Dig; Two Heads Wanted. a Novel (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1876. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XII. ON THE TRAIL. "I was a stripling-, quick and bold, And rich in pride as poor in gold; When God's good will my journey bent, One day to Shekh Abdallah's tent. My only treasure was a steed, Of Aniby's most precious breed; And whether 'twas in boastful whim To show his mettled speed of limb, Or that presumption, which, in sooth, Becomes the careless brow of youth--Which takes the world as birds the air, And moves in freedom everywhere--It matters not. But midst the tents I rode in easy confidence, Till to Abdallah's door I pressed. And made myself the old man's guest."--Bayard Taylor. When the dispatch requesting the presence of a detective at West Cove reached London, Billy Berrege and Ed Downing, the two most efficient of the city police, were absent on another job; and it fell to the lot of Jordan Scroggs, as being the only one of.thfe force to be spared, to attend upon this case. t Now Jordan Scroggs had formerly been a lawyer, and not succeeding very well at making a living in this branch of the profession, he had naturally slid into the detective branch. With the most unblushing assurance, and an impression that he could do anything that mortal man could, he joined a total lack of anything that could ever give him eminence in the detective line. He had Jiis two professions so badly mixed in his own mind that he could not by any possibility distinctively classify them; and worst of all, he was not able at any time to assume that dignity which is sometimes necessary in the duties of examing witnesses. He retained his old habit of asking witnesses "May I," "Will you please," &c., and by no possibility would the least atom of judicial dignity adhere to this little bag of wind, which the most superficial observer could discover in the person o...