Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-01-09
TheBurglars Entrapped

anu lldO AilONn C0Sn OlIlSA
from boyhood. We talked over
our school days as we sat on the
seat together; we discussed the
crops; we argued the moral, SC
cial, intellectual and political
questions of the day; we specu-
lated on the weather; we brought
forth every subject we could
think of until, at last, there came
a lull in the conversation. Then
/ said, as a sudden thought
struck me:
johnson, don't you ever have
any exciting adventures in your
line of business? Tell us a ste
ry of your experience, will you?''
Ny friend laughed, and, fixing
his keen, gray eyes upon my face,
answered, musingly:
Exciting adventures? Hum
-yes-I suppose they would be
called so. There are a great
many occurrences that / might
relate, but / don't generally care
to speak Of them; however, as il
is you, Reade, | aCiU tell you of
a curious capture that l made a
few weeks ago-on one condi-
ton.
"Name it."
"That if | break off suddenly
in the middle of my story you
will not be displeased."
l knew he had good reason for
his proviso, so / said:
Certainly not, ! accept the
condition"
"Last spring." he began, q
had occasion to track a noted
burglar from our city to Chica-
go, and back, but | didn't catch
him after all. almost had the
clutches Of the law upon him
several times, but | think he got
wind that he was pursued, fer
he did a number of shrewd things,
and assumed a number of strange
disguises, which baffled my ev-
cry attempt. Still / determined
that he should not elude me by
any mere subterfuge, and, tho
many times thrown off the trail,
| entered B a short time af-
ter the fellow himself. / don't
think he suspected he could be
followed so closely, for he grew
careless and soon / knew his
whereabouts. / knew the man
personally. We were long ac-
quainted before / discovered his
character, for he was a person
of education, and in his dcport-
ment a perfect gentleman. A
man who you would never sus-
pect to be guilty Of the crime
which had disgraced his career.
"Well, as | said, l found out
where he was, and about nine o.
clock one moonlight eve, detective
Davis and myself, disguised,
went in search of him. 1t was
at house in the worst quarter
Of the city that we expected to
find him, but he was not there.
We made a search, but cur eel
had once more slipped through
our fingers. Foiled again, we
lonce more turned cur steps home
ward. We parted at the corner,
and | was proceeding up through
the business streets alone, when,
passing the door of fiashy sa-
loon, | was surprised to hear the
sound Of a familiar voice. 1t
was my man earnestly engaged
in conversation with another fel-
low of the same class. 1t was
not discreet to take him Just
there, so, trusting to my disguise,
| entered the place. There was
a crowd around the bar, eating
and drinking. They stopped the
loud talking and laughing for a
moment as ! entered, and imme-
diately resumed their hilarity.
By and by the two came in from
the doorway, went into one cf
the curtained recesses and order
ed oysters. The earnest conyer-
sation had the effect Of arousirg
my curiosity, and here was the
opportunity of learning what
mischief was brewing. ] bought
some little things, a doughnut CT
two, and left the saloon. Be
tween this and the next building
there was a passage way about
four feet wide. Into this / went
and reached the window of the