Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-07-15
WHY | JOINED THE DETEC"'
TIVES.
"Can I sit with you?"
"Ccrtoinly, SIR"
"Nico weather."

"Ccrtalnly, sir.
"Nico weather"
"Splcndid, indccd.''
"Crops growing finely"
eyes, couldn't do better"
was sitting in car on tho Wisconsin
Railroad, one day years ago, when good
looking, pleasant spoken man came along,
stopped at my scat, and the above convcr-
sation took place, the latter part Of it after
l had given him part Of my scat.
Now aul regarded as u social man. I
like joke, moro so then than now. On
entering railroad car l always looked
about for talkativc man, and then I got
as close to him ns possible, and drained him
dry, if the journey was long enough.
And | want to state one thing more.
Left an orphan before could realize the
sud event which made nc one, got kicked
hero and cuffed there, and grew up between
folds, Us they say. ! ought to have had at
tho time Of which l write, pretty thorough
knowledge of human nature, and have been
enabled to read evil in mans face if he
intended me evil. did not pride myself
on being over sharp, but tho knocking
around among strangers ought to have
given any one good experience.
Well. the stranger and fell into nn
cosy train Of conversation as We rode
together, and in t:l miuc'os l begun to
enjoy his company. He was u well made
fellow, lincv dressed, and wor. fine
watcN 'oG a simon pure diamond ring. !
nc..' s.m u .D.:n who could talk so easily
and 50 pleasantly. 1t seemed that he had
''u' 10 open his mouth aud the words fell
right out.
had travelled in tho South; SO had he:
had heard the roar of the Pacific; he knew
all about it. had been up in balloon,
down in 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 never
met such railroad companion.
Did you ever meet a man who though
stranger to you ten minutes before, could
wrcst from you your secrets which you had
sworn to yourself not to rcvcal2 We'll, he
was such man. 1t was not long before
he commenced asking me questions. lie
did not seem trying to quiz or draw me
out, but he asked me questions in such
sly, roundabout way, that before know it
was giving him my history.
| was at that time just on tho point of
being admitted to the bar Of Wisconsin as
student of Law & law, Of Bricfvillc.
The firm were old lawyers with lucrative
practice, and it had been talked over that
in about a, month / should become the
"Co." Of the firm. A year before farmer
named Preston, down about four miles
from Grafton, died, and his matters had
bcen put in the hands Of Law tG Law for
settlement. Preston had died rich. IIo
had money in bank, railroad stocks and
to the satisfaction Of tho rclict and fathcrs
less.
About a year before his death, being
pinchcd for money, and not wishing to sell
anything at a sacrifice, Preston had given q
mortgage on his farm for $1,000. While
tho papers read "for one year from date"
there was verbal agreement that it should
be lifted any day that Preston desired. A
month after, when, having the funds to
clear off the paper tho Gold money bags"
holding it refused to discharge, wishing to
secure his interest for year.
[ was on my way to learn the date of
expiration. a fire among our Office papers
had destroyed tho memoranda, and [ must
60 down and get the date from old Scrip,
who lived South Of Grafton about five miles.
The stranger pumped this all out Of me in
about ten minutes, and yet I never once
suspected he was receiving any informa-
ton.
"[ am not positive" AIDED, "but am
pretty sure that the timo is the 13th,
which would be Tuesday next"
"And thon your folks will send you down
with tho money and discharge tho mort
gage, of coursc?"
ooh, yes, shall most likely bring il
down." [ replied, and it never occurred to
me how imprudcnt was.
Ilo turned tho conversation into other
channels, and did not once attempt to pump
mo further. NNo got to Grafton at 10 So
and to my groat surprise he announced that
he was to stop in tho town on business fol
q .cw. days. / had not asked his namc 0,
avocation, while he knew everything about
mo.
Wo went to the hotel and had dinner
and then secured livery team and drove
out, getting through with the business SC
that I was back to tako tho 8 20 express
East. My friend was on the porch OF the
hotel as drove up, carrying tho same
honest, diGu;.icd face.
"Wcll, did you ind out2" ho inquired in
his pleasant way.
Yes, it was on tho 13t., as I expected,
l. lcpici.
we took lunch together, and when wo
shook honde and parted l had no moro idea
of oyer maalina him again than ! he'd Of