LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1747, 25 September 1879, Page 3

LITERATURE.

LEMONFMGERS. ( Concluded.) ' Telegraph to each 3tation where the train has stopped,' eald Mr Choop, • till you discover at which 02a of them the man and woman got out.' So I telegraphed.four stations without sue-, cess, but the fifth,-.answered : * Yes. The individuals you mention reached hare by„ the eight o'clock a.m. train.'

' I'll have yottj yet. Jemmy Riley,' exclaimed Mr Choop with a grim smile. ' Fred, if you would like- to see a bit of fun and would like to 30 with Timothy and I, you are welcome. 3 * As the clock struck twelve we found oarselves at Fnlwood station—Mr Choop, Timothy, and myself. After making 41-few inquiries of tbe station-master, Mr Choop sent Timothy.in one direction, while he and I took another. Mr Choop put options questions to-several individuals, but without gaining an?:, positive information. Neither was Timothy.—when we met him-j-able to furnish any* satisfactory intelligence. Mr Choop considered for a few minxes. 'lt must bo. as I suspected all along,' he said, at. lost, *we shall find them at the Ten Tramps. Step out lads j beat leg foremost.

We left the village at a rapid pace, and still keeping on the high road}, got into a ba*rcn moorland country. Fields, hedgerows, and trees were left behind, until at length we were shut in. on every side by swelling hillocks of moor,] which swept away, aa far as the eye could reach and bound the horizon with their sinuous, graceful ■ lines. Following the gpidanoe of Mr Choop, we quitted the high road after a time, and came to a halt -ander the lee of a j higher hill than common. Mr Choop, taking offius hat, clambered up tile hill and took a Btealthy look over its summit. He then beckoned me to follow* Peeping over, I-'. fOund that we were on tits summit of a ridge of country, from which .the road swept dovzn i»io a small valley, in the middle of whioh, and close to the high road, stood a btm\U square house. * The Ten Tramps. I dare wager |that Jim Riley and wife are in that house,''said Mr Choop. 'lt is,, a notorious gathering place for all the rogues in the district/' Mr Choop descended and he and Timothy held secret council some fonr minutes. Then Timothy opened a. small bundle—brought all the way from Newstone—and proceeded with much gravity to induct himself Into a waggoner's blu,e smock frock, plentifully braided and buttoned after the fashion in which waggoners delight. Ho next turned up the bottoms of the fustian, trousers, so as to bring into more prominent view his laced up boots ; then he gave his hat a prssh back and his hair a pull forward, and set off" at a swinginging pace in the.direotion oS the Ten Tramps, whistling the plough-boy as he went. Mr Choop and I phased the next half -' hour together, smoking rigars and discussing various matters, wi'jb. a glance over.the. hillock every two or three minutes in the. direction of the inn •Why not wait tiil night,' I 1 asked MjrChoop, ' when you could approaah the house, ■without being seen r? 'Because after dark we should be pretty , sure of finding half a dozen rough customers there, who worjd mike the. matter awkward.' « Then why oot take half a dozen men with you so as to avoid all risk ?' 'What credit would there be in that! When Timothy and I fail it will be time enough to call in other assistance. There he is!' Timothy wis lounging against the doorpost, smoking a long clay pipe. While we wero watching him he took off his hat and scratched hla head vigorously, a second time, And a third time. • All right,' said Mr Coop. ' That wan *he signal. Lend me your cap, Fred, and take my hat; I don't want Riley to reoognlge. me until J get into the house.'

Having made She transfer, we set off, Mr I Choop wa(iiag-"with an assumed limp. Timothy was still smoking his pipe at the dcor" when wSrVcschsd the inn. 'Foineday, master.' 'Very fine, man,' said Mr Choop. ' What sort of a tap have you got here ?' 'Ob, toidish. Ijbn'll foind the landlord somewhere insoide. All the women folks seem to be gone'cufr'aoTiewhere.' • Two glasses of your brst ale, landlord,' exclaimed Mr Cheep to a burly, red-headed man with a villanous countenance, who came forwa'd, scowling SEepiciously. The landlord's back was hardly tamed, before a quick whisper was exchanged between Timothy and Mr Choop. We were lighting the cigars when the landlord retzraed with the a'e. He Bhowed us into a small : room, and we left the countryman smoking at the door. He seemed to be a thirsty souij this countryman, for he called for glass after glass as if fully determined upon; getting drunk in the shortest possible time. Her drank eo much that the landlo-d's big jug was exhausted, and he lighted' ! a candle to draw more ale. Hardly had the landlord reached the bottom of the cellar before the door was quickly locked behind him.

Mr Choop'a apathy vanished in a moment. His eyes fla hed, his teeth Glistened, he looked dangerous. *Go you into the garden,' he whispered to me, 'and take your stand below the window on the left. If Jim Riley jumps out, though I don't think he'll have time -lay hold of him and stick to him till I come. Now, Tom, quick and be silent.' Mr Choop and Timothy each pulling out an ugly looking stiff, crept up stairs as stealthily as two burglars, while I hastened into the garden. A mingled noise of shouting and oaths, crowned by a woman's wild shriek, the crash of a falling table, and then the window was flung up, and Mr Darke, dashing madly through, followed closely by Choop. They came down almost together, and rolled over in a fierce struggle. But Mr Darke, twice as strong as his opponent, was uppermost, sitting astride of Mr Chonp. Only Tor ono moment, for the next my arms were around his neck. I gave him a sudden pull buck with all my strength. Choop, now on his feet, whipped out his handcuffs, and had Mr Darke safe and fast before that individual could recover his breath.

At this moment Timothy appeared, escorting Mrs Riley, as I suppose she ought to be called; and carrying, with much care, the small black portmanteau. Mr Choop opened it, and I perceived it to be half full of watches, rings, j):ns and jewellery of various kinds. The woman* now thrown back, showed me the midnight traveller minus the moustache ; a ,bold, forward-looking, goodfeatured woman, bearing her misfortunes with a haughty indifference ■ that excited Timothy's admiration. The landlord kicking at his cellar door, and calling to be let out long before this, was released by Timothy; and very bland he lookod when he beheld how his guests had suddenly come to gritf. By Mr Choap's orders he brought out his horse-and a light cart, and we drove back through the darkening afternoon to Fulwood. Through Mr Choop's indefatigable exertions, the whole gang of burglars was speedily captured. One of them turned Queen's evidence, and it then came out that Mr Riley- was the planner only of the burglaries in wlich they all had boon engaged for some time back, it being his .duty to pick out the premises to be robbed, to make plans of them,: and arrange the details of the attack, leaving to others the -merely mechanical part of the business, and receiving a certain share o! the proceeds for his part of the labor.

Three days after Christmas Day I received a note ,t rom Mr Lancaster, asking me to go over to Ironville, as he wished particularly ,to receive me. Ho received me in his grave quiet way, looked me through and through from under his bushy grey eyebrows, motioned me to a seat, and then spoke i--41 received yesterday morning, from ,Mr Choop, an account of certain events relative - to the recent burglary on my premises.' ' The burglary on your premises, sic ?' < ' Yes. Were you not aware of it ?' ' I was, of course, aware that a robbery had been committed, but was not aware that you were the sufferer.' * Such, however, is the case,' replied Mr, Lancaster. 'Mr Choop informs me. that, it, was through you he first obtained the olue which enabled him to track and capture part of the gang and recover a portion of the stolen property, and that he was .much indebted to your courage and. activity in the capture of Biley. Now, I am not an ungrateftl man ; you have had a liking for my daughter, which, I believe, is returned by her ; but you are not in a position to marry.. I will tell you what I'll do for yov. . I will > take you as an assistant, in my shop .at a moderate salary, and if ,1 find that you bring, into your new trade that amount of intells-; gence and activity which I am told you;posaess, I will advance .you accordingly ; and. providing you and Cary remain in, the samemind another year, 1 jwill not. object to your marriage. Let .me. have your, decision in the morning. You. .will find Caryjn tho parlor.' I need hardly say. that both Cary. and; I are very glad to see .Mr Choop whenever he favours us with a call in our ne,w, heme, and brings us news of Lemonfingcfs, who, now that Mr Riley, is working ontt his penal servitude, is doing _ well as a licensed hawker in the hosiery and Nottingham line.