Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1870-12-15
From the Waverly Magazine
STATES EVIDENCE.
A Detectives Story.
BY ". n. ORNE.

had recently returned to my ns-
tive city after a prolonged absence
in California, where l had amassed
a sufficiency of this worlds goods
to warrant my retirement from active
business life. One day, as I was
lettering upon the common, who
should 1 run across but my old chum
Jack Dunlap. 1t was years since
we had met, but the recognition, not
withstanding, was mutual, and sim
ultaneously We pronounced each
others names.
Jack had been a member Of the
police force for two or three years
when ! left home, and I was hardly
prepared to find in the spruce, smart
ly dressed, gentlemanly appearing
individual, my quondam friend; for
it is maxim among the blue coated
and brass-buttoned gentry that once
a policeman always policeman
1t was evident at glance that
Jacks shines had fallen in pleasant
places" and the first greetings over
he made me acquainted with the
causes which had led to his altered
condition. He was still occupied in
the favorite pursuit for which he
had always evinced a remarkable
aptitude-the pursuit of criminals;
but he was now, to use his own
words, ''his own man." having es-
tablished an independent detective
agency, whereof he still retained the
head and management. His Office
was hard by, and he proposed that
we should adjourn thither, and over
a pipe Of "kilikinick" have a social
chat, recount our various expert
ences, and talk over old times.
1 was nothing 10th, and, arm-in-
arm, we were proceeding out the
Park street gate, when I was accost-
ed by ragged, half f-drunken wretch,
who piteously begged "a few cop
pers to keep him from starving"
1 am not exactly a teetotaller in a
strict sense, but I have some con-
scientious scruples against encour-
aging the vice Of intemperance; so
1 at once refused the beggar's petit
ton; but not so Jack, who, brush
ing by me, drew from his pocket a
roll Of currency, selected two or
three fifty cent stamps, and before 1
could demonstrate, thrust them into
the mendicant's hand, and then
turned hastily away, dragging me
after him, without waiting to hear
the thanks of the astonished and
delighted ragamuffin.
"You are doubtless surprised,
Harry" said Jack, as we fastened
along. "But season your admira-
ton for awhile-that is, wait till we
are alone in my office, and I will un-
fold tale that, although it may not
actually 'freeze thy young blood"
and so forth, I'll guarantee at least
it will harrow up your SOUL"
In a few moments we were seated
in Jacks comfortable Office, and af-
ter we had smoked and talked for
awhile, 1 reminded my friend of his
promised narration, which he at once
commenced in this wise:
at was year or two after you
went away" said Jack, "that a gen.
tleman one day came into the Chiefs
office, and informed him that his
store had been robbed the previous
night Of large amount Of valuable
stock, consisting Of silks, satins and
velvets, together with twelve hun
dred dollars in cash, which he had
neglected to deposit in the bank. I
was despatched to investigate and
work up the case.
"On visiting the store, / at once
came to the conclusion that the rob-
berry had been committed by, or at
least with, the connivance of some
one of Mr.. Whittemore's employees.
When the store was opened in the
morning, everything presented its
customary appearance; the goods
lay where they had been left the
preceding night, and it was only
when unlocking the safe in order to
take therefrom the roll Of bills, and
have them deposited at once, that
Mr.. Whittemore discovered that they
had been abstracted; at the same
moment one of the clerks came hur-
rying to him with the astounding in
telligence that 3 series of drawers
behind one Of the counters, in which
were kept the most valuable goods,
had been ransacked, and scarcely c
vestigs Of their contents left! The
proprietor " once saw that he was
n a yietis az q .Lrsua srd skiilA-l