Club Nose

Tt tva.s in a hospital ut tlic Enst End of Lomion tliat J Ürst made iheaequaiiitance ot' "Clubnoee." Au okl college triend of inine, wlio was one oí the resident Surjreoil8, was showing me over the varas, and Uiero passeuns twoor ihrec times a hospital uur-e whose reinarkable appearance arres teij my atteutioii. SÜO had, 1 lliink, tlie most hideous and repulsivo face 1 ever saff on niau or Woman: Ii, was not tiiat Uie lcaiuics were natu rally uglyi lor it vvassimply impussible io teil iu wha.t Bciublance nature had origaiallyl nioulded thcm; but they had Oten so cunipleiely bal te red out of fliape that one w#u.d liave l'ancied slie must have been subjectcd to inuch thewune treatincnt is tlie ligure-head on which Daniel Quilp usud to vent liis impotent l'ury. Tlie hero of a score of unsnccesslul pnze liglits could not have shown worse iucial disligurcinent than tiiis tidily-dressed, clcatily-looking woman. Wlien we lmd finislied tlie tour of hu wards, I turned 10 my frieud, and winting io the recedlng iigure of tlie nuisc, who had jnst paesed us agaiu, I saiot : "Whata dicadinlly ill-lokinf ïurse you liave theie. VVhy, it naust e enough to seud a patiënt into liis to have ihat (ace bendmg over him." "Oül" said he, laugüing, "tiiat's Clubnosé.' " Tijen loworing his voice, ie adutd : ''Slie's not a luirse ïvully - slie't. a detective." "A detective!" 1 exclaimed. ".Why, you üon t niciui to say tina ihe pol.ce üog lbo steps ui a puur wrelch even 111 tlie hospital?" No," he replied; "I don't think slie lias her eye upun any ui the pat.ents - it is tne triüiids whu cume lo isii tlie pa tienta tluit she watebes, Jt s her way of doiny busme.-s. YVheiT ■ver theie h;is buen a crime cuiinnii ud 11 a ïiUigliburhuud, she ,ots om ás tui'se lo liiu huspiial ut' tiju disinut. . Uun't exacüy ktiuw what her modus openu.di is. S.e nus i proper cenili;ue as ïiiiise, und peMoruis i,er ciuliêL ike uiiy of ihercst; but it is unaertoud tliatcvery l'uciliiy lur geu.ng he informa tiou siie ïequires to L.e put n lier way, vviihoutoieoui-se excitiii susp.ciou. How s;ic picks up her 111biiniuion 1 dun't KuuW, but i suspect, it is by Usiemug to talk of the patients and tLeir frionds, on visiunt (iays. At any rate, i beiieve slio hu ouLaihea eiue;t uudcr th.s disguisp Wlieii otlieis iiave iaikd lier: and il' the game wasu't woi'tii tlie candie, I t.on i suppuse sho'il try it.:' "Do ti.e uliier mirles know her real charaeteii"' "JSo. They may have their suspict ions; but it istet a secret lïoiu aijl bui tue autliuiMi. e." "is 'Ciubuose' your nickname for her, or is sl.e ei,er,.Jiy kiioWU oy tlnu Obnque.ï" 1 asi.ea. "JSu ; 1 did nut christen lier so ; it is the name Blie jS knovv n by in bc ijm e. ITer real name is Margnret Saundors. She Ims i Tei'y quecr history, I bolieve; but she is exceedingly reserved, and 1 have never had a chance ot draw ing lier out." And Ihis was all I learnt about "Clubnoso" on that occasion. Tliveo ov four ycars later, two ladies with whoin I was intimately connectcd were robbcd of a considérame quanlity of valuablc jcwelry, and I was intrustod vrith the investiga! ion of the case. I had paid nnmberless visits to Scotland Yard, and liad liad no end of interviews with detectives, but still these was bo satisfoctory clue to the identity of the thieves. One even ing I was sitting alone after dinner, when the servant eniered and said that "a person" wislied to sce me. "Man or woniaii?1' I asked. "A woman sir - saya slie wishes to sec you partickler, sir." "Well, show her in," I said, inward]y wondering who the strange female inight be who wanted to see me at so unscasonable an liour. ïlie door oponed, and a respectable-looking woman woarlng a thick veil was shown in. I requestcd her to take a seat. tílie did so; and as soon as the servant liad re ti red and the door was closed, she threw back her veil and revealed the disiorted features of "Clubnose." I reniembered her in nn instant ; indeed who that had once seen that lace could ever forget it? "i'ou have come from Scotland Yard?" I said interrogatively. "Yes, sir," she answered quietly. "I un Maiyaret Saunders froiu the Deiectivi! ] ttpartnient." Her voice was harsh and nnpleasant ; bnt tbere was a lirmness and decisión about her man ner, and a look of inielligeiiee and resolution in her keen rray eycs, whieli at once inspired conüdeuce. Tlie bonnet she wore concealed to a certain extent the terrible disflgnretnent of her face; but even then the most reek lesa flattercr durod not have cal led her pliysiognomy prepossessing. It was not a bad face ; but one could not look atit without a shuddcr, so frightfully was itnnuilated. The note in particular I notIced liad been knucked into a grotesquely fantastio sbape,i hereby giviiig rise to the sobriquet by which sha was fiuniliarly knuwn. Öhe had come to inform me of a very ini[iortant piece.of cvidenco whicli she had discovered, and v hich, 1 may say at once, led ultiinately to the Identification and conviction of the thieves. luto the details of the ense I ïiced not enter ; it was only reinarkabie beennso ii introduced me peisonally to "Clubnose," and eliabled 1110 eventually to loara irom herown lips the story of her liie, which l purpose here briefly ten ug down. Soine live-and-twenty years ago, a crime was perpetiated in Londen which was maiTicd by such tioiial features of atrocity as t seml a tlirül of horror ihrough th whole commiiiiity. A iniddle-ngcc gentleman ofecceiitric habiis was at iarked in hisown liouc, and nol onjy bcaien and left for dead; but mutilat ed in a peruliarly shocking mantier The tniscretmtp nlso carrhxl ort a cojisiderablc qua'utity of valuablq property. Tlie victim of tins atrocions ci-inio, stran c lo eay, in spito of tlie horrible injuries in; bad sustained, was nut killed outriglit, and tliou-h lor weeks iiis lile was despaired of,Tio eventually recevcréd only, liowever, lo be for ilie rcmaiiidcr of bisdays a belpless cripple. For'some time'tho pólice coukt iind noolue lo tbc perpeii'ator of llns bftrbarous oulrao; but ai last suspicioa was attrnctedto a woniaii who was knowu to liavo been uccasioiiaily eniployed about liio liou-o to do odd jobs of cleaniuy. A leison answcrin1 lo 1t ■'■■ -i '' ■ ii "■■ ■ ■■, iiau becii seen Jeaving- ilie house m coiupany witb a maq on the day on wlnch tlie crime was üuiuiimu'u. sumo miuor circumstances tended locoiifirra tlie susuicion tlmt inis hurimn was implioatoU iu tho nffalr, and ehe was aocordingly an-osf. ed and ch'árgeu befo re a magistrale. A f ter one or two iemands, i'or tlie purpoee of obtaining further proof, tlie nianistrate decide J that tliere was not siifficient evidence to jusiií'y him iu sendhig ilie case for trial, and the accuseid woma was dischargedi That woniiui was Marirarot 8anndei"B. 81ie had all alongemphatically protested her injioconce ; andafter herxlischai-g-e, she vowed that she wou ld never rest uil til slie had proved it by brlngiug the real oil'ciidcrs to justice. The police, baillcd by t h failure of the ir charge ágainst herself, werecompelled to confess tlieinselves coinplotely at faultj froni thein, therefoif, Maj-garet Siunders oüüld expect 110 assistaiice. Alone and unaided, she set to work upon lier selt-iniposed task. At the vcry ouiset, wlieu it seemed to her that every nionicnt was of value, she had the mLsfbrtuiiü to feil down a flight of steps and break her leg. This 'necessitatcd her remo val to the tal, and it was as shc lay there chaflng at tlio euí'oived delay and insction, tliat there carne to her Iho first ray oí' light to guido her ou lier search. Ín the next bed to lier there was a wonian wlio was also suffering fiara a severe ncrideiil. Ono visiting day slie lieard tliis wonian saj' in a low, anxious voice : "ís líobert sale." 'Yes," was tlie reply, also in a wonian's voice. "Ile's iu Glasgow, rcady to bolt ií' necessary ; bul. íhere'll be no need fas that; tho bobbics havo cluicked up the gaine, as they mostly do wlien they've lailed to fix a charge upon the firsí porsoii they spot, un lees tliQíe's ín extra big reward o lie red, whicll there ain'tin ihis case." llow it was suddcuiy borne home to her that this "liobert" was l lie man she uauted, "ClubnBse" told me she never coBld quito niake out, lt lla-hed upon her.ull oí a minute, she siiid ; and she never liad a doubt oí' the correctncss oí' the instinct that prompted her to the conviction. She lny and listened, but coukf caten nothing inore. She got a good look, however, at the wonian wlio was a visitor, md lelt eertain she should know her again anywhere. Before leuving the hospital, Margaret Saunders had scraped up a speaking acquaiutaiice with the patiënt wlio was so anxious about "Robcrt," and learnt enough to fiud out In what part of London slie must look for information about the oharacter and antecedonts oí' tho said "liobert." Il was ihis inCident, by thc way, that suggested to her afterwards the val uu of assumiug the disguise oí' a hospital nurse. ïlie ingeuuity witn whieii she ferretéd out the facts which eveulually detorruined her to track "líooert" to Glasgow, was wonderlul. And not loss wotiueríul was her dogged paiiencc. liven when she had run her quarry to earih and was conviuce J in hor owu inind that she had her hands upon the criminal she liad to wait uiuil she cottld piece lhe biLs o f evidence together, aiidabove all until tue vieúm oí' the outrage, whose bram had boen seiiously aílected by the injuries he liad reeoiveii, had BUliiciontly recovered llis inind and uieniory to give sonie imelligiblo account ot' tlie aitackupon hiiii. Even when he could do so, ne protestCd Uiniseif oxceod.nly doubtl'ul ot being ablo 10 ívooginze or idontit'y liis assailauts : he knuw, however, that there was two oí' tiiem, a man ana wonian. lt was neariy civilicen monihs after tlie perpeiration oí' the crime bel'orc the paneuco and porseverauco oí' Margaret feannders wero revvarüed with sullicioni suceess tojustiíy lier in ooininunieaiing with t.-o pohco. Xho tjcotland Yard officials were at lirst Hardiy mcliiiea lo credit her, but hor earnestuesB convincod thein ai last that thero was "somotüing 111 it." i'erhaps tüoy wore helpod a hule toward üiat convict.on uy tne lact thal sao soleninly swore ihat sho would never liuger a penny ot tho rewarü. "öhe had huuloU this man down lo olear her owu cliaracler and set herseH' rigUt wiih mu woríW," slio Rfttt, "and uot, a i'artuiiig ot' ttie I'cwihu ronld shc touch." It is unnnoflssary to dwell upon tho séquel. Sufflce it to say ihat "Roliert" was arres ted, that his accomiilice, who was the niece of tho victim'í housekeeper, waa sub.equi'iitly taken also ; that tho pair wcre tried, convicted and sentoneed, the woman to ton years, the man to penal servitude for lií'e.. Margaret Saoudexa was highly oomplimented by the judge upon tho sagacily and acuteuoss she liad displayed, liis lordship observing that. sho was "a born detective." The press too was loud in her praises;a subscription was set on f'oot as au expression of the public admiration for the imlomitable courage, re.solution and patlence, and tho oxtraordinary astutoness which liad onabled her to I ring two great crimináis to justice. ïho journal which liad suggested and starled thc subscription deputed a member ol' its staff woll known ns a master of the "picturesque" style, to inlorvicw Margaret Saunders and write up a sensational article-upon hor. lie applied to tho pólice for her address ; andan inspector froin Scotland Yard volunteore I to go with him - Sii" Richard Mavne, the then Chiet' Oommissionor o I' Pólice, lia ving oxprossoil a desire that soineihing should be done for -Margaret. Sannd rs to show the offloial appreciation of her conduct. The journalist and the inspector accordinly proceolod together on their visit to the heroine. Tiiey íound Margaret Saundors ainong very unsavory society - in one of tho lowest of the fllihy dens that swarm about the London docks. Not a very invking subject for iuterviewing, and but a sorry horoino for a sensational article. However, thoy did interview her ; and she soon, In lauguago more vigorous than politc, gavu them her inind upon the propqsed recognition 01 f-urvious. olie wouiun't navo anytUiug to do with aay subse.ription or reward- wouldii't touch a firthjiiff. "Look 'ere." slic doggedly gaidj "what 1 donu í done for in'y ovn sake, and nobody (#se"s. 1 mcant. rijfhllu' of myself. That's mv business, no yours. 1 don't want nobody's money nor praiso. Lot, 'cm keep that to tliemselves. Bul I teil ye wliat," she added, Mmiiiig to the Hispeètor; "if ye mean true bv all üioin line couipliÏIU'IÜS " "Most, certaiuly we do," interposed the iu.siiector. "Well theii, I'U teil ye what ye can do to sliow it. ' "What is that?" askcd the inspector. "Wliy, make me one o' youi-.s-lves. If l'm as goud ut you say, I niiglit le woith souictuiiiL; in you'r line. Make me ono o' yourselves - a deteotlvi; ïliat'sall lask: ■■■' -e .■ -" wun't ,1, nun, i don l want anythiiKr inuro to say to ye." It was a novel and startling proposition, and the lu-.-peet.or was somevvhat, urnen auvn oy ir; nowever, he niil.iifully [U-oaiiscd to lay the maner iI foro the antlioriUes at Scotland Yar.l, and lot her fctiów tlio resnlt; with Lhat, he and lila companion left her. Tne end ot' it was tliat her wish was grantëd. BTargaret Saunders was duly enrolled as a témale detective, and a most active and ia elligeut offieer she proved hei'self lo be. ïliat is in substance the strange history of ''Olubiioae's" coimactioii with ihe pólice, as glie hersëlf told it to me. 1 questioned her also upon lier profossional care t; bnt nere sho was more ïvtiuent; stil!, I gathered tliat it had ji'en niarkcd by nmny (.■xciting adventurus and haiv-breaáth escapea trom Icalh. I leai-ned, lor example, tliat she owed the horrible disiig uremeut jf ier lace to the polituattentions of two vatcr-.side riiliiins whose lady-comanions she had been instrumeiitil in to the tender care of the jailer of Toutoir. ille. -'Tliey took it jut u' me w;rry hot," she said in her oiiüli bnt undeinoiMi-anVe nianner. '1 lic kon they tliourt tliey liad done brme; but bless ye, i'iu tough, and bey got iheir seven years apiece for ne- thongli mind ye, the Scolland Yard folks ivo'ild iievcrlet on as 1 was one o' tlieni. ïliev was tried and con. victed for assanltin' of me as an ordiunry person. The lawyers tricl to make out that I was a pólice spy. but they couldn't prove it. But I liad to keep clear o' that district for a loug While ar'crvvards. I was curious to know how with sucli a remarkáble gnysiojfiiomy she was Bot recognizo l ia a moment wheiever she went, and I put the questioai to her as delicately as l could. 1 at onco fouud that I had touehed hof hobby. If the re wasono thliig that she pi'Uied herself upon more than another it was lier power ol'dwguwing herself, and indeed 1 aiterwards loarm-d froni one of the inspectors that she had good rcason for beiug proud of thU accoiiir plishmeut, for tliere tas no oue iu the forcai wh,o could compete icith hor n the clcvcrness and variety of her disguises. Tiyice, howcver. she admittod that tier disguiB liau oeen penetratcd. and on each occasion she ncarly paid the penalty wiih lier 1 i te. On the flrst occasion slio was pitclied out of the window and had her leg broken. On 1 1 to second - which happened not more thau a year bufore my lirst ntroduotiou to het in her professional capacity - slie had wliat slie called 'a precious narrow .suave o' beul' sent to kingdoni come outright.' She had been for weuks ou ihe trail of a very clevcr gillij ot thieves, and had acttiall}r been admut ;d a ineniber of the fraternuy and wornie I her elf mto their 8ccrets so perfect and arlislio was her dis_;iiise. Un a cortain evcniiiQf it was agreed that the pólice wcre lo swoup do Wíl upon the gSitg, aciilig ou 'iiilbrniation received' froni 'Clubnosc.' Ün this evening it unfortunalely happene.,1 that tliere was present for the tir.st timo an old niember of the ho bad just got hls tii-.kei-of-leave. WhcLlier 'Clubuoso' throiigh overeontidenee in the perlection of lier diégiüse, comniittud soine indiscretion ornot, she could not teil ; liut at. anyrate in somc way ihe SUSpicions oi the returned convict werc roused. j Ie cominnnicated thern privately tosome of his 'pais' - a rush was made ai 'Clubtiose'; she was overpowered, strippeil of lier disguise, and then 'welted,' to use her own expression, about the bcad and body, witli pokers, bars, legs of ohairs, and any other availuble weapon, utitil she was let t a 'mass o' jelly." he contrivcd, however, before they knocked her senseless, to break the window and sound the whistle she carried. The pólice burst in, too late to save hor froni the vengcanco of the thieves, but intime to make an important capture. They found "Clubnose" with lier sxull fmetured, and with hardly a hole bine in her skin. The injuries to her siaill Avere so severe as to necesita te ihe opera tion of trepan u ing, which was successfully performed ; but, she sa.d, -.ie had nevel' been herself si nee, and was constantly troubled vvicli terrible pains in the head. "Ay," she adöed with the rude kind of philosophy which was L curious trail iu lier cha rao ter, "that was a gallus bad job, that was. They nigii done formo; but it might ha' been wor-e. fcjuiiposin' now they'd ha' sinashed me up afore I spotied iheir hule game, eh? ïhat would ha' been somethin' to grumble at." It was a worse 'J b" for poor "Clubnose" than she uaagined. W'ilhin six montlis after ray last interview with her, she was dead ; the cause of de ah beiug au abscess in Ihe brain, produced by the frightl'ul injuries to her head on the occasion when "iliev nigh done" for her. ishe must have been inisscd in the force ; for she was - as the judge described her ai the trial which lirst brought her remarkable qualities into prominence - "a bom detective," and it will be lonj' befurc the pólice of thisor any oiher eouniry obtain the services of a woinau .-- sessed of the nerve, the astntenes.s, aijd the dogged resolutiou of "Uhuiuusc." Says The Coney Island Neivs: "Amoiig the waiters ut one of the notels on the beach are two I'olish counts, au Austrian diplomai, a bankrupt brewer, a Frencli niagician, fourteen ltalian tenors lroin Germauy, nine cornet players, three unapprecialed Germán traedians, t.ventytbree ladies' hair-dressers, thirteeu barbers, and five eider sous who expect to be heirs to castles on the lihiue. Such an array of promiscuous talent has rarely been combiued, but many of them are poor matheniati. cians and are consequently very slupul in giving correct change." Kemcmber, it is not the I cock that changes ; it is Uie wind.