"DIAMOND OUT DIAMOND.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1029, 2 April 1884, Page 6

"DIAMOND OUT DIAMOND.

Tm Dktgctivb's Story. I had gong down to Melbourne by a noting T*mX alter a swindler—a regular tokti&ra ta ires, and no lie told*— robbed hit ewpJojer of £1700 odd, raised a few huwimi more by a forgery, and then left them lamenting. But it seems he. hud bttn playing the devil in other ways, Mml •© 1 wm told in a quiet way I would ttoV lose anything if I got the gentleman ; •o you may tbe sure I didn't need twice tolling. Well— l mustn't spin too long a yarn— l got to Melbourne safe enough, and knocked about a bit to get some news. One of the fascinating bttKttttahof Elisa-beth-street told me, by good Ittek, iihftt my man was up in the Oveus Distrot, bat that he would be back iv a week orao to take her to England 1 tf*ucy the cool cheek of the beggar. She thought I was his cousin, bless you ; I need'fc toll you that a detective is sometimes most unfortunately compelled to perpetrate the most tremendous taradiddles. So I tried to kill time aa well as I could, when I hoard one Tuesday morning that Willis— (l don't think I told you his name, by the way)— No I I thought not. Well, I heard one Tuesday morning that he would be in Melbourne that night, two days good before I expected him. All the better, I thought, for I had promise of another job ; so the sooner this was out of my hands the better. I dressed up as a boundary rider towards evening, and strolled down Collinsstreet about seven o'clock, when my heart gave one leap, for theie he was, not fifty yards ahead of me, with one of his pals. I followed him up, meaning to have him., without much fuss or trouble, and was just slipping my hand into my pocket after the bracelets, when I felt a rough grip on my right arm, and a voice said : " Now then, old man, jiosgpise or it will be the wuss for ye. Come along?' ' v I was surprised, as I flight well be, for though used to running other men in, to be run in myself was a little, out of my experience. And then there was Willis making ground fast ahead of me, just when I thought I had him. 0, it was too bad!

11 Look here !" I said, " You're a d d fool. Fm a detective, a Sydney detective, and that man in front is the very man I'm/after. Let me go, you ass." To describe the grin 'of amusement, contempt, and unbelief combined, that stole over the sergeant's face is quite be- " yond my powers of description ; he merely tightened his grip and said in his native vernacular: "Coom, I tell W Why didn't I show him the handcuffs? To .tell the truth I was so mad I quite forgot ''em. I didn't know what to do ! How- ' ever, at last I determined to go along quietly to the barracks, and make things right with Inspector Willis. I would even then have long before midnight ! Tes, I would go, and told the policeman as much. He evidently thought it was a dodge to get away, so he beckoned to a comrade, and the pair of them escorted me, amid a running fire of jokes on the " last dodge," " sharp Sydney detective," " wonder what he thought the Melbourne police were made of," " wonder how a gentleman like him would like the stone-jug," and so on, while a crowd of admiring larrikins kept us company. 0 ! I vowed T'd have their lives, the fools, and told them so — told them I'd get them both the sack ; in fact, I felt beside myself, and was thankful when I got to the Police-office. In we walked to have the affair entered on the charge-sheet. " Who's this V said the Inspector sharply. "0, it's a Sydney detective, sorr, wan ov the heads of the department, so he says !" "A who?" " Well, sorr, he says that's what he is ; I believe he's just a lunatic."

" Take him away, then, and lock him till morning : a night's rest is just what he wants," said the officer dryly.

This set me off at once j but knowing that to keep cool was my best plan, I said as calmly as I could, " Mr Evans "—for I knew his name — " I am a member of the Sydney police force, Henry Leslie ; I'm on the track of "

"There, that'll do," said Evans, " you'd better go along with the sergeant." "I tell you," I shouted angrily. you're an infernal fool ! Bring Mr Jones, Mr Curtis, Mr Hudson " — all well-known Melbourne magistrates— " and let them prove my words. If my man escapes, it'll be the worse for you."

All the inspector's reply was to write a few more words on the leaf before him, and then he read evidently for the amusement of his satellites, "charged with horse-stealing at Bendigo, and abusive to officer at police station J , " then he continued, while feeling in the desk for his cigar-case. "He seems to have 'em very badly ; so you may as well put him in the new cell, sergeant. He'Jl hardly get out of that 1"

But, I was now, temporarily, well nigh as insane as they affirmed. To know that I was doomed to twelve or fifteen hours in a police cell, while the scoundrel I was after was at liberty, and may be getting clear away, was too much ! I rushed for the door, bat only to be collared by a policeman ; one blow straight between the eyes sent him spinning, bub my former captor had me the next second in a grip of iron, and in much less time than it takes me to tell you the yarn, I was handcuffed and kicked into a cell. By George ! 1 get angry yet when I think of it ! I wont't describe the night I spent. However, I got quieter by morning, and had some grim satisfaction in waiting for the court to assemble. It came all in good time, and with delight I heard the order, " Bring in Henry Leslie." Henry Leslie was brought up in due course, and the first face I saw on the Bench was that of Mr Curtis himself, who knew me well. " God bless my soul, Leslie !" he exclaimed, "what. on, .earth is the meaning of this?" And I. tojd him my story, there and then, to~4ine>delight of everybody in the Court room except some two or three. Didn't he enjoy it ! But you're getting tired, I see, Grahame, so I'll cut it short. The matter didn't stay there ; for I entered an-action for damages against that clever inspector, and got a verdict for £300. " What about Willis 1" It seems he had heard the rumour that a mad stockrider had been taken off to=the Police Court, and, haying nothing very special on hand, he disguised himself and actually went to the Police-office to hear the case. He was too late however, and was just mounting the steps as I was coming down them. He had a first-class make-up ; but, Lord love you, it didn't, much matter what he put on, for I'd* have known him anywhere, and, before he well knew what had happened, he was in the dock with the darbies on his wrists. 0, it ivas a lucky chance. So I got the reward as well as the damages. But I'll tell you some more another night ; it's getting late. Good-bye.