THE TIMES, NEW BLOOMFIELD, PA EEB11UA11Y 15, 1881.
TRACKING A CRIMINAL,
on
Paul Webber, The Detective.
CONTINUED.
A MINUTE passed, and lo! the con
vict's eyes dropped, the pistol fell
to the ground, and he said, with an
. oath, "I dare not kill him I"
" Then," replied Webber, raising him
self, " I cannot count upon your friend
ship, Langley, and I must live on and
sutler."
"Buffer! what is the matter with
you?" usked thecouvlct. "Are you
Miserable ?"
"As the stones of a Jail. Dut I'm not
here to talk to you of my poor troubles.
Come, there Is nothing more to keep U9
here. Let us tie off."
" Be off yourself, for I won't kill you.
As for me, I stop where I am."
" Not to be thought of, my good Lang
ley," replied Webber, whose ordinary
manner was now gradually returning to
liim. " I swore to arrest you, and I
will. You are a good sort of a fellow In
the main, and so am I. Therefore we
may as well be friendly. You have for
a wife a fine, tall, red-haired woman,
called Sunflower, though really named
Adeia."
" How do you know that ?"
"All the detectives know that, Lang
ley. I can tell you a good deal about
yourself and Sunflower; for we have it
from the lady herself, who, In fact, gave
the Information as to where you were to
be found."
"It's false!" roared the convict.
"I tell you It's true."
"Sooner than hear that Sunflower
had betrayed me, I would die."
" I cau understand that," said Web
ber, with a sigh.
Suddenly Langley seized the pistol,
put It over the detective's heart, and
said, " Swear that my wife has sold me
lo the police, or "
" I swear it," replied Webber, who re
mained quite motionless.
The convict looked at him, and said,
as he stepped back, " You do not lie ;
you are too brave!"
He fell upon a chair, his arms drop
ping to his sides. So that's how it Is I
Haven't seen her for two long days!"
he murmured. "And yet I loved the
wretch as never man loved yet, for she
was the only thing on earth I could
love!"
Then he turned to the police-officer,
and said, " I give myself up; you can
put on the handcuffs."
" What do you take lie fori"' asked
the officer. "Do you think I'm going
to take advantage of a weak moment ?
Never! When you are calmer, we will
see what is to be done."
The gigantic man was sobbing like a
child.
Meanwhile Webber walked up and
down the room hurriedly, murmuring,
" He is happy, for he can shed tears ! I
cannot weep, for my tears choke me !"
A little time more, and the officer,
going to Langley, struck him on the
shoulder, and said, " Come with me.
You shall see Sunflower."
The convict leaped up.
" You know where to find her then ?"
he cried.
"Yes; she's In prison, at Newgate.
She has turned Queen's evidence against
you and others, and though she can't
bear witness against you, being your
wife, she can And others who will. She
did this to get rid of you, for it seems
she Is afraid of you, Langley."
"And you say I shall see her ?"
"At once."
" I'm ready to kill her. Let's go."
" Ready !" replied the officer, and he
and the convict proceeded on their way
to Newgate.
Webber accompanied by Langley,
went down the staircase. The convict
appeared to he utterly unconscious of
what he was doing. Sunflower had
betrayed him. The rest mattered very
little.
They walked up narrow Ewer Street
without interruption, and as they emerg
ed, a cab which happened to be passing
was hailed by the police-con stable.
Giving the cabman the startling order
to drive to Newgate, Webber seated him
self by the side of his terrible companion
on the back seat of the vehicle.
lor some instants neither man spoke
a word. Soon, however, Langley gave
the seat before htm a violent kick, and
cried, " To betray me, who did so much
for her! Have I ever let her want for
anything ? Never! What she wished
for she had. If not by fair means well,
I stole for her. Sunflower has been the
cause of all my crimes every one ; them
the officers know of, and them the offi
cers knows nothing of."
Here-the police-officer suddenly start
ed. Those remarkable last words startled
Webber. " Them the officers knows of,
and them the officers knows nothing
of."
The detective Is always a deteotlve,
whether he Is or Is not tired of life. The
single fact of the criminal referring to
unacknowledged crimes, In a moment
awakened the officer to the exercise of
his calling.
He thought of his plans for a few
moments, and then he said, " It's too
early to see Sunflower. No visits are
allowed before eteven ; and It Is not nine.
Don't you think a good meat breakfast
would help you to support the Inter
view ?"
" Oh, what I have got to say to her
will not take long, so I'll take your
advice as to the meat breakfast."
The cab was soon pulled up before ft
small eating-house.
The two men passed through the
shop, and reached a queer shaped room,
which, at that particular moment, was
quite deserted.
Then, turning to the waiter, Webber
ordered a plentiful meal, and slipping
some silver into the young man's hand,
he added, " Get a bottle of whiskey, and
bring up some hot water, and a couple
of glasses."
As he seated himself opposite the con
vict, he was thinking, " I'm not fit to
be in the police if I haven't made this
strong fool confess everything before he
Is an hour older. Now, what neat crime,
of which the police know nothing, has
this scamp been the perpetrator of ?"
Some haddock being put upon the
table, Webber helped himself, aud began
eating, apparently with a great appetite.
For a few moments the convict remain
ed inactive, but his naturally strong
passions and appetite soon overcame his
grief, if only for a few momeuts, and he
began eating ravenously.
" Have what you like," said Webber,
after a time; remember that you hate
the police, and the police pay the bill.
I've plenty of cash."
" Then I say a good dish of beef
steaks." " The very thing I've ordered, my
bry. Do you feel better?"
" Yes ; but I shall see her, shan't I ?"
"Never broke my word yet, but I'm
afraid you still like her more than you
would care to own."
" No, I hate her," cried the convict,
striking his fist upon the table with a
blow so heavy, that It made the tea-cups
dance again, while it brought up the
waiter in a state of alarm, aud an apol
ogy for having been so long getting the
liquor.
The beef-steaks having been placed on
the table, aud heartily partaken of,
Webber next proceeded to ply his com
panion with grog. He then led on the
conversation to the man's wife, and the
promised iuterview.
" That's it-that's it," cried the con
vict, taking up the spirit-bottle, and
swallowing a huge draught from it.
"Aud'when I've said my say, I'll take
her about the neck with these hauds,
aud she will never, never give mortal
man another kiss."
" Why, man, surely you're not jeal
ous ?"
"Not jealous?"
"No; for If you were jealous, you
would betray her, aud so shut her up In
prison, while you were in prison your
self." " Don't I say I mean to kill her ? Not
jealous me not jealous ?" he screamed,
becoming every moment more excited.
" Why, It was through her I killed the
man!"
" Don't say a word about that," re
plied Webber, "or I should have to lay
information against you."
Webber knew that the more you try
to silence a lover, or a drunken man,
the more confidential he becomes.
"What does it mattter if you do?"
cried the convict, now excited quite
beyond all control. "Since she told
the police where to find me, I'd a deal
sooner die, than go back to Portland."
A little liquor remaining in the bottle
the unhappy convict drank the spirit
out, flung the bottle crashing into the
fire-place, and continued : " I Bay it
again I killed a man, and she was the
cause. It was not long ago last Novem
ber, or late in October. We had a lodg
ing up by Clare Market then. One
night I went home, and upstairs. The
door was locked. I thought she was
out, and I was going down stairs to
speak to the landlady, when I heard
voioes in the room. So I goes down
stairs, out at the door, into a gateway
opposite, and there 1 waits for an hour.
Then the street door opened, and out
come a young man, she standing behind
him. Good-bye,' I heard ber say, I
shall soon see you again.' I don't know
why I didn't rush across and kill him
and her too; I think it was because two
men passed at that very moment sing
ing songs. I followed him as he went
towards the Strand. Suddenly he stop
ped before the gateway at Taggart's
Inn, and he went in. I did as he did;
and then I lost my head, and all I can
remember was a cry his last cry. Five
minutes after I was before her, and I
said, 'I've killed him."'
Here Langley's head fell forward on
the table. All Webber's efforts to arouse
him were ineffectual.
But what more did he seek to learn ?
Details were unnecessary. The story he
had heard waB sufficiently clear.
And while the convict slept the deteo
tlve sat thinking.
After a long pause, he said, almost
aloud, " Graham Forbes deserved what
he got, for he was faithless to the purest
lady that ever lived."
Then, during a whole hour, he was
silent.
At last, the people of the house won
dering that their customers on the first
floor were so quiet, tapped at the door.
The slight sound at once put the deteo
tlve on the alert, and leaping up, he
cried, " Come in."
He added, " My friend here has fallen
asleep, and I thought I would let him
be quiet for a little while. What's to
pay 1 We will be off In a few minutes.
Tell the cabman we are coming."
The waiter having left the room, Web
ber shook his companion, who was only
awakened with difficulty, aud then he
re-commenced asking him questions
concerning the murder at Taggart's Inn.
But the giant had become taciturn and
surly. One Idea, and one idea only,
filled his mind that of seeing his wife.
Two minutes, aud the strange com
panions were once more in the cab, the
horse's head pointed toward Newgate.
No fresh event occurred between leav
lug the eatlng-hbuse and arriving at
Newgate. Langley still under the in
fluence of the quantity of spirits he had
Imbibed, remained quiet In hjs corner of
the cab, while Webber was equally
silent, but more attentive, for his eyes
were kept unceasingly upon his prison
er; his forefinger never for a moment
left the trigger of the pistol to which
so many references have already been
made.
After the vehicle had turned Into the
Old Bailey, Webber called to the driver,
aud making a gesture to the convict to
follow him, he stepped from the cab,
backwards, that he might still keep hla
eyes upon his prize.
" One word, Langley," he said, when
they were upon the pavement, and tak
ing his arm.
" I won't say any more ; I've said too
much as It Is," muttered Langley.
" Don't be afraid ; I.haven't much to
say. It Is simply this : Let us under
stand one another."
"Go on," said Langley, in a tone
which appeared to be almost resigned.
" You wish to see your wife, and I
have promised you that you that you
Bhall have her before your eyes. But
pray remember that the moment you
are across the threshold of the prison
door, you are simply a convict, against
whom every man's hands is raised, and
who cannot be looked after too closely.
Once in Jail, and I can do little or noth
ing for you."
" But you said I should see her, and I
know you'll keep your promise," said
the convict, whose mind appeared only
capable of containing that one eager
idea of seeing his wife.
"Of course you shall see her. But
before we knock at the door, do me the
pleasure of offering me your two hands."
" What for ?"
" These little bracelets."
And Webber produced a pair of hand
cuffs from a side pocket.
" Then be quick ; the sooner the bet
ter," replied Langley, thrusting forward
his hands.
Five minutes afterwards Webber pre
sented himself and his prize in the room
of the deputy-governor.
He walked up to this official, and said,
" I have kept my promise here Is the
man."
" What man ?" asked the deputy-governor,
looking up from his papers.
" The escaped convict, Langley. Here
he is!"
"And it was you who arrested him ?"
" I, and without help. I said I would
do it, and I have done it."
" Webber," said the deputy-governor,
" I thank you in the name of the Gov
ernment. You have rendered the police
a signal service. In an hour I shall
have to be with the Chief Commissioner,
and I promise you that I will say no
harm of you."
"As you will, sir," replied Webber,
"but I beg to inform you that Z want
and will receive no reward for this
morning's work, which has paid me
itself. But I have one favor to ask,
nevertheless, of yourself, sir."
" It is granted, Webber, already," said
the deputy.
" I have made a promise that this
Langley shall see his wife face to face,
without handcuffs. How It can be
managed must be left to you. But I
wish to see this woman myself before
her interview with her husband takes
place. I wish to get some light thrown
upon another affair, and I think she is
able to help me."
" Very well. I won't ask you what
the other affair is. I know you police
gentlemen 11 k to keep your plots dark
until you choose to light them up your,
self. I'll write an order at once."
The line or two written, Webber took
the paper, saluted, and then called in
several jailors, who were waiting to
accompany Langley to his prison.
This strange man this very incarna
tion of brutality offered no resistance
to being put Into a cell. His instinct
told him that any resistance on his
part would retard the consummation of
this sole hope of his life-to soe his wife
once again.
CHAPTEK XIII.
SUNFLOWER'S HISTORY.
The woman called Sunflower was un.
questionably a beautiful woman, pos
sessed of that peoullar pearly, transpar
ent skin which Is generally found in
combination with chestnut hair. She
was distinguished for many of the
charms and more of the drawbacks of
the style of womanhood to which she
belonged.
As for her heart she did not know
what the word meant. Sbe was waste
ful, careless, unwomanly Incapable of
love, most capable of hate ; unable to be
grateful, most able to return evil for
good. In a word, she was one of those
women apparently sent upon earth to
show how utterly thankful we ought to
be that so many women are, as they are
found to be, unspeakably good and mer
ciful. She had been the terror and dread of
her parent's life. Clever and quick, she
had very early in life obtained a knowl
edge of several accomplishments beyond
the ordinary education of those born in
her sphere of life. As she grew up to
womanhood she had lovers In plenty.
She appeared to possess a positive de
light in attracting a new face, and then
in laughing its owner away.
Langley came, saw, and conquered.
Possibly his stupendous height, his vast
voice, and savage, brutal ways, accorded
more with her nature than that of any
of the youths who had fluttered abot
her. It Is certain that she at once
promised to be his wife.
He was below her in position, and he
was only too glad to marry her; not
that he had any hope of obtaining
money with Sunflower, but because he
knew that once his wife, she could not
escape from him during life.
Those lovers she had jilted were bit
terly avenged for her cruelty, though
they never learned the facts. Within a
month of her miserable marriage she
had ascertained the frightful extent of
her error. Sbe had become his slave;
he showed himself to be a positive incar
nation of jealousy. She dared not leave
their lodging without him ; if they were
out together, a mere glance at any man
who happened to pass was sufficient to
enrage him. Finally, within three
weeks of the marriage he had threatened
her life.
Yet he loved her devotedly in his
way, and when she bitterly complained
of being cooped up in a couple of small
rooms, as bitterly he hated himself, that
with all his strength he was incapablo
of earning more than thirty -shillings a
week as a carpenter, for that was his
trade.
Before six weeks were over, she asked
frw liar lltiarft. f irrt wVilfliar elia urmilfl
and to trouble him no more. He lifted
her from the floor, dashed her down,
aud there she lay maimed, bruised,
moaning. Then he flung himself down
by her side, cried like a little child, and
promised that she should have all the
riches she wanted.
So Langley became a thief a burglar.
She fell in with this new and criminal
life with great easiness, for it gave her
luxuries and pleasures. But it was an
existence which sooner or later was sure
to be troubled by the Interference of the
police. A few months, and Langley
was taken in the act, and finally, upon
his trial, went to Portland in pursuance
of a sentence of five years' penal servi
tude. When he was taken, Sunflower (this
was the name Langley himself had
given her) danced for joy, believing her
self freed from him forever so it seemed
to her, so long a time did five free years
appear to her. She was clever, and
with the few pounds she possessed she
paid for learning to work the sewing
machine. Within a week, she was the
lioness of the room of work-girls which
she bad joined, and who bad no idea
she was a married woman. Within a
month, her word was law, and her
power was not any the less that she was
so clever at ber work. But before the
second month was at an end, she sud
denly vanished. Langley had broken
from jail, unable to live away from bis
wife, and she was once more in bis
power.
During six months, he lived, bidden
away from the police in a small village
in Suffolk, where the couple passed a
strange retired life, which ouly half
excited the suspicions of the country
folk. Whether be bad obtained the
money upon which they lived, she
never knew; but in all probability he
stole it between the time when be broke
Jail, and the hour in which be once
more claimed her as his wife.
At the end of those six months, Sun
flower, returning from the village to
which she bad been sent upon some
domestio errand saw him being marched
from their cottage, handcuffed, and In
the custody of four policemen.
" She does love me," was his thought,
when he saw her fall to the ground. Iu
reality, she had fainted from sheer ex
cess of Joy. Often and often during
those six months, she bad thought of
denouncing him herself, but the fear of
his discovery of her treachery prevented
her. The woman's instinct told her
that be would destroy her if he learned
that she had even thought of betraying
bun. '
" Let me kiss my wife."
It was these words which she heard as
she recovered her senses.
" I could stop in prison all my life if
you was with me, my Sunflower," he
said, as he held her to his breast, for be
had passed bis huge meuacled arms over
her head, aud. thus held her close to
him.
That night, she returned to London,
and next morning presented herself in
the old work-room. AgalA she was wel.
corned, but by this time she was slipping
down in life.
Whether falsely accused or not, it is
certain that within three months of this
time, sbe stood charged with an attempt
to commit theft, and she was sentenced
to six months' Imprisonment.
Such was Adela Coulton's life up to
that morning when Webber was about
to vlBlt this unhappy woman.
As Webber entered the police-cell In
which Sunflower was temporarily plac
ed, she was lying on her mattress, her
flowing hair lying over her chest, she
playing with the long locks after the
manner of a child. A chance line of
sunlight fell upon the face and this
luxuriant hair, making her appear at
first sight Inexpressibly beautiful.
Any other man than Webber, must
have admired this dazzling woman ; but
he, in the terrible bitterness of bis heart,
despised her.
He closed the door behind him as she
started up.
"So young woman," Webber began,
without any preamble whatever, "here
you are, in prison again ?"
"Yes, here again," replied Sunflower,
In ft loud, hard voice. " Prison Is a par
adise to me, and liberty is torment."
" So," he said, "then It does not suffice
for the happiness of a pretty woman
' that she can boast of having the tallest
man in London for her husband ?"
She drew herself up, and said, "You
know him, do you ?"
" Happily for me, not so well as you
do," replied the policeman ; "but I do
know him."
"As for me," she said, "I hate him."
"Well, my girl," replied Webber,
"you may try and be happy, for, thanks
to the Information you gave us, Langley
has been arrested."
"Taken!" she cried, drawing herself
back; "is he really taken? and who
dared to take him?" she asked, almost
below her breath.
"I did."
She looked at the officer up and down.
At last she said slowly, "So you really
did arrest him, did you sir ?"
" I did, and alone."
Suddenly she leaped forward, caught
the officer's band, and kissed it.
"Very kind and civil on your part, I
dare say," said the officer, quite insensi
ble to this caress ; "but I am at a loss to
understand your meaning. Langley is
arrested, and is in prison, and be will be
sent back to Portland. So far, so good.
But as be has escaped twice from that
spot, I can see no reason to be sure that
be will not escape again, and then your
small martyrdom will recommence, my
poor creature."
Sunflower's face faded, as it were, as
she beard these words.
" You will never be at rest," continu
ed the officer, "you will never sleep
with both eyes closed, while he is only
at Portland ; be can get away from that
place as another man can get out of bed.
You must manage him another way."
" What way ?" she asked.
" There's another punishment known
to judges," insinuated Webber, "which
goes beyond a term an penal servitude."
She turned pale, and said, " I under
stand. But they can't hang bim, for be
has done no murder."
"Are you sure of that?" asked the
officer, approaching ber, and looking
ber steadily in the eyes. Continued
next week.
How it was Done.
" How do you manage," said a lady to
her friend, " to appear so happy and
good natured all the time ?" " I always
have Parker's Ginger Tonic handy,"
was the reply, " and thus easily keep
myself and family in good health.
When I am well I always feel good
natured." Read about it in another
column. 6 4t
"Women Never Think."
If the crabbed old bachelor who utter
ed this sentiment could but witness the
Intense thought, deep study and thor
ough investigation of women in deter
mening the best medicines to keep their
families well, and would note their
sagacity aud wisdon In selecting Hop
Bitters as the best and demonstrating it
by keeping their families in perpetual
health, at a mere nominal expense, be
would be forced to acknowledge that
such sentiments are baseless and false.
Picayune. 7 Et