The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-11-28
SHEER LUCK.
A DETECTIVES ADVENTURE WITH A
CRIMINAL.

A DETECTIVES ADVENTURE WITH A
CRIMINAL.
One pleasant evening recently two
men were seated in a cosy little room
not far from st. Louis. engaged in con-
yerSatiOn concerning criminals. One
was detective connected with a Chica-
60 agency. well, - remarked the de
tective, after a pause in the cOnversa-
tiOn. Il viii tell You a peculiar little
incident that happened several years
ago to a brother detective. which VII
illustrate how luck sometimes assists us
in accomplishing an object which other
wise might be unattainable.
Several years ago, - he continued. as
he ejecied a cloud of smoke from his
mouth, "a noted forger was wanted
very badly in Chicago. where he had
been indulging in such croOkedness as
rendered him liable to occupy the peni-
tentiary for a term of years if he were
caught. The case was placed in Pinker-
tons hands and one of his men detailed
to work it up. He was fortunate
enough to obtain 4 clue to the much
wanted individuals whereabouts and
following it up he at once spotted his
man at Toronto, Canada, which YOU
know is on Lake Ontario. The detec-
tive threw himself in the way Of the
fOrger, became acquainted with him un-
der an assumed name. and gradually in
gratlatcd himself in his favor Forgery
not being an eXtraditable Offense. il was
impossible to make the arrest in Canada
so the detective was obliged to adOpt
another line of tactics. He made
known his intention of crossing over in
to the States, and the fOTger determined
to go to the boat to see him off. Once
on board the detective kept him engrOSs-
ed in interesting conversation. and with
such cOnsummate tact did he play his
part that the crooked gentleman did not
notice that that the boat had started
until 1t was Ear out in the lake. for they
had gone below TO take a social glass at
parting. When the forger found the
boat gradually receding from the Cana
dian shore. with no possibility of getting
back Immediately, he fumed and swore
for time, but seeing that that did not
better matters in the least. cooled down
and determined to make the best of a
bad job.
''AS soon as that imaginary line in
the middle of the lake which divides the
two countries had been passed. the de
tectlVe revealed himself and. clapping
on the Dippers, arrested his man. They
arrived on the other shore at length
without adventure, and boarding the
lightning express on the Lake Shore and
Michigan Southern that night. they
started on their journey. There hap
pened TO be few persons in the car in
which the two sat The detective was
almost completely worn out from loss of
sleep, and as it was a through train he
determined to obtain a little Morpheus
Placing the prisoner on the inner side
of the seat, he 50 disposed himself next
him that he Imagined the slightest move
would awake him. These arrangements
completed, he fell asleep in an easy state
OF mind. He does not know how long
he slept until he awoke suddenly and
found to his chagrin that the forger was
gone. It Is Il rule of our agency that if
a man IS sent npOn the trail Of a depre-
datOr, and fails in bringing him back.
he loses his place 50 you see that his
reputation as well rs his position de-
pended upon his prompt action. lie
quickly decided upon bis line of action,
and, walking with assumed careleSSneSs
through the entire car, he examined every
nook and corner that the prisoner could
possibly be slowed away in. His search
was fruitless. On his return he was ac-
cOSted by brakeman, who inquired
- Are you looking for your friend =
The detective answered in the atflr-
native.
- oh, said the brakeman. 'he got off
at the last station where we stopped for
water. He seemed as if he didn't want
to disturb your sleep-fOr he got out
over the back of the seat.
''The detective then made known who
he was, and inquired of the brakeman
whether there was any possible chance
of his getting back to the town that
g
ped a short distance ahead on a siding
in order to allow a freight train going
in the direction of this particular town
to pass them. The conductor signalled
it to stop, the detective got aboard, and
in the course of an hour or so was stand
ing in the little village where he desired.
1t was primitive Ohio hamlet. and the
only alleged hotel it could boast Of was
of the most wretched description. The
detective concluded that he could do
nothing at that late hour and in his eX-
hausted condition so he determined to
obtain little sleep and scour the coun-
try in the morning. With infinite diff
Guilty he succeeded in arouSing the
sleepy landlord of the hOstlery. There
were no accommodations, he said. in
reply to the detectives question. unless
he was willing to occupy the same room
and bed
WITH ANOTHER MAN.
''The detective thought it was better
than sleeping out, so he asked to be
shown the room. He had just disrobed
and was about to extinguish the tallow
dip, when something prompted him TO
take look at his bedfellOw. He did
so. and what was his surprise to find his
whilom prisoner snuggled up in the bed
clothes. Accustomed as he was to re-
pressing his feelings upon all occasions,
he could scalc cely refrain from a joyful
shout at his good fortune, and it was
some time before he recovered sufficient