McLevy Read Online Free Page B

parents
and associates, and who are wicked from the necessities of their position; the others, those that are born outlaws. The latter are not so numerous as one would imagine, and though, from their
natures, independent from any care or culture, could be easily managed. To reclaim is nearly out of the question; but a speculation on that subject is beyond my depth, my duty being to catch them,
and get them punished. But I repeat that I don’t believe they are so numerous as is generally thought. As for the other class, let our Social Science friends just act up to the modern
invention of anticipating the natural wants of human creatures, and the numbers of thieves and robbers will diminish further still.
    The young men engaged in the robbery I have just mentioned were just a part of these pests which we have been making for ourselves, by allowing parents to do what they like with their
children,—a privilege we don’t allow to the masters of dogs, which, if they show a tendency to be dangerous, may be laid hold of before they bite. Yes, Alexander M’Kay, David
Hunter, and Thomas Ogilvy, who committed the robbery, and whom I apprehended, would probably have never been in my hands if they had been simply put to a trade, though the medium of a ragged
school, or some other mean of that kind of benevolence; which is a duty to society itself. I had got my lads,—for men they could hardly be said to be,—but where was the jewellery? The
mere fact of their having been seen coming out of Mr Gravat’s stair was not enough even for a small supplement to habit and repute, if it was anything more than a trace to discover them
by.
    I therefore set about the discovery of the jewels and clothes,—a far more difficult task, if the thieves are cunning, than the seizure of their persons,—and here I found myself at
fault, notwithstanding the most unwearied trudging amongst brokers, resetters, houses of bad fame, and inquiries and searches into even the most unlikely places, not a ring or even a handkerchief
could I find, so that I was fast arriving at the conclusion that the articles had been “planked”, as they call it, somewhere, perhaps in the outskirts of the town, behind a hedge, or
under the ground, or in some of the many holes and boles about the old town, left by the gentry, it would almost seem, for the accommodation of their successors. I must try another mode. I have
often succeeded in getting young offenders to be communicative. Though all adepts at using their fingertips, they are not so adroit in using, or rather not using, their tongues. One of the
three,—Hunter,—seemed to me to be a likely blabber, if I could once set the instrument a-going. Having got him by myself,—
    “Now, Hunter,” I said, “I want you to tell me where those things are you and your friends took out of Mr Gravat’s house.”
    “Know nothing about them;”—the old story.
    “Well, I’ll convict you, anyhow,” said I; “a single handkerchief will do the job; you know you have been ‘up’ before, and it don’t take much in that
case.”
    “But you haven’t got the handkerchief,” said he, as he began to watch my face.
    “Don’t be too sure,” I said, as I noticed some sign of his being, at least, apprehensive. “I think you know I seldom fail.”
    He was silent, but not dogged.
    “I will be your friend”, I continued, “and make you a witness.”
    His eye began to gather some light. “What do you want?”
    “Just to tell me where the stolen things are, no more. I don’t want you to confess that you were one of the robbers.”
    “Do you not? And you will make me a witness?”
    “I think I will manage that for you, if you don’t deceive me.”
    He thought for a while. “But I wouldn’t have the life of a dog were I known as a peacher.”
    “I’ll take care of you; don’t be afraid, and something may be done for you.”
    Still doubts, and still the terror of being set upon by the gang. I could not