The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 18??-1882, 1881-09-30
WHY l JOINED THE DE-
TECTIVES.

1 was sitting in car on a Wisconsin
railroad, one day years ago, when a
goOd-looking, pleasant-spoken man
came along and stopped at my seat.
Now l am regarded as social man.
like joke; more so then than now.
On entering a railroad car l always
looked about for a talkative man, and
then got as close to him as possible and
drained him dry, if the journey was
long enough.
And 1 want to state one thing more:
Left an orphan before L could realize
the sad event which made me one,
got kicked here and cuffej there and
grew up between the folds as they say.
l ought to have had at the time of
which 1 write pretty thorough know
ledge of human nature, and have been
enabled to read evil in a mans face if
he intended me evil. l did not pride
myself on being sharp, but the knock
ing around among strangers
ought to have given any one agood ex-
perience.
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 we'll
made fellow, finely dressed, and wore
a fine watch and simon-pure diamond
ring. 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.
1 had travelled in the 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 friend had exper-
fenced all these things, land was wish
ing for something of more startling
nature. We agreed on politics, neither
had any religion, and had never met
such a railroad companion.
Did you ever meet man, though a
stranger to you ten minutes before,
could wrest from you secrets that you
had sworn not to reveal Well he was
such man. 1t was not long before
he commenced asking me questions.
He did not seem trying toquiz or draw
me out, but he asked me questions in
such sly, roundabout way that before
1 knew it was giving him my history.
Twas just at that time on the point
of being admitted to the bar of Wis
consin as student of Law & Law, of
Briefville. The firm were old lawyers
with a lucrative pratice, and it had
been talked over that in about month
1 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 in
the hands of Law 81 Law for settle
ment. Preston had died rich. He had
money in bank, railroad stock and
mortgages, &C., and everything was
settled up to the satisfaction of the re-
lict and fatherless.
About year before his death, being
pinched for money, and not wishing
to sell anything at a sacri flee, Preston
had given mortgage on his own farm
for three thousand dollars. While the
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, hav-
ing the funds to clear off the paper,
old money bags refused to dis
charge, 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 the memoran.
dunn, and l must go down and get the
date from old Scrip, who lived south OF
Grafton, about five miles. The strang.
er pumped this all out of me in about
ten minutes, and yet never once sus
pected he was receiving any informa
tion.
Il am not positive added, but
am pretty sure the time is the 18th
which would be Tuesday next
And then your folks will send yol
down the money and discharge tn,
mortgage, of coursep' he queried.
oh, yes, shall most likely bring i
down, l replied, and it never occurred
to me how imprudent 1 was.
He turned the conversation into 9th
er channels, and did not attempt t,
pump me further. We got to Graftol
at half-past ten, and to my surprise h
announced that he was to stop il
town on business for few days.
had not asked his name or avocation
while he knew everything about me.
We went to the hotel, had dinner
and then secured livery team ant
drove out, getting through with bus
mess so that was back to the thre
o'clock express east. My friend wa
on the porch of the hotel as ! drove u
carrying the same honest dignifie
face.
well did you find outY he inquire
in pleasant way.
yes, it was on the 18th, as / expect
ed,' / replied.
We took lunch together, and whe
we shook hands and parted l had n
more idea of ever meeting him agai
than had Of knowing you. In fat