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Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

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I SPLENDID OPPORTUNITIES.

---. THE MURDER IN THE IRUE…

HOW TO MAKE DRAPERY FIREPflOOF.

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;¡,.L.■M Glamorgan Antiquities.…

-----. ALONE.

-.---.---._--WOMEN OF BUSINESS.

THACKERAY'S VIEWS OF DEATH

---'-----------THE CAPRICIOUS…

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EXPERIENCES OF A DETECTIVE.

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Dyfynnu
Rhannu

EXPERIENCES OF A DETECTIVE. -I By James McGovan. NO. 45.-A SECRff SOCIETY. u 1111 T i» wonderful bow quick some criminals are to notice a popular mania and turn it to account. fttllutter11 way in which I have repeatedly son tbje done would put honest folks to shame, and ttiake them envy the sharp intellects that eeuld devise such clever swind," At the time at which the following incidents occurred, all the talk was about secret societies. There were secret societies in Russia, Spain, Italy, and France, whose ramifications extended deep into the heart of this Country, and whose decisions affected weightily even British nubjects. Men were trepanned, smuggled off, and otimi secretly mur- dered, simply because their interests and those of the mysterious society were at variance. So raved the public, with a gteat many additions too men- su,nes and absurd to notice here. yow it is easy for; calui on-looker to see that titis state of things showed a remarkably good opening for any criminal cursed with some ingenuity, a moderate education, and a talent for u»b>tt»Hi0g and wholesale lying. But then, when a life is threatened, it is not surprising that calm reasoning ilies to the winds, and the read iost-looki ag loophole of escape is eagHrly rushed at. A threat of death might paralyse the bravest for a time, but when the affection and fears of a weak woman were mwle the grand lever, the only wonder is that perfect success did not come. I need imot any that, tbnagii; fur it is the exorablo fate of criminals, gamenters, and trick. sters all the Wofld over-raucli would have mote and so lost alJ. In another respect, too, this case is both curious and interesting. A peculiarity in handwriting is not a very likely thing; to attract attention or pro- crace great results, and yet only notice bow flinch here biased upon it. I ha ve a good memory, whieh Is no more a boast than to say I have a big nose or a sharp eye. Let my readers prize the lift it they are similarly observe in the present case how tr• #1 ng an aid it may require to accOttpfish a seeming feat—the tracking of a very supple and gunning criminal. One morning in November the postman down on the Bennington district left two letters at the vilis of Mr Alex. Lennox, shipowner. One was addressed in a bold round hand to Miss Millie Letanfi*, and was thick to the feel and the other was addressed in the same hand to the owner of tie villa himself, an i felt exceedingly thin, as if it bad tton little more than an empty envelope. Both letUrs bore tLe Edinburgh postmark, and, bein* lbid n the breakfast table together/were take* up and canned curiously, after a woman's fashion, by Miss Millie, the shipowner's Jau^htAr, the moment she came down. To find that the thickest and heaviest of the tiro .vas Addressed to herself, add in « strange hand, was certainly a surprise, and as her father was not punctual to a mhiute in appearing at the breakfast table, Miss Millie did a very unwise thièR-sh6 opened and Had her letter, and so spoiled her appetite. Some who read the letter, which I subjoin entire, may think this strange; but then this young lady bad a tender, loving heart, and was not duly com- pletely btyund tip in her father, but ready to risk a great deal to save him froth atty pain or d»ft £ 6f. Brides, she bad no one to advifte her, which is perhaps the weightiest consideration of all. Here is the )Ott" "Edmburgh Centre, XXXX. tl Madame,—I, the honoured Secretary of the Gtecret SoeietyOiiff k^NWtCafty tovd the madness to inform ycna that your father's life is in danger, aD4 that that danger you, and you alone, can evett. The course he has persisted ill pursuing in Ititshippititf transactions has been for £ <>ftte tima lttfthly detrimental to our interests. We nevir uoadescend to explanations—we strike! We are abrOaded m night, yet our agents cover the eivilised Itlabo, and when we choose for the benefit 01 mankind to impose rigorous fined, and those Ibm are not paid, it is oflr bond that the wretch Who has the temerity to laugh at our power most oease to live. It is just; for life not the interests of the world greater than those of one sordid robb6r? Yet we do nOt kill like coittmon cut- thaeats. Oof vengeance is secref, but sum and terrible. Law* week a man who had vainly tried to eeeape us by disguising himself as a crfmmon labourer was tt>md drowned in your harbour at UIh, and the arnHmncesMiit of bit death was beaded I Suicido at Leith.' Miserable delusion That man was our victim. Something surer and swifter than yrMu chloroform tonefctd bit lips, &ad tHM he was sent to sleep In a watery bed fot ever. Be injures so one no#. Again, drunken gentle- jba* wts rati over in the darkness and mortally injured while lying in the middle of the road, not far trtna your home. Drank! he wan ttSvej drunk I But yoar newspapers call it a MeL-ut- eboly and of course you mlist believe them. Ah, you British people ate so easily de- seivid but were you much cleverer, our Society oeuld JnMCh your w its and oatmaster them all. But How to the point of which I write, Your father has been fined, merely as & warning, the sm&ll pma of Five Pounds in your Scotch ifi-oriey. He has been informed of the fact, but has toncb- safed no reply. He must hold his life very cheaply —perhaps he does hold it at its real value; but whether tit not. The Dagger now hartgs poised óftt bit bad. lii three days, if the sum is not paid on his behalf, execution will be discreed, Slid from that moment hie life it worth nwthing. If you are disposed to save him, you are permitted to "ad the 11HU to me, under the name Kived below, and addressed to the General Post Offijft, Bdiaburgh, to lie till called for. But think not-dream not, of treachery. Year •very a»ov«nw*t—every memnge you concixit— every word you utter—every letter you.. will be watehed aad reported by oar tecret MreAte i and even though oat of u ibiicht by mischance mrfkst thromrh your betrayal, botb you and fota iatfcer would afterwards be swept from the face at the terth as a Jost reprisal. Jtwtict and Might rule all oar decrees, and they held the sealee with as evea hand ■»» eye for aa eye, a tooth for a teeth, a Hfe f<» a life |-» Of Tow vwy faumbla servant, Caiti BRUOM." Jkffllie Lennox sat down, or rather sank down, w Ow tw' pty flininjr-room, after reAding the ItIbOv" epistle, with every drop of blood driven ffcrtA her clteeks, and all t-IG sytoptonM of a deadly swoon creeping ovar her tenses, She could not lôÔk Ihroutfh the litnay attempt at a foreign idiem, tett the) ingeiiit)um piling up of the agony, and see W)' a wretohed attempt at extortion bdn"th-to her te triing was real, the dagger palpihlo, and the person threatened her father. tnd, 1 do ftgt bloll6v4 that t"t' » JiiomM^t she thought of Withholds# tlii ttilltiig *um ilemaml^d fie* only fA ehiéf concern was trt know >khat the oluot latter omftinod. If, like hdt oWu, it dithUinecl 4 threat, «tt»id she not be do«»g twit to Intercept it, and gave her father tfio pftln shê u}w snflered! She toek C114 lstttr id be., Its old-fl" t it-*eigh^l It- tried even in « flutter of agitati to look tbrodfch but 6«uld iSofne to n <J*eisi6a ift t|>n* lo Ber uttrtr^ «•*<*» h** óII fW table, and Hil. guUtiJy away It !ts to try to call back some colour to bar clieoki, and something like a smile to her lips, before turning to wiih him good-morning. The greeting was made, but the quick eye of the business-like shipowner had caught the letter on the table, and his daughter a agitation was un- noticed. She rang for the breakfast, and then Bitted about the table, apparently adjusting what the servants n-glieence had overlooked, but in reality watching very keenly the opening of the dreaded letter. The contents were a simploslip of paper, on which was very neatly inscribed the representa- tion of a dagger, pointing downwards at the na me, Alexander Lennox." MiHie could barely see that moctr; but she saw ber father change countenance, crash; the slip hastily, aad-toss both it 4nd tb»«nvslope hastily into the tire and the unwonted action caused her to start in fresh alarm. "Something has annoyed you, father," abe put in, with rach great concern on ber white face that it called a smile into his. HIt is some dreadful news—may I share it ?" It is nothing," he cheerfully replied, with the momentary cloud qnite gone from his brow. "Nothing that seeds concern me. Some fool has thought fit to waste a penny in sending my name written on a slip of paper, with something like a long cross above it—that is all." "That is all!" The young lady echoed the words with such ghastly terror written in her face, and something so like tears in her eyes, that her father laughed outright. "Yet. all. Did you think that one of our Tessels had gone down, or that ruin stared me in the fact?" he lightly replied. "Don't look so scared. There is absolutely nothing wrong; so let's have breakfast before everything is cold." Now observe here a peouliarity of the womanly mind. The very fact that her father strove to dispel her fears in this light, bantering way only increased Millie's terrors. The "Secret Society of Retribution was a reality then ? Her father knew of its existence and, though scouting its power, in a manner reared its decisions. She -jaw it written in his fain the fidgety uneasiness with which he watched the note till every scrap was ei)nsumed-and in the unusual silence that fell upon him as the meal progressed. Thus reasoned the affectionate daughter, and her course of action was tery speedily resolved upon. Her father's life was everything to her-worth hundreds upon hundreds of Sve-pound notett pded a fid heaped one above the other—and she would o-aive it though it cuat her all they posMssed. The moment breakfast was over and her father had become absorbed in his paper, MiUio ran up- stairs and sa down at her writing table. A little envelope was brought out and addressed with a shaking hand to "Carl Eiteen," and inside this envelope she pi seed five one-pound notes without one word of explanation. One business habit taught her by her father came in here to some purpose—she carefully took down the numbers of the whole five nute" on the tablets in her port- monie, from which I afterwards had the pleasure of copying them. The letter was sealed and tent out at once, and posted in the nearest box. It reached the General Post office in the forenoon, and was calltid for and given up the seme evening. But tho Secret Society," 6t rather '4 its honoured secretary." was net appeared; for the second day brought the following aote■ Edinburgh Oentre, XXXX. .DWAme.-Sinett the last decree of tite Secret Society of Retribution your father has. again trans- gressed. This time the fine has been doubted. I have, therefore, to request you to pay over, through me, the sum of ten pounds. The alterna- tive i8 that your house would be fired during the night, and probably barnfc to the ground. It is possible that some of the inmates might perish in the fl;«n«*, but in any case your father's life would be declared forfeited. If you are inclined to pay the just deuiand, do not send it to the Post Oiaco as before. There is danger in that quarter- detective* slipping 10 and out, letters opened, and disagreeable enquiries continually being made. Therefor*, I wiil send an agent to the Bomtington Toll to-night, at nine o'clock precisely, to receive the money from your bauds. U Your very humble servant, CAAL Eitz*s." This flaming letter caused the heart ("ithe yr.artg iidy to sink within her, for the faint idea had now dawned upon her that the demands of the "Society" might become insatiable, and yet end, aiuer all, in the destruction of her father md her- self but worse than all was the idea of having to meet th4 M agent," and at nine o'clock foo— exactly the horn when she wax expected to be calmly calling the servants to pt-A yorx. She was young and intelligent, and not without consider- able snlt relianoe, but she was also full of love and affection; and, though she could observe the btiilyrnJr, arrogafli ton* of the «43»fid jitter, she utterly failed to detect the contemptible rascality lurking beneath. It was only wuliimnl,4 instinct that told her that there would be something terrible and /rightful about the interview? with the unknown ruffian, and, as usual, that itigiriet was not far wtrtfcg. A terrible disappointment awaited Iter at the bank, for upon Roiu to draw the money ihe.found that the day .6. a bank holiday. r- She returned, treirtblhlg with fear, and hurriedly ran over ail ner loose tromey hot, even after borrowing--fpofa one of the servant*, she could only inuster ab,mt f seven pounds, and with that in, her hand, and; disgttised in one of the serran^i' shawl*, she slipped out of thdrhmjje-at tha appointed titue anil took ber way to the t- H-bar. Much less would have made Iter faint, but the tboughtthatitwae all for her father—the only being in the world left to her to love-gxve bar a kind of desperate strength and she remained there, clinging to the wall of the ceftietery, aad wishing she was lying peace- fully inside, till the tardy rascal touched her ca tbe arm. He was well muffled npt and for a moment she siMtfsreij, thinking there was something super- natural in his smhlen and noiseless appearance; but his hoarse voice and effected foreign accent soon brottght her to her senses. )1i. 14notox-the money—ten pounds," was all be said, and then a dirty paw wan held forth. I regret to say that to-day was a Batik I h,.A, I a y -"tl)e trembling; girl began, when he interrupted her with a sh u-. and a cruel wrench at httf wriitt. What! you've It"" gone and left it at hefte he cried, savagely twisting her slender arm within his great pawo, or been and peached ? Cur-ie you. if I thought it I'd cut your weasan oa the i¡J6i. A grant stream was rising to the poor girls's ii. hilt with a mighty effort she suppressed it. "Oh, no, i6t) I" she hurriedly answered, shaking in every limb, "but the bank was shut, and I could only g^t seven pounds. It is here take it, and you siiftll liave the rest to-morrow. Ob, for heaven's sake let go my iiffnd and leave me, and X will pniy f<Mf J'ou every day of niy life." B ih ndne of your gospel grinding," growled the ruffim, snatching at the money. Come oil now, deliver ap the rest, or I'll twist the life out of ye. I canut)t-iudeed I cannot V sobbed the poor girl. "I have not a aiiijiliig-nnt a penny bnt what I have placed in your hand* "Your watch, then—you've 4 ticker, t s'pnee?" he inarlid, making a snatch at ttio itilacd; it can be sold for the benefit; of the Society." "Not tilat-ols not that," pleaded the girl, gently detaining the little gold watch. It was my mother's—my mother who is now in heaven. On, leave me that and I will give yori any thing— obker ten pounds even-if you wiil only Wait till to-morrow and in her agitation she sank on her knees on the ditty road before him. His only reply was a wrench which snapped the guard, and sent some of tbe golden links showering down on the ground, while tlte rest, with the wateb itself, went into hie pocket after the money. your moumr's, and then it was yours, and now it's mine," Complacently returned the ruffian and as for the ten pound* you offered me for it, that is already demanded by the S'tc!$ty, Bring it here to-morrow night, or order eottins for youwelf and your father. Remember and obey and with this tr» £ i6 finish to his speech, he re- leMed her wrist with a jerk, strode off, and disap- peared. Mdlie Lennox got back to the villa she never knew how. She was white and eiartmy and faint, and bad the sens* tb get in by the back door and alii) up to her own room, so that no one might be alarmed, or that no troublesome questions might b6 iaked. After a little she forced herself into a kind -if Caithness and glided downstairs, with tan- naturally bright eyes and cheeks like marble, to receive her father's good-night and parting kiss, But the shipowner started back, took her troubled face in his hands, and looked at it keenly ttd anxinnsly. "Millie, you are not well," be said, very ttd anxinnsly. "Millie, you are not well," be said, very gravely. MI am not, father; bet I liow I will be better j ia the morning," she replied with a faint smile, and her loving eyes melting into tears as she lo'dced up in his face. Brate, noble girl j she would not have fjiven him tlie smallest share of her terror afld trouble for worldti upon worlds. The parting was More quiet and tender than usual, though be would have beefi punled to account for it, for be hai not the faintest idea of how much, howtvet blindly, she was enduring for his sake. In the quiet- of her own room, and before allow- ing herself to think, she knelt down end prajed frotfi the very bottom of her heart for help and guidance, and when she rose she felt calmer, clearer in the intellect, and stronger in an infinite degree to grapple with the strange mystery with which she was surrounded. The meeting with the ruffian etylmg himself If tarl Eilzen," if it had nearly frightened her to death, and deprived her of one of her dearest pMeeasiniiK, had at least been fruitful in one w^y —it had planted a doubt in her m>nd as to tbe character of the Society." P6i'hape they were merely a few thieves and ruffians Wnded W»tt« to extort money—perhaps the so-called Society would even dwindle down to one solitary scoun- drel, and that the ftnfl she had that nigbt met. As the doubts stirred and dnieltened, her mind cleared attd brightened, and she beiran to think of some means of escape and in this she was ai«ie« by chanta w- aWiaent. K« aye happa««d t6 fall a "Irdp tif a torn ftew-paper lying upon her toilet table, and in tite conflicting whirl øf thoughts ehe mechanically hftad it and tun ne five over the Ufies. NdUiirtg jwrti^ular attracted her till Ah* on the report <»f ft .grant» street rObaery. of which WAS torn away, btit which Concluded all fellows:— •'Through the activity of Infectives Mtovan and MlSweeney, the scoundrels, after a smart r.t\a!té, 1t. daptiired and loaded in pl'il where tlwv »ir»w 11#, awaiting th»ir tr^l." •nMMWUionMtttetiM thte that chained her over again. It was something like a message or hope. iJeonctiveH I-sl)e had heard of these pro- fessional ferrets, aud even noticed their urines in print in coouectiou with cases of crime and extor- tion similar to that which now oppressed her and if the dreaded Society was a myth, represented by one villain, ix-r hope certainly lay in that blessed word. But this was exactly where she was pulled up. The Society might be reil-slic might be watched—and the first aLtelupt to com- muuicate with detectives only briug destruction upon her own head. An hour passed away, without any solution to this new difficulty, and she tnen went to bed- But to sleep, but to piau and scheme. Before morning she had it all arranged. With the first screak ..f light she was up ana (treased a.ud at her writing table, when she penned the following note to me :— Baltic Villa, Bonuington, Mr M'Govan. "Dear Sir,—I happened to see your name in a newspaper report last night as one of the Edin- burgh detectives, and have taken the liberty of applying to you for help in Mease requiring, I tear, scuch secrecy and tact, as well as skill and bravery. I am inclined to suspect that I have beeil made the victim of unjust extortion and rob- bery but the ptirticuljir4 are too intricate to detail here aud I would feel deeply grateful if you would let me know (iecraly) when I could have the privdege of an interview with you. I am afraid the house is watched, so that, it you are to help me at all, you must be cautious in every movement. I must say, too, that I would not like my father to be troubled with a knowledge of the matter, as his health is delicate, and any un- due agitation might prove fatal. Millie LJMNOX." Having sealed this note and addressed it to me, she mace up a little parcel with it—some news- papers, and another little slip-and sent the whole up to a grocer iu Prince's-street, an old tried friend of ber father's, and he in return, as re- quested, sent the note up to the Head Office, where I opened it, and it opened my eyes. At first I thought it had been penned by some insaue person, but a little reflection convinced me that there was something fearfully earnest in the whole tone of tbe thing; aud in the course of the fore- noon I banded her a reply, which was safely delivered into bdr own hands by a fish-hawker ou whom we could depend. The result was that, about five o'clock tJut. afternoon, I disguised iny- self and called personally on the lady, when she laid the whole of the tuvia before me, uXaotly as I have here detailed them. The moment this was done I hastened to emphatically as-ure her of my firm conviction that ttie whole was an extortion- ate s,windlf, emanating, in all probability, from one man alone. '• Can you think of no one likely to Attempt sach a think t I uleau, one well acquainted with either your father or yourself ?" There is no one—indeed, we are all very qulet and retired since my father gave up his offiue in Leith, aud I ani convinced have not a single eneuvy." ihat is not uecesaary," I putin j "aman may bo greedy or envious—* low thief—without being an enemy; but it dce-s seem to me that this raacal has some knowledge of both you and your father, aud your circumstances as well. Do you think you could identify him if ho was arrested and placed before you ?" I Am almost certain that I could not," was the datnpinir reply. His face was muffled nearly to his eyes, his Ilat slouched down, and the place rery dark. The eyes I might know, for their dreadful glare has haunted me ever since." It is unfortunate," I remarked, folding up the two threatening letters and securing them in my pocket-book, "but perhaps we may secure liio without yonr assistance. I have an idea in con- nection with these letters which may prove a clue to the writer. In the meantime I need sCiircely aiI: you to say nothing of the alfair to anyone—even your father ?" You may depend on my silence," replied the young lady, with a beaming look of thankfulness and gratitude, "and oh, Mr M'Grovt»n,if you only succeed in layiug the dreadful plot bare, and relieving us of this terror, I don't know what there i. that my father or myseif will not do for you. We are all in all to each other, and a kind- ness done to the one is instantly felt and recipro- oted by the Other. Perhaps you will think me bold in Speaking so freely to you, a stranger; but you have really taken such a weight off my mind llY your sympathetic words and the business-like way in which you have gone to the bottom of the mystery that I cannot but thank you with all my heftrt," and the bright look that shone from her rliatening eyes was so printed on my memory thl't I actually thuilc I see it Unw as I write. This gratitude I have m^t with often when I have been doingf only my ordinary, everyday work, and I must say it forms a sweet and refresh- ing contrast to the liberal abute that is sometimes heaped on our heads. I don't think, either, that the ffTritefui ones were evsr the losers by showing their feeling. I question, indeed, if any kind action is ever thrown away in this world >of ours— it may be lost to us, but the fruit duly appears and gladdens someone. I got up to the office in double quick time, re- ported the case, and inquired for M'Sweeney, He was lIut-glme home to his dinner and tea, after a lonar trudge-so I took my way out to the Pleasarce to his house, and while he con- tinued his huge bites at his toast, I produced the two threatening tetteM, and held tiieiii out un- folded before his eyes. "Look at the writing well," I said. "Observe all its peculiarities, the boldness of the IlAud, and yet the jagged squareness and sharpness of the letters, and tell me if you remember seeing a hand like it btlfore 1" M'dwteney dropped the toast, wiped his fingers, and took the letters in his hand. Then he held them out at artp's-length^ peered, at them side- ways, traced thb letters with his big finger, and thea slowly slapped his hands together, letters and li. I hfcve," was his laconic and emphatic reply. Where 1" I eagerly and quickly added. His brow fell, a puzzle 1 look flitted ftoross his faae, and then he slowly scratched with his fingers in her red hair till it stood up like a whin bush. The devil I don't know," he said at last, with a crestfallen look. "Bother take you, that's just where I'm pulled up myself," I returned, not sure whether to smile or lose my temper. Think agsiri-xcr." your brains, for my sake, for I'm certain we liUve both seen it in some CAM we have worked at together." He shoved himself back from his tea and toast, pored into the letters even more determinedly than before, and then brought his hand down on the edge of the table with a ringing thump. It The devil 1 I don't know," be said, more em- phatically than before. "Stop now-we must get at it," I said, as quietly as J could force my"f to speak in the ex- citement of the moment. Let us go about it systematically. Il1 the first Placo, it is a good business hand—written by one accustomed to use the pen-a clerk, probably, at some time in his life. Now, wbeu did we help a clerk into limbo ?" 011. let's see," and M'Sweeney's broad finger point came down on his forehead, while his eyes brightened with promise. "We haven't bad one —not this year, I should say, ut the least-tiot since that one in the shipping office in Leith, who trifd the begging-letter dodge." Down csrae my hand on the table this time, with N crash chat niicie it'd owner jump. "Can you remember any of the namfnl r. I eaperly dmrisnded. "The o-snorti of the office were Lennox and FultOD," lie answered, after a moment's thought. But they were gentiortien, atid had nothing to do with the swindle. It wm the clArk-Jet me see, what was his name?—Turton—S-im Turton—I remember it all now-he got nine months for it." Gooci-and the letteri he o«ed must oe stowed away somewhere up at the office now," I aoded I will gonp and have a hunt for them, and com- pare them with these. If the handwriting is the same, and the description tallies with a face I saw not so uniny days ago. I know as surely where to clap hands on him as I do to grasp that cup." "Good, me b,)y-x,)o,.] that's business," res- ponded M'Sweeney, resuming his sittilek upon the toast with great alacrity. Of Now, tell us what it i8 al.1 About," I did tell him, and by the time I was doue he had finished his meal, and was ready to accom- pany me on tny hunt. « Odr firtt visit was to the Ifead Office, where we hid iftti a long, wearisome overhaul of books and papers that I Lwin to think we should never get any further. But M'Sweeney's hints had quick- ened my own memory, and bit by I)it a hazy out- line of the defaulting clerk's appearance had collie back to me, till, making due allowance for the brutalising effects incidental to crime, I had little doubt as to his identity with a very suspicious lookiug customer I had seen loiteriDg at the mouth of James's Court, up in the Lawn Market, a few days before. We came upon the requisite des- criptions, letters, and records at last, and then nearly all our suspicions were confirmed and the links of evidence complete. I at once despatched two men to watch Bonnington Toll, as it Was getting on for uine o'clock, while M'Sweeney and I took out way up to the L iwn Market. At the tnftutti of the entry I stopped, and dropped into a little grocer's shop to make inquiries. Do you know a man who sometimes lounges ttbout here at the entry-mouth—a man with very d-à. big Ayes, aDd ,,¡ublJily dressed, as if he had seeu better day at" was my first important question. "That's the man that> aye beetin' his wife, an' ha a sick wee h..irn. and is never sober when ho Oan gfct drink?" inquiringly responded the Wcniian; "if it's him, I 41jould think I dae, deein' that he's run up aa account wi' me that he'll never pay." Aa account? What uanle did he give? "0", I dint", suppose that matters muckle," laughingly answered the woman, taking down one of her shop-books. "They've a' sorts o' names beta, an' they're no tied tae ane. But ye can took at it for yerself—it's Samuel or something." I looked at the book and then grinned into M'Sweeuey's face M I pointed to the name which had Men ingeniously inverted, and there read— IT. Saffluel A new way of putting Sam Turton," I re- marked in his oar; then turning to the woman litiLid-"Yt)u said he would never pay—here I find that he has paid one pound to accotmt only the day before yesterday." •* Ha, ha yes, that's a guid ane," laughed the woman. I wan 6y for him there, Only think, he sect in for cliarifce o' a pound-the first thing I had ever eeen in his hand-and I stuck tae it, and tell't him to bring in the rest as quick as he likit. He <*?' in and kickit up a row and threatened the police, but when I said I wad pit them after him, he Mine took in his horns and walkit oot o' the whop." Did you keep the note ? Do you think you have ik now ?" I at;kul with the utmost interest. Deed have t. I feared it was n bad one, aa' took it doon tae the batik tae see, an' I have it in my purse yet. Here it ill," and filii ahe held it out I tremblingly opened my pocket-book and ran my eye nvèr the ummberi of the notes furnished me bv Lenncx, The second in tbe list (No. 194) corresponded exactly with the note the woman now held up. I took possession ot the note it once, giving the woman auother in it* pla&t and then inquired the whereaboats of Mt Samuel's abode. Ob, it's easy enough found—«tha first stair in and the tapmost flat in the stair; but ye'll never got inside the door," answered the woman with a look of experience. "Plenty tried it already— for they're aWlu' a' roond abooa-but couldna manage it." Not at all daunted, we got down the entry and began to ascend the stair. About half-way up- I being first and M'Sweeney a little behind—a man brushed past me iu the dark. I don't know who did it, but the moment he was past me I turned and shouted— "Hullo, you," so sharply that he started and faced me involuntarily. Do you know anyone at the top of this stair?" I asked, trying to get a look at his face through the darkness. A man with a wife and chdd." What name 2" he gruffly asked. amuel." He started at the word—gave one keen look in the direction of my face-nnd then shuffled on in double quick time. Don t know him," was all I heard him say a3 he siipped past M'Sweeney and ran lightly and swiftly down, just asmyxhaip whistle rang out in my chum's astonished ears. Stop that man stop him I shouted, or we're done 1" M'Sweeuey recovered himself in a moment,and, like myself, got dowa after the flying figure whole stairs at a time. I may state that he fell down some of them but that is neither here nor there. We reached the entry-moutn together, and just caught a glimpse of our man dashing across the street and down the old Bow towards the flight of steps running down to Victoria-street. Our hoarse cry drew a crowd in a moment; but the chase was destined to be a, short one, for just as he reached the top of the stone steps his feet went backward from under him, on the wet, slippery ground, and down the stairs be went, like as if shot from a cannon's mouth. We picked him up on the landing beljw, stunned and bruised, and carried him up to the well, which was pumped on his head till he groaned and opened his big glaring eyes. You've hurt me," lie said faintly my side is crushed. Oh, for heaven's sake, carry me to a doctor's." "There's one waitin' for ye, my jewel, where ye're g"i"g" returned M'Sweeney, treating the whole as an exquisite piece of shamming; but before the words Were well out of his mouth the man tried to move himself, and in tho effort fainted clean away, I was now convinced that lie was seriously hurt, and had him placed on a shutter aud carrie(i swiftly down to he office, whore it was speedily announced that two vi bis ribs were fractured, and that so badly as to necessitate his removal to the Hospital. Next m< rning I called on Miss Miliie Lenaox, and gave her the full particular" of the arrest. I here observed the difference between the injured and the injurer. Ho went to Hospital cursing the man's hands that wero ministering to his re- covery but no sooner did the young lady know that the guilty wretch had once been her father's clerk,and that lie had 11 poor, haIr-starved wife and sick child depending on him, ttti-n with tears in her eyes she implored me to help her to devixa some moans of making the sentence light for him. Nor did her goodness end there. Tin wife and child were at once hunted out, and so be- friended as to be quite out of the reach of want; jellies and otlier deitcaoies were concocted for the sick man by the lady herself, and many a time did she visit him personally, and sit for whole hoars reading at his bedside. And was his beartt atone to all this kindness ? I am glad to say that it was not. I myself one day saw him start np4 in Bptte of the pain the movement cost him, and | wat her gloved hand with tears, as he asked her in a brokan voice to "Pray for him, that he might be a better man." Before he was well enough to take his trial, I believe he would have gone down on his knees and kissed the vary ground s-lie walked on. I don't know how we managed it, but the sen- tence was very light to what it might have been -one year's imprisonment. If I remember rightly, the threatening letters \Yéte never brought up against him at all—th« charge being simply rob- hery with violence The watch, I may mention, wai recovered in one of the pawnshop*, and was ticking fanf. in the lady's pocket on the day of the trial; but I question if it went faster than the heart of the prisoner, as, in being removed, lie bent over the hand of the fair witness who had spoken so lightly of his crime, and so tenderly of Ins reduced CirCnmstancw. As soon as his sentence was completed, S un Turton, with his wife and Child, wer$;provided with free passages to Smith Australia, where I have no doubt they began a new and batter life. The benefactor, I need scarcely say, was Miss Millie Lennox, who I dare- say has since got a. good hnsbaud, and may now without blushing bear me say that she deservsd one.

IT OCCASIONALLY FAILS TO WORK.