A STROKE OF LUCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11691, 28 June 1901, Page 3

A STROKE OF LUCK.

LUCK, Hoppy! Why, it's all luck! Ev'ry phase o' life, ev'ry incident in it, is governed by charnce. Allar me to inform, yer that wot we mortal grarsshoppers call " luck" is one o' the natural laws that rules existence. Talk like a bloomin' pictur' book, do I? Well, I'll spin yer a little yarn jest for the pleasure o' convincin' yer. i'.ivo yeer ago come Bank 'Oliday myself and Dock English wus down at Birmingham on a little business trip. 'E wus the smartest crook I've ever worked wiv. It nearly broke' my 'cart when I 'card 'e'd chucked the legitimate, an' wus workiu' the somfink-for-nuilink gime in the pipers. Well, one day wo wus aht prospectin' in the residential quarter, when, as luck would 'avo it, we. charnced ter pars-, a past oriice. "One moment, Ike," scs the Dook, "I wish to purchase a starnip." And 'e vanishes into [he orfice. I'eerin' over the half-frosted winder I could see a gel inside engaged in takin' dahu a telegram. Anrmvver femile served 'im wiv 'is st&rmp, an' tie?];, instead o' comin' strife aht, 1 sees 'im ferretin' abart ill 'is pocket. Drawin' forth an envelope 'e slides into a corner and busies 'iinself presoomably wiv writin' the audres;. -Sar, i knew 'is.letter was already addressed, an' consequently I gazed at im wiv some serprise. Presently I see the gel get up iron) tho instrument, and a second or two an tor wards the Dook wus at my ride. Lookiu' into 'is tie..:, i twigged that 'e'd got 'old o' somefink promism'. 'f. shoved a scrap o' piper into my 'and, an' wiv a grin 'i> said : " Bead that." "Plough Hotel, Birmingham.—Reserve mo bedroom to-night. Arrive New-street twelve ojcloclc—Smuts." I read alahd. Why, that's a copy of a telegram!" "Exactly," 'o said; "the message the hoperator was takin' as I entered the orfise. Probably you are not aware that it i- possible for one who has acquired the art to read a telegram by the sound. But it is. I was a telegraph clerk myself before I retired from public lite." "Jolly cute!" J said, "but wot good is that hinformation to a-'.'"

" It should be good for a cool fifty at the lowest estimate," 'o returned, smilin'. "Look 'ere, ike, you're a knowin' card, but you luck hintuitive perspicacity." He was a reg'hu' Cinkevnlli v.iv the dictionary. "Now, it you'd observed the posters on tho walls, you would have .seen that Herr Smuts is billed to give a recital at the grand concert in the Town Hall this very evening." " Wot, Smut*, the celebrated German pianner-thumper?" I exclaimed. "The same," 'o said; "as ordinery-look-ing an individual as you'd meet in a clay's walk, but lie's a. pianoforte- marvel. Now, what's to prevent, two onterprisin* gentlemen kidnapin' 'im on his arrival and making 'im pay 'andsomeiy for the privilege of appearing at this concert'.'" "That sounds all right-oh," I said, "but 'ow d'yer propose tor work it ':" " it's now a few minutes alter ten, he said, shortly. "if wo hurry we can secure Charley Bing and his growler. We can procure a hotel-porter's fit-out from that marine store I noticed on the way up." " It's a cert," I said, as I slipped into the porter'" rig shortly afterwards. "We'll be all over that Dutcliy. . . . But 'old 'ard a minute, boss. 'Ow abart the tin? It 'ardly likely the professor will 'ave much on 'im." ~ ~ , ~ , " I've thought o' that, Ike, said the Dook, "but it's a pony to a modest brown hell have his cheque-book with him. Immediately he puts his signature on the form I rush otf to get the 12.20, which arrives at Paddington just in time for me to get across to the bank before closing time. You will take care of him until the clock strikes four. By then it will be all serene, and you can follow me as soon as convenient." Five minutes later wo were rollin torwards the stition in Charley's growler. The Dook 'ad given me a description o' the German, an' 1 guessed I should 'ave no difficulty in spottin' 'im. Droppin' oil' a hundred yards or so away from the entrance, I made for tho arrival platform and joined the waiting crard just as the train was signalled. As it slowly glided by I twigged a little clean-shaven gent, in a fur-lined' coat an' a slouch hat, leanin back in a first smoker. As the train came to a standstill I approached 'is carriage an' threw open the door. •"Kit Smuts?" I said, politely. "Ya! Dot vas so," 'e said, smilin'. "Plough 'Otcl," I said, as cool as if this was my rcg'lar bus'ness. "'Ave you any luggage?" "Nein," 'c said, "only my drossing-caso. All. tank you." "This way. sir," T said, gripping his bag an' rug. "The car if. just ahtside." " Ah, dot vas goat, 'e said, an' like a lamb 'o followed mo to the exit. Charley saw us oomin' an' threw open the door. The little professor, all unsuspicious, 'opped inside. The Dook strolled up. "Poller," he inquired, coolly, "are you the Plough?" '• Yes, milord," I returned, touchin' my 'at. I turned to the professor. " Theer is another gent, for the 'otel, sir," I said; " you will not mind?" "Oh, nein, nod at all. nod at all." 'o said, affably. And the Cook joined him inside. In a few moments we 'ad reached the dingy side-street and 'ad pulled up at our destination. Springin' from the box, I seized his bag, and, heedless of 'is splutterin' protests, together the Dook an' 1 rushed tho little German into the house.

"Great Shermany!" 'e cried, excitedly, "vot you (so mit me?" The Dook placed 'is 'and over 'is marf and thrust 'im on to a chair. "Make the- least sound and you're a dead man!" 'c said, fiercely. "Now, "listen. Wc don't wish to hurt you, but time's money. Have you such a thing as a blank cheque about your person?" "Bud T vas prodest," 'c shouted. "You vas ©in pair of dirty schvfindlers." " The cheque-book, my good sir," said the Dook, coolly: and wivaht further talk the terrified little gentleman fumbled in 'is breast-pocket and produced a cheque from his pocketbook. . "Your honoured name is all wo require," said the Dook, politely. " Bud T will not sign id," spluttered the little man. "I'll give you 'pisi one minute to moke up your mind," said the Dook, shortly, takiu' aht 'is watch. "I vill nod do id!" shouted the German, madly. " You va< pin--"' A wicked click camo from the extended fix-shooter, and, as the terrified victim eaw'ht it, in a mighty hurry 'o drew the form towards 'im and scribbled 'is iiame in the corner. The Dook gave a short laugh and picked up the slip. "I'm! A bit shaky," 'e said, *' but I surmise the bank people will bo able to road is." 'K took up tho pen and rapidly filled in the date. "Pay Mr. Henry Martin, or bearer, the sum of—let's see, professor; shall we say a hundred?"

"A hundred!'' wailed the unhappy victim. " Scoundrel!" A hundred then it is!" said the Dook. - Ho folded the slip wiv a. flourish and put it in 'is waistcoat-pocket. "Partner," 'e w'ispered, handing over the weapon, " you know your part. I. shall just have time to catch the express. Herr Smuts, adieu!" Wiv a 'owl of rage tin; professor started to 'is feet. "Sit down." I said, eoverin' 'im. "You've got to mike yerself at 'ome for an hour or two." 'E stared at the glitterin' playthin' in my 'and for a few seconds wiv a wild look in 'is eyes, an' then, wiv a gesture of despair, 'c dropped down on to the chair. "Cone, now. We 'old the trump card, guvnor, an' so you'd better jest look pleasant." " Ver goot, sir," 'o said; "I vas your hands in. Bud (lake dot ting avay from mein face. I nod like id." I got up, and, lockin' the door, put the key in my ;;C>c«ei,. rue »nail ir-n iiiiiiuics we sat thoer vvivuht a word. Ev'ry nar an' again I caught the professor gazing furtively at my fice. 'E looked the very pictur' o' despair. And then, unaccountably, 'e started forward and began ter laugh. "Himmol," 'e said; "vot em joke!" I stared at 'im in undisguised astoruishment. A joke. ']•: regarded it as a joke! Well, that look the bun. "'Vol for you laugh?" 'e asked. " Mein friendt, you on the odor side of your face laugh brcsently." " Wot's the gime, Dutcliy?" I said, sharply. "Oh, nodings, nodings!" 'e replied, and laughed again. That laugh exarsperated me. " See 'ere. mister," 1 said, " you're playin" wiv tho wrong party. Wot's the gime'' Come, chuck it oil' yer chest, or—" " Don'd bo rash, mein friendt," 'o said. "You dink you make me to sehtob here while clot oder got ein hundred pound from lor bank. Is id nod? Veil, you vas vat you ■;>y sold, mein friendt., oh!" "Wot ver moan?" J hurst out. "1 di-. mean," Ik: id, excitedly, "I nod ■link (lore vas ein hundred left in tier bank, for I ud yesterday J vas transfer der sum of :■'. ■ i tausand bounds to mein account at der ' m.k in Berlin. Vot you dink, oh?" i [jot on my feet and stood over 'im. " Dutchy," I said, " wot d'yer think you'ro giviu' mo?"-

" I der truth spik," 'e shouted. "See, I in mein pocket der receipt ha.f got."' Wiv a curse- I snatched it from 'is 'and. It wus gorspul, an' no bloomin' error! And then, as I realised that my pal the Dook wus goin' blindfold into a trap, I went into a. cold sweat. The next instant I win at the door. Dashin' 'im backwards I banged it to and looked it from the- ahtside. Then, like a madman. I tore towards the stition. The Book's train wus a good 40 mile on the road ter London! By some means I'd got ter stop 'im presentin' that cheque. But 'o'.v? I knew 'e wouldn't waste a minute at the other end. 'E'd be into a cab an' away aforo the train 'ad stopped. The next London train was not due aht for an hour and a-half! A sudden thought—an inspiration yer might call it—struck me, an' I determined on a bold move. Hastily making my way to the. telegraph orfieo, I despatched the followin' message: — " Stationmaster, Paddington.—Detain man, frock-coat, top-hat, clean-shaven. hair -lightly crnv, six-foot, travelling- third by 12.20, until I arrive. Coming on 2.44.—Mac-, pherson, Police Sunt." It wus the only charnce. I would bluff the stationmaster and get the Dook transferred into my custody. It seemed a little eternity before that train came in : ami when at larst we were fairly on tin.- move I muttered a groan of 'eartfelt thankfulness. Paddington! 5.20 to the tick. Rushing along tiie platform T strode into the stationmaster's orfice. Two station police were guardin' an inner door, and I guessed my wire had done its work. •' Macpherson, ot the Birmingham Police," I said. "Have you got 'im?" '"Yes," 'o said, '* 'o's in there. Been kickin' »ip the dickens of a shindy. What's he wanted for?" "Oh, the old game," I returned. "Absconding cashier; embezzlement." "It's a strange thing, Macpherson," said the stationmaster, "but about half-an-hour after I got your wire I had another from De-tective-Inspector Spragg." "Wot?" I burst out, hotly, takin' the buff slip from 'is 'and. " Let's see it. Wot's this?"

"Birmingham, three o'clock. "Detain tall, gentlemanly-looking man, frock-coat, top-hat, clean-shaven, about 40, arriving at 3.30, until I arrive.—DetectiveInspector Spragg." "Hang Spragg!" I cried, savagely. "Wot the dickins does 'e mean by interferin' in my business? I'll talk to 'im pretty warm when 'e comes. Now, sir, if you please, let's 'avc a look at the gentleman." The orfficer threw open the door and I stopped inside. And, as I did so, my heart gave a jump, for the excited prisoner within was not tho Dook at all, but some innercent individual who answered pretty nearly to the description given in tho telegram. "What in Heaven's name is tho moaning of Ibis detention?" 'e burst out. "By gad, sir, I'll make the company pay for this business." I realised the gime 'ad got to be played through now. Bmotherin' my feelin's [ laid a hand on 'is arm. " Softly, Denniss, if you please," I said: the game's up. Better give in quietly. It'll only be the worse for you if you try any monkey tricks. He's a trifle excited," I said, calmly, to tho officers. " Just 'old 'im while I send a wire." Half a minute later I was bowling away from tho stition in a cab. It was maddening to think that the Dook's smartness 'ad been 'is own undoin'. I stopped the cab at Charing Crorss, and, feel in' almost ready to cry wiv mortification and disgust, dived into the nearest saloon tea 'avo a good think. A grimy nipper thrust a ' speshul" evening piper before me. I took it from 'im eagerly and looked it down 'urriedly to seo if there might bo any mention o' the Dook's capture. Suddenly my eye caught a paragraph, headed in big letters: "Shocking Cab Accident." As I read, my eyes opened wide in astornishment. The cab, it seemed, was turning sharply rarnd the corner of one o' them side-streets into Holborn when it cannoned wiv a 'bus coming the other way, and the fare 'ad been thrown out and 'is leg broken. They 'ad picked 'im up an' taken 'im to tho nearest 'orspital. 'E 'ad given the name of Irish. "By Jupiter !" I muttered, "the Dook !" For tho name wus one of 'is many, known only to a select few. A few minutes later I wus by 'is bedside. Yes, it wus 'im, an' no error. A look o' wonder took 'is white face as 'e saw me. " Why, Ike." 'e said, quietly, " 1 thought you were miles away." And then, sitting beside 'im, I told 'im the tale. "By Jove, Ike." 'e said; "what a stroke of luck that 'bus happened to be waiting for inc. I should 'ave been in the jug by now if it 'adn't been iu the road." " It's a fact, sonny," 1 cried, smilin' grimly. " But tho cheque r" "Don't worry," 'e said ; " that's negotiated all right. When they were bringing mo hero I realised the bubble was burst, so I crumpled it up and swallowed it. It was a disagreeable pill, to be sure, but its efficacy I am not likely to question." "The best bloomin' pill you ever took," I said. It's saved you from a bad turn which was likely to last for five years." "I was always a lucky dog," '© said, as a twinge of pain twisted up 'is features.