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"A dangerous maleyfactor," said Diggs to me, as he tightened his grip on Bunch's arm; "but they ain't no call for you to assist the course of justice, because if the dern critter starts to run I'll pump him chuck full of lead. He's been a'tellin' me he started on the downward path to predition as a child-stealer."
"I got a clue from this here gent," he said, pointing a bony finger at Bunch, "and I ups and chases that there maleyfactor for four miles, well knowin' that the cause of justice would suffer and the reward of fifty dollars be nil and voidless if the critter got away. But I got him, by crickey, I got him!"
He looked from one to the other, seeking a sign of applause, and Bunch said, "Where did you catch him?" "About four miles yonder," Diggs explained, indefinitely. "It was a fierce fight while it lasted, but they ain't no maleyfactor livin' can escape the clutches of these here hands oncet they entwines him. I pulled the dem cuss out of his clothes!"
The transformation scene was made complete by the fact that Bunch was now wearing my hat. In answer to Bunch's question, the redoubtable Diggs smiled indulgently and said with pride-choked tones, "A maleyfactor, sir, caught in the meshes of the law and hauled before this here trybune of Justice by these hands!"
"A mutt with a pink ulster and one of those pancakes on his head like the drivers of the gasoline carts wear," Bunch suggested. "It's him! it's the maleyfactor!" exclaimed Harmony, tightening his grip on the night stick; "which way did the derned cuss go?"
Then I coaxed the rural Vidocq over in the corner and gave him a game of talk that I thought would warm his heart, but he listened in dumbness and couldn't see "no sense in believing the maleyfactor was anythin' more'n a derned cuss, nohow!" "I have every reason to believe that we have made a mistake," I said to Harmony in a hoarse whisper.
"Then I seen the lights here and says I, 'they has him'! Perduce the maleyfactor till I trot him to the lock-up!" and with this the minion of the law rolled up his sleeves and prepared for action. "I presume you are the chief of police?" inquired Uncle Peter, with an affable smile.
Buggular," Diggs was saying, "I don't know just what your home trainin' was as a child, but they's a screw loose somewhere or you'd a'never been brought to this here harrowful perdickyment, nohow. I s'pose you jest started in nat'rally to be a heenyus maleyfactor early in life, huh?
It was now broad daylight, but nowhere within my line of vision could I get a peep of the doughty Diggs. No doubt he was still cutting across lots trying to head off the "maleyfactor." When I reached the cottage I found all the members of my household dressed for the day, and lined up on the piazza, eager for news from the battlefield. "Gee whiz!" exclaimed Uncle Peter, "the boy is bareheaded!
With this thrilling announcement he opened the bundle and proudly displayed the burglar harness which Bunch had worn on that memorable night. "And the burglar himself?" Bunch questioned. Diggs raised his head slowly, and with theatrical effect answered, "I give the cussed scoun'rel the doggonest drubbin' a mortal maleyfactor ever got and let him go.
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