The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 3 — page 131: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A TRAP FOR BURGLARS, 515 ‘“The thieves have come, you fool!’’ he almost shouted, with a string of curses appended to the statement. ‘‘ Come an’ gone—at least one of ’em’s gone. ,T’other is drinkin’ perlitely to your health, Mr. Lawson.’? ‘‘ What do you mean?” I asked, with a gasp of astonishment and fear. ‘‘ What do I mean?” he replied. ‘‘ Why, you ass, I mean that if you were to look in the rogue’s picter gallery you’d see my phiz—and it wouldn’t be labeled ‘Sergeant Powers’ either. Ha, ha, ha, that was a good’un! I wonder what Powers will say when he learns that ‘Red’ Sweeney has been usin’ his name so promiskus.’’ | I saw it all. I had been duped, tricked with a forged letter, as easily as if I had been a five year old child. I myself had opened the doors I was guarding to him, and helped him remove the very alarms I had arranged to keep him out. He had taken my revolvers and put them in his pocket; therefore I silently awaited his next move. ‘' Pretty good joke, wasn’t it?’’ he queried. ‘‘ Thought I was a chump for talkin’ so loud, didn’t you?’’ he sneered. ‘‘ Well, you must know that Dugan is a bit careless-like, especially when he knows he has an easy job, an’ I was afraid he’d make a noise while he was guttin’ the house. I’m going to fix you up a little dose to take before I go away. Don’t look so skeered, pard ; it’ll only put you to sleep as nice an’ cunnin’ as a little baby. An’ when you wake up ‘ Bad Eye’ an’ me’ll be far, far away, where you’ll never see us no more. Don’t object, but take it like a little man, because if you decline I’ll have to crack you over the head, and that'll hurt.”’ With that he began sifting a whitish powder from a paper packet into the glass of wine I had poured a few moments before for him. In shame and impotent anger I cast my eyes on the floor like a whipped boy. ‘“ Come, little *un,’’ said he, ‘‘ take yer medicine like a good little boy, an’ no monkeyin’ or itll be the worse for you.’’ It was useless to resist. I raised my eyes falteringly and stretched forth my hand for the glass. As I did so I saw two powerful blue coated arms steal around Sweeney’s shoulder. ‘There was an oath, a short struggle, a shattering sound as the wine glass fell, and of scuffling feet as three other policemen bounded into the room, and in less time than I take to tell it ‘‘ Red’’ Sweeney stood before me disarmed and handcuffed, and I was profusely thanking and compliment- ing a stalwart police sergeant who introduced: himself as the real Powers. ‘‘ It’s no wonder he fooled you,’’ said the latter, after I had told him my story. ‘‘ But remember in future that the police department doesn’t expose its hand even to the people it is protecting. We have been watching this fellow for months, and watching this house ever since you have been alone in it. And we would have nabbed him sooner, sir, but his pal Dugan was late to the appointment. We got him, though, as he came out with his first load. You will find the things on the table in the library. Now I’ll leave a man to keep guard till morning for I’ve no doubt you are a little nervous and won’t sleep well unless you know you’re safe, and so good night.’’ There is one man in New York who has unbounded confidertce in its police department. That man is myself. Tom Flall. (C@ Ccomiclbooks