Desperation and Decision Read Online Free PDF Page A

own blood.
    "It's 'constable,' sir." The policeman
straightened again while still restraining the boy. I confined
myself to studying the pale, drawn, mud-streaked face of the boy in
the constable's grip.
    "Yes, that's him. I remember that venomous
little face leering up at me. Pickpockets don't usually try to
spear their targets, do they?"
    "Property missing?" The constable ignored
the question.
    "Well, I have my watch back." I showed it to
the constable. The pickpocket dropped his jaw at the sight of
it.
    "Oy tol' yew!" shrieked the boy. "It were
'at cove wot 'ad nuffink on. 'E pinched it, not me. Oy'm walkin'
about an' moindin' me own business when this yere toff –" he
indicated me "-- whips 'is stick 'tween me legs an' upends me in
the dustbins. Then Oy sees – Oy sees a thing loik a big black dog
on'y crouchin'-like an' wit green oiys. Then this other cove wit
'air everywhere an' nuffink on gets a'tween us an' Oy gets the
blame for pinchin' wot Oy nivver pinched!"
    "Enough nonsense, me lad." The constable
shook the boy roughly.
    "What makes you carry a knife, son?" I asked
the pickpocket.
    "Gerrout. T' save me 'ide from perishin' big
dogs an' coves wit nuffink on wot attacks a chap, that's wot."
    Archie prompted me with another prod from
his elbow. "Constable, since I've got my watch back and there's no
serious harm done, do you suppose the boy could be released?" I
asked belatedly.
    "Complaint has been recorded. Have to take
him in and process him, sir."
    "Right," Archie persisted. "But could we
stop by the station later and perhaps see him?"
    "No law forbids it." The constable marched
the boy off.
     
    "First of all," Madame Moore-Campbell began
again, "I had originally meant to stay at home and just be a wife
and mother, never to pursue my singing career any further, after I
married Archie."
    "Always thought that was a stupid idea,"
Doctor Mac snorted. "Talent like yours should be used for the Lord.
The opportunity to travel, to be a blessing and an influence for
Christ was too good to miss, no matter that you got all the hackles
up again on the Aunt Hill when you decided to tour."
    "It started out to be just for the reason you
said." Madame Moore-Campbell blushed. "We just wanted to honor the
Lord. Archie's business training with his father made him a perfect
manager and we were also able to hold revivals and evangelistic
meetings, as you know. We spread Rose's foundation works to other
places and set up schools and churches to disciple those we were
able to minister to along the way.
    "But as we traveled we could not help seeing
the criminal activity. We began to notice a new and frightening
pattern. The kind of thing that happened to you has been happening
a lot lately.
    "Pickpockets have become aggressive, violent,
and actually murderous. It's happening in any number of cities here
in England and across the British Empire"
    "The authorities don't believe that these are
connected gangs under a single leader," Mr. Campbell said. "We've
stuck our noses in despite opposition from every possible
government agency. Our contacts believe that there is a central
organizer, and that he resides in London."
    "Organized pickpockets?" Doctor Mac scoffed.
"Why on earth would anyone do such a thing? I mean, sure, small
lots, one fellow controlling the boys and fencing the profits, I've
heard of that. But how can the profits from handkerchiefs and
watches support an international organization?"
    "It's far beyond watches and handkerchiefs,"
Madame Moore-Campbell informed him. "So-called ordinary pickpockets
are stealing government documents. Negotiable bonds go missing and
are cashed out. Engineering plans and vital business documents are
being held for extortive sums or sold to competitors – "
    "Well, this makes our experience pale by
comparison," Doctor Mac said.
    "But it fits the pattern," Mr. Campbell
insisted. "And it's 'way beyond just pickpockets. We believe
prostitutes, housebreakers and drug traffickers are also