Our more immediate business now is to put the reader in possession of all the incidents connected with the escapade of our hero.
Peace, as we have already noted, could not comport himself in a becoming meaner for any great length of time.
He had been looking about for a convenient “crib to crack.” He had, to use a cant or sporting phrase, “spotted” a large warehouse which stood at the east end of the town, and had come to the conclusion that there would be but little difficulty in his effecting an entrance.
The place was left in charge of a night watchman, whose vigilant eye Peace felt assured he could easily avoid.
It was his custom at this time to wear women’s boots. He had on the same pair which he made use of when he entered the millowner’s house at Dudley Hill.
Once in the premises, there would not be much difficulty in abstracting all valuables which were in any way portable.
He was over-confident on this occasion. He, however, took the precaution to disguise himself by wearing his false arm and colouring his face, which presented the appearance of a mulatto.
He was under the full impression, to use another sporting phrase, “that he would be able to walk over the course.”
The town of Bradford was enveloped in a mist when Peace sallied forth upon his marauding expedition.
He did not start from his lodgings, but had been for an hour or two at a quiet respectable coffee-shop. From this place he started upon his expedition.