A PILL FOR THE DETECTIVES.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1074, 17 August 1883, Page 4

A PILL FOR THE DETECTIVES.

LITERATURE.

When 'Fergus Bellamy left Wolveiv hampton with a portmanteau, which was so heavy that it look the united strength of three porters to lift it into the luggage van, the' local superintendent of police felt it to be his duty to; communicate by telegraph with his superiors at Scotland yard. For. Fergus had only been at Wolverhampton a few days, and no one knew from whence he came or what his business was. Even in the billiard room of a second-rate hotel, where he spent his evenings, he proved himself to be an unsociable fellow. Not only did he answer in monosyllables such commonplace remarks as were addressed to him, but he so far omitted the ordinary courtesies of the place that he never offered to treat the marker to a drink or a cigar. On reaching St Pancras, Fergus evinced great anxiety that care should be taken of his portmanteau, and no wonder, for it was apparently new, and boro his initials in large green letters. If the value of its contents could be judged by its weight, it was precious indeed. After seeing it deposited on the roof of a four-wheeled cab, and discovering from a time-table that a train from Birmingham was due in ten minutes, the traveller devoted himself to obtaining all the news of the day in a strictly economical manner by reading the contents bills of the papers that were exposed on the book stall. Within a few minutes of the advertised hour, the Birmingham train arrived, and as Bellamy stepped forward to greet the acquaintance for whom he bad evidently been wailing, he was unaware of the immediate proximity of Inspector Grabham, of the Detective Department, and of the interest that experienced officer was taking in his movements. Nor did he notice that the inspector was taking care not to miss a word of the following conversation : 4 What message from; master ?’ asked Bellamy, in a somewhat excited tone ‘ Nothing more but that he’ll be up the day after to-morrow. It must be dbne before then. Yon have . the materials, and the papers are herb,’ replied the other, glancing downwards at, a small carpet bag that evidently comprised a 1! his luggage ; c we must join N.G. at once.’ With a reciprocal wink, the two got into the cab which had been wailing, and the driver was ordered to go to the Sprig of Shillelagh, Inspector Grabham followed in a hansom at a reasonable distance. ;The hotel selected by the friends was but a very humble hostelry at Islington. Its proprietor, an Irishman named O’Flaherty, parried on a fairly prosperous trade during the cattle show and Derby weeks, but at the arrival of three new visitors in the off-season, he was considerably surprised. His astonishment abated a little when he found that they, were all of one party, for the boots was told to infoira Mr Nathaniel Gavan that Mr Bellamy and Mr Isom had arrived. The first-named came at once from the private sitting-room he had engaged and cordially welcomed the others. More than this, he hospitably manifested deep interest in the welfare of Bellamy’s portmanteau, which, after consultation amongst the three, was ordered to be taken to Mr Gavan’s private sitting-room, a fact immediately noted by the watchful detective, who by this time was consuming, with remarkable deliberation, a bottle of beer at the hotel bar. Had Fergus Bellamy, David Isom, and Nathaniel Gavan known that the hilarious gentlemen who dined at an adjacent table was Inspector Grabham and two other detectives, whose duty it was to watch their every action and remember every word they spoke, it is probable that they would have eaten in privacy up-stairs rather than in the public coffee-room.-' Certainly they would not have accepted the hospitality of their neighbours ; but drink is responsible for making an acqn dntonceship, and when the beefsteak and Welch rarebit which constituted their modest meal was demolished, and Isom ordered ‘ three whiskies hot,’ it was but natural that they should feel grateful for Inspector Grabham’s offer (made in a north-country accent), to partake of a bottle of O’Flaherty’s oldest'port. This was not a beverage to, be despised, for it had been in the cellar nearly six months, ever since the bankruptcy of a grocer in the next street, when the la ndlord of the Sprig of Shillelagh had the whole remaining stock of seventeen bottles for thirty shillings. After the first glass round had been held np to the light, submitted to the nasal test, and disposed of, the zealous police-officer opened his heart to his guests. 1 1 have just come up from Bradford, travelling in the dry goods line. Maybe, Mr , I have not the pleasure of yonr name. Thank yon, Mr Bellamy. • Maybe yon know the town. I’m going round London to-morrow to some of our City houses. Con I be of any service lo you, or perhaps you are at the same game, eh ?’ The Inspector might have spared himself the trouble of trying to extract information either by straightforward questioning or cross-examination, for the three conspirators excused themselves early on the plea of fatigue, after discussing nothing but the wine, the weather, and the extortionate charges of London cabmen. As O’Flaherty was closing his bar some three hours after his guests had retired to their respective rooms, he was surprised by a visit from a policeconstable in uniform, followed by Inspector Grabham and another man. He recognised the latter as customers who had dined and paid so well that evening, and assumed that they required accommodation for the night. However, lie was soon undeceived, and in a startling manner. ‘We are police officers of the de-

tc'divc department. You have now in your house-—a licensed house—three

dangerons characters,’ said the Inspector, ... sharply, ' mentioning their names. ‘ When did they arrive?— quick ! We have no time lo lose.’ O’Flaherly -was terribly frightened, and spluttered out words to the effect that Gavan had come first and the others later in the afternoon. Gavan evidently had expected them, and had hired a sitting-room. They all had luggage, and he know no more, except that they had dined and gone to bed early. ‘ Lead the way to the sitting-room,’ replied the inspector. He then gave some instructions to the constable, who passed them on to others, waiting outside. Grabham and his companion followed the landlord, who trembled as though he was the responsible culptit. -The bedrooms being- on an | upper storey, the officers ran but little danger of being disturbed in their search in the sitting-room. Some writing ma e- ials were on tbo table, and by carefully revising the blotting paper, the inspector was able to make out that the following letter had, been written ‘ The Sprig of Shillelagh, ... Islington.’ ‘ Dear Master, —So far all well, Wo have the materials, and will goto work. Next day yon shall- hear from ns whether we are to sink or swim. N.G. arrived, — Having deposited the blotting-paper in his pocket, Grabham continued the search, ami to his surprise and delight found that Bellamy's portmanteau, was still in the room. It was, however, seenredy locked ; but .the inspector’s companion was prepared for this contingency, and with the aid of skeleton keys soon opened it. ‘Yon scoundrels,’ muttered the inspector, ns, after turning over the contents and pointing some of them out to his subordinate, he 'quietly' closed and again locked the portmanteau ; I think we’ve got yon this time. Now to find out ‘ Master,’ and Inspector Grabham will be Mr Superintendent, and have a money reward, too, may bo. Come along; I’m satisfied with this day’s work, anyhow.’ (To he continued.)