The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-08-05
CAUGHT IN HIS OWN TRAP

1V1 tween myself and landlady. My
bill was sadly in arrear, and Mrs. Rig
woodie, having passed from frowns to
words, and from words to importantly, had
ended with pre-emptory demand of pay
ment.
Not being ready-or having the ready
to comply with her requirement, had
nothing for it but to vacate my room and
surrender my night key the former being
wanted, was given to understand, for MI.
O'Bosh, an old customer of Mrs. Rig
woodie's, whom she was under a standing
promise to accommodate, and whose arri-
val was hourly expected. Mr.. O'Bosh, ]
may here say, was Mrs. Rigwoodie's Mrs.
Harris--a convenient myth-one who
never came, but was always coming when
delinquent boarder was to be got rid of.
had come to the city to be an author (;
but my efforts with the pen to scrape ac-
quaintance with fame and fortune had not
proved over successful.
Down to my last dollar, with no i'm
mediate prospect of another, and wearied
with long search for cheap boarding
house whose terms were not Invariably
in advance" sat me down in an out
of-the-way restaurant, to face a tough
beefsteak and the still tougher question of
what was best to be done.
A grave looking gentleman sat opposite,
dividing his attention between bottle of
wine and the evening paper.
"What bungling set these detectives
are" said the gentleman, whose tone left
it doubtful whether he spoke to himself or
me.
"Why" he continued answering my
look, "here's that bank robbery, nearly q
week old; yet, with every clue to guide
them, and the stimulus of a handsome
reward besides, those who should have
been hot on the scent within an hour,
still stand gaping with their fingers in
their mouths Things were managed diff
ferently in my day.
"You were detective once, ventured
to surmise.
He nodded
"This reward--is it very large?" l
asked.
"Five thousand dollars" he answered,
" for the recovery of the property and cap
ture of the thief"
"'Twould be quick way TO make mon
ey," said !, "if one knew how to go about
it,"
"Would you like to go halves in MAX
ing the effort" he queried summing me
up with a scrutinizing glance.
81 fear should be Of little service" /
returned 81 have no experience in such
matters, and am almost a stranger in the
city,"
rThe very thing TO render your aid in
valuable. This crime is evidently not the
work of novice, and to your profession
al thief every detectives face is as famil-
lar as pals. The mere sight of one puts
the game to fight. With you It would
be different. Under skillful guidance you
could work unsuspected. Now, if you'll
put yourself in my hands for thirty-six
hours, ! believe we can bag the prize
What say you-is it a bargain9"
1t was not exactly the road TO fortune
had set out in, but it looked like short
er cut at starting, At any rate, my cir
cumstances were desperate, and saw nc
better chance to mend them.
81 accept your Offer" ] said.
"Come along, then" said the stranger,
rising and having settled our scores, we
left the place together.
In the street he took my arm, and after
long walk through unfrequented by
streets, my companion called halt before
sombre looking house, into which he ad-
mitted us with latch key. He led the