The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-12-21
ENERAPPED.
A DETECTIVES STORY

Some twenty years since, ! was q poo
detective, doing but 4 small and not yer
+ rGmiunerative "buSinGss' in the city o
l., in Kentucky Too much leisur
made time hang heavy on my Idle hands
and ofttimcs had engaged team, ant
taken a drive around the country, some
tirics making circuit of twenty miles
j 1t was in one Of these excursions o
, mine that I became acquainted with Bir
die Reynolds, the daughter Of 4 HoaltkY
retired banker Gf L, whose residence
was situated Within few miles of The
city itself 1t WAS an acquaintance whicl
could not long remain casual, for, two
months after our first meeting,I had beer
50 imprudent as to fall irretrievably ii
love with her; and she--darling gill;
had promised to love me always, despite
the frowns and anger of'thc patcrna
Reynolds. who soon found a way Of pre-
venting our clandestine meetings.
1t was long time before | could mus
ter sufficient courage to enter the grounds
Of the Reynolds mansion, but, at length,
wcaried with watching for Birdie at
the usual trysting place, l donned my
best suit, and summoning all my self. con
troll, pulled the elegant little bell-knob
and was soon ushered into the drawing
room, the servant, as requested. conveying
my card to the paternal relative of my lit
tie pei. my love for whom | was about to
avow to that cholcric individual Some
oversight on my part. caused me to send
the wrong card for, instead of the Or
dinary Harry Leeds" | had delivered
my professional card, bearing not only
my own name, but my business, and the
detective agency by which was employ
ed. Iri few moments; therefore, AIr.
Reynolds entered the room, nervGuSly
twirlng the card in his hand.
"You could not have arrived at "a more
opportune moment" he said. grasping
my hand warmly, to my no little aston
ishment, "aIthough | was unaware that
intelligence Of the robbery had reached
the police headquarters as yet"
"I-I-simply called" I stammer
ed out.
"Of course, by orders Of the chief of
police. Please accompany me to the Ii
brary, and | will give you the full par
ticulars of tie affair."" interrupted he,
leading the way to that place, and seat
ing himself, after waving me to 4 char.
''There is no clue to the pe:petrator of
the robbery, but you detectives are sharp
enough to make much ont Of nothing
I have met you before, Mr.. Leeds he
said, suddenly recognizing me as the
companion Of his daughter on several
occasions.
Il am slightly acquainted with your
daughter, sir" l replied confusedly.
''Ah, yes; | remember now. But to
proceed to the business on hand. Late
last evening,or early this morning, this
room was entered by one or more persons,
and a small tin box, containing over
seventy thousand dollars in United States
bonds, was abstracted from that desk" /"
pointing to solid mahogany desk in Il
corner of the room. The party or par,
ties entered by that window from the
veranda, and in forcing the lock Of The
deck, used this instrument,which | found
lying on the floor, dropped there appar-
emily by the burglar III his hurry to c5-
cape"
lie handed mt, as he spoke, small
instrument, some four or five inches i'll
length, and constructed so durably as to
stand any amount Of straining without
breaking, and evidently Il new invention
for the forcing of locks or fastenings. I
looked at it curiously, and, in turning 1t
over, read on the reverse side: ''Weldon
Pat. IS" To all appearance it had
been but little used, and knew it TO be
of recent manufacture, from the fact that
no implement of the Kind had ever he
fore, in my recollection, been found in
the possession of d cracksman.
at is all the clue you can possibly
iind," said Mr.. ReyrGlds, after a pause
land, although feel almost certain you
will have but little success in detecting
the thief, will pay all your expenses,
whether you succeed or fail and should
the former be the case, a reward OF ten
thousand dollarsr'
81 will undertake the case, sill" ] re-
piled, "but require nothing more than |
usually receive-my expenses and or
binary fee. Should succeed, however,
may have favor to ask, which, were
| certain of its being granted, | would
imperil my life to recover the bonds"
"Well, we will talk of that hcrcaftcr,"
replied my host, apparently mistnder-
standing me, ''and now to business"
Two hours later, after having closely
examined the servants, and the grounds
about the house, found myself in L.,
searching the directory for the name Of
Weldon" which name was impressed
OH the tool in my possession. Only one
name of the sort occurred, and the adj
dress indicated locksmith shop in
Knox street, whittier wended my way.
An old man, of perhaps sixty or more,
greeted me at the door, is | knocked for
admission, and querulously conycrscd
with me for 4 short. time then, upon my
informing him of my business, took
down from a shelf the exact counterpart
of the small Jimmy held in my hand.
at is new thing" lie said, proudly
pointing out its advantages over au or
binary implement of the kind, land to
men of my trade is invaluable; but some
men put it to bad use, and | had hard
time in getting it through the patcnt-o of
fee
"iIow many of them have you manu-
featured since the issuing df the patent Z
| askel
II make them to ORDER was the re
ply. "Only yesterday | completed Que
for gentleman who wished to use it in
his factory for something or other a
nice young fellow, too, and he paid me
liberally for it.
"Do YOU know his name
NO; he said he was proprietor of a
large establishment at N, but wish,
inc to remain in the city for a few days,
he ordered four more. He is to call for
them to-day"
You think he wishes them for a le-
gitimate purpose, do YOU" | asked.
Il don't know. I've often been de