The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-02-05
The Detectives Adventure.

stepped on the wharf at Buffalo, gentleman
tapped me on the shoulder and said, "This
way, if you please" AS did not happen
to please Tut was turning to look after my
baggage, he seized hold of me, and said,
"Come along, sir"
said, Don't be rude my man. am
not on duty now, and cannot attend to your
case, whatever it may be-"
J "But | can to yours" retorted he, $50
come along without any more ado"
"Claim your baggage! Train leaves in
five minutes" shouted the porter.
my trunk Check for Burlington" " said /.
"Check for the station-house," put in my
pertinacious, new-made friend.
What on earth do you mean? You will
make me miss the t,ain," said |.
But not the station" he replied, dr;ly,
so come along"
Twill you please to introduce yourself
before We proceed with our acq laintance."
Il am Deputy Crane Of Buffalo," he an
swered.
land l am Deputy Wood of Chicago
But trains off. will see you on my return.
I There was little confusion "Al aboard" "
shouted the conductor. And all aboard they
got, excepting Deputy Wood and his trunk,
which, to my certain knowledge, were left
standing in the depot, the one for a moment
about as speechless as the other. Deputy
Crane presently remarked that he had never
before had the pleasure of meeting Deputy
Wood of Chicago but he thought his friends
Smith, Jones 4 Co., might have been fortu-
nate, and if would have the goodness to
walk up to the City Hotel where they board
ed such as me for nothing, he would send
for them | knew there was some mistake,
but thought it would hinder me only one
train, and as the adventure might be worth
all it cost | would 90 along without further
explanation.
ings of the city hotel as Crane facetiously
termed it, and while ne was gone for Smith
in Buffalo The store of Smith, Jones \ Co..
robbed of some thousand dollars worth of
silks, besides notes and drafts for several
thousands more. One thousand dollars re-
ward for detection of the thief, &C." This
notice had been published so long before
that should never have thought of it again,
had not the present episode refreshed my
memory. But had not long to mediate
before Smith, jones & Co., with half a
dozen clerks, were on hand, all identifying
me, from Smith down to the errand boy, as
being the identical man who was lurking
around the premises in suspicious manner
the day before the robbery.
"Wel, my man,, said deputy Crane pat
ting me on the shoulder, guilty or not gull
typ"
"Hunyry," replied, land if you please
we will 60 and get some breakfast"
There is ice in that But could you
feed yourself with your hands tied together ?
That is according to the rules of the house,
answered Crane"
Now hold on Crane" exclaimed, "ths
Joke has gone about far enough. We can
telegraph to the chief in Chicago, and get
our answer in half an hour which will put
the matter all right, and in the mean time |
will sat some breakfast and be ready for the
noon express"
Tearing a leaf from my memorandum book,
| wrote, Chief Detective Police, Chicago ::
Describe Deputy Wood, and say where he
is
Crane took the dispatch, signed his own
name to it, and sent it forward Immediately.
Shortly the answer was returned: Deputy
Wood, thirty-fve years, red hair, freckled
face FIVE feet eleven, dressed in full suit
sleeps gray. On way to Vermont and rob
ably passed Buffalo this morning. Has any
accident happe' ed ~ Signed Chief De-
tectve Police, Chicago
This was conclusive, and was straight
way escorted with many apologies by my
new friend from the City Hotel to the
American House, where was invited to eat
and. drink, not at the expense.of the city, but
of my humble tservant. While the chick
ea was broiling We talked over matters, and
came to the conclusion that as | had not
been in Buffalo before for many year, some
body had who looked wonderfully like me
and thousand dollars was offered to any
one who would produce him, which re-
ward Deputy Crane almost felt in his pocket
when he nabbed me at the station.
After breakfast 1--WE walked down to the
store of Smith, Jones & Co., and talked over
the affair. Jones apologized and said "he
supposed they must have been mistaken in
the man, which perhaps was not strange,
seeing our attention was not called to you
particularly at the time and several months
had interviewed; mistakes will happen in very
: good families" Having delivered himself
of this doubtful admission of my honesty
and entirely original joke, Mr.. Jones retired
into the counting room, looking very uncon,
vnced; and the clerks as if by common in.
stnct, began to put back the loose goods or
the counter, as though they feared | would
grab them on my way out Of the store
Crane think was thoroughly convinced, be-