DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22217#0248
236 THE ORGAN-GRINDER'S MONEY-BAG.
wide berth for some time to come. At length I heard that he
was in the city, and went to his house to look for him. As I
had expected, he was not there, and had not been near the
place. There was another place known to him, as I had dis-
covered through Tom Joson, the lame man, in which any one
who had means could hide for any length of time. I had been
in that den before, and went there direct.
It was a quiet place, down near the bottom of the North
Back Canongate. The house was entered by an outside stair
in a dark court, where there were excellent corners for con-
cealment.
I took up my position there as soon as it was dark, and had
not been long there before I saw a man enter the court, take
in all the bearings of the place much as I had done myself,
and then select a corner quite as good as my own. In this he
ensconced himself so coolly that in sheer wonder I crossed the
court and grabbed him by the shoulder. Then in the dim
light I recognised a sheriff-officer well known to me.
"Hullo! are you watching for some one too?" I ex-
claimed.
" Yes, and a bonnie chase I've had," be growled in a whisper.
" It's a hawker called Poulson-"
" Ah, indeed ! and what do you want him for ?"
" Oh, just an affiliation case—decree for ten pounds and ex
penses, and the usual aliment. I've been all over Fife after
him, and he knows it. Fourpence a mile will never pay me
for all the trouble I've had. I know he's in here, but I'll wait
till he comes out. I wouldn't go into that den for a hundred
pounds. They'd jump on me and stave in my ribs, or break
my leg as soon as look at me."
" Then, if you're sure he's in here, let's go in together," I
answered ; " I'll warrant they won't jump on me, or break my
leg either. I want Poulson, too ; what are we-to do with him
when we get him, eh ?—halve him ? "
" Oh, you can keep him if we get him," he returned, with a
gruesome shrug of the shoulders. "He'll be as safe with you
as any one."
We ascended the stair and knocked, and after some delay
were admitted. Poulson, they said, was not there, and of
course we did not see him. After locking the outer door on
the inside and pocketing the key, I went over the three rooms.
In the windows of two apartments adjoining each other there
were feed boxes, with lids, which appeared to be used as seats.
wide berth for some time to come. At length I heard that he
was in the city, and went to his house to look for him. As I
had expected, he was not there, and had not been near the
place. There was another place known to him, as I had dis-
covered through Tom Joson, the lame man, in which any one
who had means could hide for any length of time. I had been
in that den before, and went there direct.
It was a quiet place, down near the bottom of the North
Back Canongate. The house was entered by an outside stair
in a dark court, where there were excellent corners for con-
cealment.
I took up my position there as soon as it was dark, and had
not been long there before I saw a man enter the court, take
in all the bearings of the place much as I had done myself,
and then select a corner quite as good as my own. In this he
ensconced himself so coolly that in sheer wonder I crossed the
court and grabbed him by the shoulder. Then in the dim
light I recognised a sheriff-officer well known to me.
"Hullo! are you watching for some one too?" I ex-
claimed.
" Yes, and a bonnie chase I've had," be growled in a whisper.
" It's a hawker called Poulson-"
" Ah, indeed ! and what do you want him for ?"
" Oh, just an affiliation case—decree for ten pounds and ex
penses, and the usual aliment. I've been all over Fife after
him, and he knows it. Fourpence a mile will never pay me
for all the trouble I've had. I know he's in here, but I'll wait
till he comes out. I wouldn't go into that den for a hundred
pounds. They'd jump on me and stave in my ribs, or break
my leg as soon as look at me."
" Then, if you're sure he's in here, let's go in together," I
answered ; " I'll warrant they won't jump on me, or break my
leg either. I want Poulson, too ; what are we-to do with him
when we get him, eh ?—halve him ? "
" Oh, you can keep him if we get him," he returned, with a
gruesome shrug of the shoulders. "He'll be as safe with you
as any one."
We ascended the stair and knocked, and after some delay
were admitted. Poulson, they said, was not there, and of
course we did not see him. After locking the outer door on
the inside and pocketing the key, I went over the three rooms.
In the windows of two apartments adjoining each other there
were feed boxes, with lids, which appeared to be used as seats.