The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-12-04
SHEER LUCK.
Detectives Adventure With Grim
iNal.

ONE peasant evening recently TWO
men were seated in a cozy little room
not far from St. Louis, engaged in con-
versation concerning criminals. One
was detective connected with Chi
cago agency. "Well,'' remarked the
detective, after pause in the CONVEX
sation, II will tell you peculiar little
incident that happened several years
ago to a brother detective, which will
illustrate how luck sometimes assists us
in accomplishing an object which other
wise might be unattainable.
"Several years ago." he continued,
as he elected cloud of smoke from his
"a noted forger was wanted
very badly in Chicago, where he had
been indulging in such crookedness as
him liable to occupy the Peni-
Tertiary for term of years if he were
caught. The case was placed in Pink
ertOn's hands and one of his men de-
work it up. He was fortunate
enough to obtain clew to the much
wanted individuals whereabouts, and
following it up he at length spotted his
man at Toronto, Can, which you know
is on Lake Ontario. The detective
threw himself in the way of the forger,
became acquainted with him under an
assumed name, and gradually ingratiat-
ed himself in his favor. Forgery not
being an extraditable Offense, it was
impossible to make the arrest in CAN
ada, so the detective was obliged to
adopt another line of tactics. He made
known his intention of crossing over
into the States, and the forger deter
mined to 60 to the boat and see him off.
Once on board the detective kept him
engrossed in interesting conversation,
and with such cOnsummate tact did he
play his part that the crooked gentle
man did not notice that the boat had
started until it was far out in the lake,
for they had gone below to take a So
cial glass at parting. When the forger
found the boat gradually receding from
the Canadian shore, with no possibility
of getting back Immediately, he fumed
and swore for time, but seeing that
that did not better matt ers in the least,
cooled down and determined to make
the best of bad job.
"As soon as that imaginary line i'm
the middle of the lake which divides
the two countries had been passed, the
detective revealed himself, and, clap
ping on the nippers, arrested his man.
They arrived on the other shore at
length without adventure, and board
ing the lightning express on the Lake
Shore & Michigan Southern that night.
they started on their journey. There
happened to be few persons in the cae
in which the two sat. The detectivr
was almost completely worn out from
loss of sleep, and as it was a through
train he determined to obtain little
Morpheus. Placing the prisoner on
the inner side of the seat, he SO dis
posed himself next him that he imag-
ined 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.
1t is rule of our agency that if a man
is sent upon the trail of a depredator,
and fails in bringing him back, he loses
his place; so you see that his reputation
as well as his position depended upon
his prompt action. He quickly decided
upon his line of action, and, walking
with assumed carelessness through the
entire train, he examined every nook
and corner that the prisoner could pos
sibly be slowed away in. His search
was fruitless. On his return he was ac-
cOsted by a brakeman, who inquired:
g. Are you looking for your friend?'
1.-The detective answered in the af-
firmative.
"'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
1.-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
night. Very fortunately the train
stopped short distance ahead on a
siding in order to allow freight train
going in the direction of this particular
town to pass them. The conductor sig
nailed it to stop, the detective got
aboard, and in the course of an hour or
so was standing in the little village
where he desired to be. 1t was primitive
Ohio hamlet, and the only alleged no.
tel 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 exhausted con-
dition; so he determined to obtain a lit
tie sleep and scOur the country in the
morning. With infinite difficulty he
succeeded in arousing the sleepy land
lord of the hosiery. 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 scarcely refrain from joyful
shout at his good fortune, and it was
some time before he recovered suffi-
cient calmness to act with GOODNESS.
After much self-congratulatiO he Sc
cured the forger's clothing to a piece of
CWluC oHu ouopOAuOA ulCH AAOAA tAO
window. He then resumed portion
of his own clothing and hid the re-
mainder, locked the door and placed
the key in his pocket, and getting into
bed he placed his revolver in such a
position that, although out of sight, it
was within easy reach, and sank into
peaceful slumber. In the morning he
was awakened by the sound Of some
one talking in the room, and peering
cautiously around he noticed the forger
rummaging about, clothed only in an
abbreviated under-garment and en-
deavoring manfully to give proper vent
to his feelings in choice but emphatic
explosives. His search for his clothing
proving unavailing, he approached the
bed opposite to investigate. As he did
so, click went the revolver, and the
detective stood revealed to his aston
ished gaze. He started as if he had
been struck, and before he could re-
cover from his establishment he was
properly handcuffed and at the de-
tective's mercy.
n