St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-05-28
WHY A LAW STUDENT BECAME A
DETECTIVE

1 was sitting on a car on the Wiscon-
sin railroad one day, years ago, when a
good looking, pleasant-spoken man
came along and took part of my seat.
Now 1 am regarded as social man.
| like joke; more so then than now.
On entering railroad car 1 always |
looked about for talkative man, and |
then got as close to him as possible |
and drained him dry, if the journey was
long enough.
Well, the stranger and fell into an
easy train of conversation as we rode |
together, and in ten minutes l began
to enjoy his company. He was a well |
made fellow, and finely dressed, and
wore fine watch and a simon pure
diamond ling. never saw a man who
could talk so easy and so pleasantly. |
1t seemed that he had but to open his
mouth and the words fell right out.
L had travelled in the south: so had
he; had heard the roar of the Pacific:
ne knew all about it. l had been up
In balloon, down in a 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 a more start
ling nature. We agreed on politics
and religion, and l had never met such
railroad companion.
was at that time just on the point
of being admitted to the bar of Wiscon-
sin as student of Law & Law. of
Briefville. The firm were old LAWYERS
with lucrative practice, and it had
been talked over that in about month
should become the "Co,n of the firm.
A year before, farmer named Preston.
down about four miles from Grafton,
died, and his matters had been put in
the hands of Law & Law for settlement.
Preston had died rich. He had money
in bank, railroad stock and mortgages,
ETC., and everything was settled to the
satisfaction of the relict and fatherless.
About year before his death, being
pincbed 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,n there was a verbal
day that Preston desired. A month
after, when, having the funds to clear
off the paper, the sold money bags"
holding it refused to discharge, wish
ing to secure his interest for a year.
was on my way to learn the date of
expiration. A fire among our Office pa
pers had destroyed the memoranda,
and | must go down and get the date
from old Scrip, who lived south OF
Grafton, about five miles. The stran-
ger pumped this all out of me in about
ten minutes, and yet never once sus-
pected he was receiving any informa-
ton.
81 am not positive,"I added, "but 1
am pretty sure that the time is the 18th,
which would be Tuesday next"
"And then your folks will send you
down with the money and discharge
the mortgage, of course?" he queried.
"Oh, yes, l shall most likely bring it
down." l replied, and it never occurred
to me how imprudent | was.
He turned the conversation into other
channels, and did not once attempt to
pump me further. We got to Grafton,
and to my great surprise he announced
that he was to stop in the town on
business for a few days. l had not
asked his name or avOcatiOn, while he
knew everything about me.
We went to the hotel and had din
ner, and then secured livery team
and drove out, getting through with
business so that | was back to take the
2.30 express east. My friend was on
the porch of the hotel as 1 drove up,
carrying the same honest, dignifed
face.
"Well, did you find out ?" he inquired
in his pleasant way.
ayes, it was on the 18th as l expect
ed" replied.
We took lunch together, and when
we shook hands and parted l had no
more idea of ever meeting him again
than l had of knowing you. In fact he
told me he should sail for England
within Il week or ten days, and should
not return to America. At parting he
gave me his card. 1t was modest
piece of pasteboard, and bore the name
of George Raleigh in 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 1 had
looked upon it as business of special
Importance.
"We know you are all right" re-
marked the senior partner, as l was
about to go; "but l want to give you a
word of warning nevertheless. Don't
take any stranger into your confidence
until you have passed out the money,
and look who sits next to you"
1t was something new for him to
caution me, and could not but wonder
at it; but in the hustle of getting aboard
the train | forgot what he said. Ordi-
nary prudence had induced me to place
the money, which was all in bank bills
and divided into three packages, under
my shirt and next to my skin, where
the deft hand of a pickpocket could
not reach it. Reaching Grafton, !
leaped down and was making for a
livery stable, when heard familiar
voice, and looked up to see Raleigh.
He was seated in buggy, and had
seemingly waited for me to come in.
"DOnt express your SURPRISE" he be-
gan, as | stopped at the wheel. 81 did
intend to go away. l changed nv
mind and liked this section so well that
am going out to-day to look at farm
with view of purchasing-come, ride
up to the hotel"
We rode up, ordered lunch, and
while we were discussing it, Mr.. Raleigh
discovered that the farm he was going
to see was just beyond that of old
Grips.
How fortunatei 1 could ride out
with him, see the farm, return in his
company, and he was greatly pleased
L was also pleased.
1t was lovely day in June, and the
cool breeze and the sight of meadows
and green groves made my heart grow
larger. My companion was very talk
atiye, but he didn't even hint at nv
errand. He talked as far away as he
could.