22
��A 'Jail Adventure.
��are :i part of the stock in trade of a well regulated journalist, and which he is expected to exhibit at all times and under all circumstances to all people."
There was an ominous pause and profound silence, in which it was somehow made as clear as sunshine that Mr. Bragg desired to speak the tag or control the storv-teller. He evidently knew the end from the be- ginning, and feared that some one was likely to be in some way exposed or compromised.
McVeaigh quickly comprehended the situation, and in a side speech, which we did not understand, gave some sort of assurance which overcame the brother's modesty, and caused him to withdraw threatened interruption.
" When I reached the next city," continued McVeaigh, " I met Brother Bragg, and this is what came of it :
"'What became of you.?' he in- quired.
" Of course I acknowledged that I had been in durance vile, incarcerated in a city jail on the serious charge of larceny from the person.
" ' I heard so,' he replied, ' but did not have the time to search you out. I should have returned, however, after doing this place, if you had not put in an appearance. But you are all right below. It was a pretty hard job, considering the magnitude of the event, to double and duplicate despatches successfully, but I suc- ceeded. Your report went in on time, and in your own name, and here is the evening edition of your paper, which proves it.'
You maybe sure a heavy load was lifted from my mind, and guess
��that I thanked him and gave assur- ance of my gratitude and my happi- ness."
"What happened a year or so later?" inquired Mr. Bragg.
"What happened? Why, I met that same chief of police at the Parker House, in Boston. He recognized me. We engaged in a chat like two old school-day cronies that had not seen each other in many years. Just' as we were on the point of separation, he looked me squarely in the face, and in a frank and manly way said, — " ' I ought to tell you something that you would like to know, and which you have probably never mis- trusted, about your incarceration in the jail in the city which I have the honor to represent.'
" I assured him, of course, that I would like very much to hear it.
" 'A short time following that un- happy experience in your life,' he continued, ' I learned upon the most positive evidence that a jealous jour- nalist from a neighboring city " put up the job" on you. In other words, he cheated an ambitious and over- zealous policeman by making him be- lieve that he knew you as a celebrated New York thief who had done ser- vice, and for whose apprehension a reward was offered. It was a trick to get vou out of the wav, so that he could secure exclusive reports of the events which were happening.'
"We laughed heartily ; we have been good friends ever since, and I can get the best accommodations in the matter of news of any outside man who visits that chief's borough.
" Gentlemen, you have the full particulars of 'A Jail Adventure.' "
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