master,' said he, 'I am main glad yon kept your head yesterday, and di 1 not lean out of the winder. Had you done so, missus and I meant to have pitched you out and taken our chances after of getting off.' • I was not so very likely to be so easily put off my guard,' was the laconic answer. ' Ay, but, master, your danger was not over then, for missus and I had made up that she was to pin your arms—and she cou'd a done it easy—while I wai to smash your head with the "darbies." We would then a took the key, got off the bracelets, and heaved you out a winder afore you could come to yourself. That pistol fairly put ua out, for it cowed missus, and sho ißn't easily cowed, I tell ye ' ' But the pistol was not loaded ' said I; * nothing but a cap and an empty barrel' ' All the same master ; I'm main glad we failed. Now I thought it over, I know I could not have escaped. It was known I was left in your charge, and that missus joined us. When your body was found, we'ed a been spotted at once, and most likely both on us would a swung for it. I'm main glad, I tell yon, that you got out of the mess, and I don't bear you no ill will for having done your duty as a man and a hofficer.' Never before, to my knowledge, had I been in such deadly peril, and truly thankful did I inwardly feel for the providential escape I learned I had just made. I was glad to hand my murderous-minded charge over to the care of the officers of the Defense, and I am thankful to add that I never heard more of him, or have I wished to do so.