LITERATURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3437, 17 April 1879, Page 3

LITERATURE.

A NARROW ESCAPE,

Ono of my journeys, as a Bow-street runner, called mo away to a town in Suffolk, where I wus ordered to take charge of a prisoner to be discharged tho next day from one of tho local gaols, in wliieh ho had been undergoing a year'a imprisonment for a criminal aasault. The man had been lot out on a ticket-of-loave from the Defcnco hulk at Woolwich, and bud speedily, as it appeured, got into trouble down in the country. As ho was merely " wanted " to complete his original sentence — having broken his ticket-of-leave — there could be no bother about apprehending him inside the prison, and using such precautions for lub safe keeping as seemed best to my judgment. Juat as I was about to leave the offico in Bow street, one of mj comrades with whom I was rather intimate came in, having finished a journey such aa I waa myself about to set off on.

"Going out, Tom?" ho asked ; and on my telling him where I waa bound for, he continued, " Bettor havo this ' barker,' Tom ; you may find it ÜBeful." At the earne time he produced a email pocket pistol, which he held out for my acceptance. "I have nofc got any powder," he added ; " bufc here are aome caps and bullets."

I had never before carried anything more deadly by way of protection than a lifepreserver ; but as my friend seemed to mean a kindness, I made no ado aboufc accepting hia offer; and having "capped" the pistol thero and then, I consigned it to the side pocket of a pilot coat, which I wore buttoned over my uniform.

My journey down to Suffolk calls for no particular notice. In due time tho railway depoeited me at my deatination, and left me with ample leisure to call upon the governor of the prison over night, with a, view to arranging for my carrying off my oharge the

next morning. I asked what sort of a customer I should have to deal with, and must confess I did not feel much enoouraged by the reply.

" He is whafc I would oall a nasty customer," was tho answer ; " ho ha» givon us a deal of trouble while we have had oharge of him • continually breaking prison rules, and moro than once he haa tried to commit suicide in tin most determined manner by tearing open the veins in his aims with his finger-nails.

This account of matters was nofc, as may well be supposed, afc all enlivening ; and when the governor added thafc the man was a perfect giant, and had been a " nawv " before he fell into evil courses. I began to fear thafc my work was cut out for me. However, th, re was no help for it. We Bowatreet runners had aa fickle customers to deal with as any of your modern detectives. All I could do waa to aak that prisoner should be detained until I got over in the morning. I told the governor whero I had put up ; but he did not seem disposed to offer me his company for an hour or two in the evening, and to me he hardly appeared the sort of man I could ask in an off-hand way fco take a friendly glass ; so my arrangements being thus far completed, I there and then left him. lhe inn where I had taken up my quarters stood right opposite the gaol entrance, and ac the Btreet was somewhat of tho narrowest, the mosfc complete view of all comers and goera could be commanded from the front of my temporary residence. As my landlady knew tho errand I had come on, and had a most becoming respect for the representative of the law, she kindly accommodated me with her own private parlour aa a sitting-room ; and a very pleasant evening I spent in the company of the intelligent daughter of fcho house, bus-inees leaving her mother but little time to bestow upon me. Noxt morning found me seated at a very comfortable breakfast, and fche weather being fine, the window of the privato parlour was open, affording a perfect view of all that might take place at the prison-door opposite. While I was absorbed in the good cheer before me, I was startled by an exclamation from both the landlady and her daughter, whioh caused mo to look up and instinctively to glance across tho street.

" Did you over see such a big, coarse, and clumsy-looking woman ?" exclaimed tho younger of my entertainers. "Oris it a woman at all ? " added her mother.

My attention was at once rivetted upon the new comer, whom I somehow could not avoid connecting with the criminal it would so soon become my duty to apprehend Without saying a word to the two ladies, I carefully and closely watched every movement of the parly opposite during the remainder of my morning meal. More than once I caught myself mentally repeating my landlady's query, " Is it a woman after all ? "

The it must be excused, as the point was so entirely doubtful.

For a woman, the individual was very considerably abovo the average height, and her whole physique indicated far more than the average strength of womankind. Thero was a swagger in her walk, too, most unlike tho carringe of a female ; and once during her pacing in front of the gaol door sho stopped to adjust a boot- lace or somo other matter in a fashion which showed an entiro absence of delicacy, and at tho same time showed a por tion of a limb wliieh might have done credit to an athlete in the highest 6tatc of training. I was fairly puzzled, and none the less bo fchafc I had twice noticed her ringing the prison bell, and that I know thero was but one individual to be discharged thafc morning, and that it was close upon my timo to go and look after liim. I had barely finished my last cup of coffee, when ono of tho prison wardera came across to say that the wife of my prisoner was waiting outside, and had fcwico made a demand to see him ; but that the governor did not care to accede to tlio request without first, consulting mc After casting the matter over in my own mind for a minute, I told tho warder that I did not mind the woman biing admitted, but that the two ought to bo very closely watched during the interview. The man re-entered tho ..prison, and witliin a fow minutes I obsorved that tho woman was called in.

Punctually to my time, I crossed over to the prison, and found my charge waiting for me, his wife being still with him, and no in tho room but the governor. Contrary to my expectations, the prisoner hold up his wrists and submitted to be handcuffed with fcho most; lamb-like docility. Whon wo got out into tho street, I suggested, as thero waß time to spare, that the stalwart pair should haro a bit of breakfast at my exponßO, before starling on the journey for town. I thought tlio woman soemod a littlo takon aback at my invitation ; however, ifc was acceded to ; and we entered tho inn parlour, where I requested tho landlady to procure a plentiful supply of ham and eggs ; and as the pair preferred ale to tea or coffee, I ordered thorn a pint apiece. I had, of course, to unlock ono hand in order to allow my prisoner the free use of his knife and fork ; and after what I had heard the night before, I thought it was rather a risky thing for mo to do, as though ho might not attempt to do mo any mißchiof, ifc waa just possible he might try to inflict some serious mischief to himself. All, however, passed off safely; and when breakfast was finished I told him lie must bid hia wifo good-byo, as I did not want to attract any attention at tho railway Btation. A kiss was accordingly exchanged, tho bracelets were again adjusted to his wrists, and we set off at a brisk pace. When we got to fcho station, I learned that tlio noxt "up " train was an express, and that 1 would havo to look sharp, as it might bo expected immediately, and made but a brief stoppage Tlio train, in fact, came in almost to a minute after fche information waa communicated tome ; and I hurried acroßß fcho platform, got my man into a Boeond-claas carriage — tho compartment I had only juet timo to notice was empty. Tho whistle sounded, and the train was beginning to move, whon tho door was flung violently opon, and in jumped tho prisoner's wife, taking her Beat right opposite me, Thoro was but time for tho porter to shin to tho door whon we wero off. It neod not bo said that I was very far from boing satisfied with tho look of things, and that I had made up my mind to be carefully on my guard. I sa\d nothing, being fully determined not to betray any uneasiness, though it must bo owned I felt much. Before we had gone any great way my prisoner turned flideways to mo and said, " Master, my missus and mo havo some small mattora of our own wo would liko to talk over ; and as thoy don't concern you in tho least, p'raps you wouldn't mind looking out o' winder for a minute of two while we havo our talk."

" That I could not possibly do," was my immediate answor ; "my duty is to keep you always under my eye and control ; and besides, as you have just eaid, your domestic arrangements can bo a matter of no concern to mo, so you can discuss them as freely as you please without minding my presence" This answer seemed to disconcert both of them ; but as if by way of compromise, I at the some timo leant towards tho window of the carriage for a moment, and glanced outsido.

My hearing is sharp enough now, but at the time I »peak of was even more acute Juet as I turned my head, I heard, or fancied I heard, the man whisper tho words — " Both together."

Instantly tho suspicion flashed across my m nd thafc those words related to myself, and I turned round and faced the couple in a moment.

What I saw in the expression of each of them seemed to warrant my acting with immediate decision. I seized the man between his manacled wrists so that he could not raise his hands.

With an instinctive thought, I plunged my right hand into tlio pocket of my pilotcoat, pulled out tho pistol my mate had handed to mo, cocked ifc wifch my thumb, and holding ifc within a few inches of the face of the woman opposite, I looked steadily into her eyes, and said wifch emphasis — "Jfyou attempt to stir before wo reach tho noxt station, you will certainly bo a dead woman P" It was something fearful to notice the immediato change on that woman's countenance. Sho became of a pallid whiteness, and her lips had the purple-bluish tinge that indicates so unmistakably an excess of deadly fear. In the highly-dramatio positions I have just described we sped on until tho next sfcoppiag station was reached, and that occupied fully moro than 20 minutes. The moment tho train came to a stop, I thus addressed the woman, keeping her "covered" with the muzzle of my pistol — " Leave the carriage ; and if you value your liberty, mako what speed you oan to get into hiding.'^ She disappeared instanter ; and I folt a heavy load of anxiety lifted off my mind as she left us, for of all the encounters I most hate, an encounter with a woman is to be

olassed foremost. From tho moment I saw the ohange in her face indicative of inch in* tense fear, I knew I was master of the situ** tion ; but still I was glad to be rid of all further risk of a struggle. Not a word paswd between my prisoner and me during the w mainder of fche journey to London, which w« were no great while in reaching, and where I duly delivered him into safe keeping at Bowstreet Police-office.

Next morning I had to conduct mypriaonM to Woolwich, there to deliver him to tho authorities of the hulks, from whom he had obtained his fciokefc-of-leave. He seemed to have recovered from his scare of the day before, and on our journey spoke freelj enough, and wifch an earnestness that left no no doubt of the truth of his communication. "Master," said he, "I am main glad you kept your head in yesterday, and did not ban oufc of the winder. Had you done so, railing and I meant fco have pitched you ont, and taken our ohanoes after of getting off." " I was not very likely to be co easily put off my guard," was my laconic answer. " Ay, but master, your danger was not orer then ; for missus and I had made it up that she was to pin your arms— and she could o done it easy— while I was to smash your head with the « darbies.* We should then a took the key, got off fche bracelets, and heaved y<m out a winder, afore you could come to tout* self. That pistol fairly put us ont, for it cowed missus, and she isn't easily cowed, I tell ye."

" But the pistol was nofc loaded," said X " nothing but a cap and an empty barrel." * •',' l£ c Bame ' maß ter, I'm main glad we failed. Now I've thought it over, I know I could not have escaped. It was known I left m your charge, and that missus joined vi. When your body was found, we'd a been spotted at once, and most likely both on us would a swung for it. I'm main glad, I toll you, that you got out o* the mess, and I don't bear you no ill-will for having done your doofcy as a man and hofficer." Never before, to my knowledge, had I been in such deadly peril, and truly thankful did I inwardly feel for the providential escape I learned I had just made. I was glad to hand my murderous-minded charge over to the caw of the officers of the Defence; and I am thankful to add that I never heard more of him, or wished to do to.— Chambers' Journal.