The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-04-30
WHY l JOINED THE DETECTIVES.

"Can ! sit with youY'
"Ccrtainly, SIR
"Ncc weather."
"Splendid, indeed.
"Crops growing finely"
Eyes; couldn't do better"
was sitting in car on Wisconsin
railroad one day years ago, whcl
n good-looking, plcasant-spokcn ma
came along, stopped at my seat, and tn,
above conversation took place, the lat
ter part of it alter had given him par
of my scat.
Now am regarded as n social man
like joke; more so then than now
On entering railroad car | always
looked about for u talkative man, an,
then got as close TO him as possible
and drained him dry, if the iournc,
was long enough.
And | want TO state one thing more
Left an orphan before | could realize
the sad event which made me one.
got kicked here and cuiled there, and
grew up between folks" as they say
Ought 10 have had, at the time OF
which write, u pretty thorough knowl.
edge of human nature, and have been
enabled to read evil in mans face il
he intended me evil. | did not pride
myself on being over sharp, but the
knocking around among strangers ought
to have given any one Il good expert
ence.
Well, the stranger and fell into an
easy train of conversation as we rode
together, and IN ten minutes began TO
enjoy his company. lie was we'll
made fellow, finely dressed, and wore
fine watch and simon pure diamond
ring. | never saw n man who could
talk so easy and so pleasantly. 1t SEEM
ed that he had but TO open his mouth
and the words fell right out.
/ had travelled in the South, so had
he. | had heard the roar Of the Pacific.
he knew all about it. l had been up in
a balloon, down IN coal mine, been
blown up, smashed up, and repaired
again and again, my new friend had
experienced all these things, and was
wishing for something of more start
ling nature. We agreed on politics,
neither had any religion, and had new
cr met such n railroad companioh.
Did You ever meet man who, though
a stranger to you ten minutes before,
,ouiu Witnb iiOiu YOU scCTctS winch
you had sworn to yourself not to re-
veal? We'll, he was such man. IL
was not long before he commenced ask.
ing me questions. lie did not seem
trying TO quiz or draw me out, but he
asked me questions in such a sly. round
about way that before | knew il was
giving him my history.
| was at that time just on the point of
being admitted to the bGr of Wisconsin
rs student of Law ~ Law, of Brief
vile. The firm were old LAWYERS with
lucrative practice, and il had been
talked over that in about month |
should be the "Co." of the firm. A
year before, a farmer named Preston.
down about four miles from Grafton.
died, and his matters had been put into
the hands of Law & Law for settlement.
Preston died rich. lie had money in
banks, railroad stocks, and mortgages.
etc., and everything was settled M to
the satisfaction of the reict and father
less.
About year before his death, being
pinched for money, and not wishing to
sell anything at sacrifice, Preston had
given mortgage on his own farm for
$4,000. While the papers read "for
one year from date" there was a verbal
agreement that it should be lifted any
day that Preston desired. A month
after, when, having the funds TO clear
oil the paper, the sold money bags"
holding it refused 10 discharge, wishing
to secure his interest for year.
l was on my way to learn the date of
expiration. "A fire among our Office
papers had destroyed the memoranda,
and lmust go down and get the date
from old Scrip, who lived south ofl
Grafton, about five miles. The stran-
ger pumped all this ont of me in about
ten minntes, and yet never suspected
he was receiving any information.
al am not positive" added, "hnt
am pretty sure that the time is the 18th.
which wonld be Tuesday next"
"And then your folks will send down
the money and discharge the mortgage.
OF conrse?' he inquired.
''Oh yes, | shall most likely bring IL
down." replied, aud it never occurred
to mo how imprudcnt was. ~
lie turned the conversation into other
channels, and did not once attempt TO
pump me further. We got TO Grafton
at io;oo, and TO my great surprise he
announced that he was TO stop in the
town on business for few days. |
had not asked his name or vocation,
while he knew everything about mo.
We went to the hotel, had dinner,
and then i secured lively team and
drove out, getting through with busi-
ness so that was back to take the 3 30
express east. My friend was on the
porch of the hotel as drove up, carry
ing the same honest, digniilcd face.
"Well, what did yon flnd ontY' he
inquired, in his pleasant way.
Yes, II was on the 18Th, as expect
ed," replied.
We had lunch, and when together we
shook hands and parted had no more
idea of ever meeting him again than
had of knowing you. In fact, he told
me that he should sail for England
within week or ten days, and should
not return TO America. AT parting he
gave me his card. Ii was q modest
piece of pasteboard, and bore the name
OF "George Raleigh" in old English
script.
Everything at the Office went on as
usual, and the 18th came at length.
Law Law had arranged with me to
go down with the money, and | looked
upon 1t as business of no special i'm
portance. n. .tI
I'VE know you arc all right" re-
marked the senior partner, as | was
about to go; "but want 10 give you a
word OF warning, nevertheless. Don't
take any strangers into your confidence
until yon have passed out the money,
and LOOK out who sits next to You"
IL was somethin0 neu fnr hin, IN can