Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1882-03-23

/ -. S "S Poithciss WuO iOOkeu more
IKE bank manager, or head clerk in
a large mercantile house. than a man
whose occupation was to indicate where
the thieves and others who were
wanted" could be laid hands on.
A Frenchman is nothing if he is not
polite. The individual into whose sane
tum we were shown welcomed us with
ciyility which n5tting could exceed.
lie heard my friend story from first to
last, made few notes with pen in a
kind of diary which he had on his desk.
and now and then asked a question or
two respecting the house and apart
ment which had been robbed, the SER
wants. visitors and other matters. But
he did not detain us long. The inter-
view was over in twenty minutes. The
sous-chef them told my friend that he
would send one of his subordinates to
see the chest the next day. In the
meantime would my friend prepare n
list. and as minute description as pos
sible of the property that had been
stolen? As rule Frenchmen. no mat
ter to what rank of life they belong.
have the greatest possible respect for
all who are in any way connected with
the police. and never dream of disput
ing what they say; but my friend was
somewhat annoyed at what he deemed
useless delay, and asked whether the
police-agent could not be sent at once.
The sous-chet. however. overriled his
objection. and said it was best for many
reasons the agent should not 20 to the
hnn.a fill Iat- Il, 81
place he said, Il 60 not wish any one
but yourselves to know that the gentle
man who will call on you tomorrow is
in any way connected with the police.
He will send up card, and you will be
kind enough to receive him as n. friend
talk to him of the robbery in the pres
ence of your servants as you would to
any casual acquaintance" He then
turned to me and said, laughingly:
I'VE do not manage these affairs AS YOU
do in London. We don't Gfiche our
police; We don't send constables The
pronounced the word ..ccnestabel to
make fuss and put every one on their
guard; we like to do things quietly;
the result is better He then bowed
us out, and we took our departure. not
Over-assured as to what the upshot of
the affair would be.
''Un monsieur qui desire vous voir,"
said my friends man-servant next day,
putting card into his masters hand.
just as we were finishing our midday
meal, and gentleman-like, middle-aged
man was shown in.
He was close shaved as to the chin
and upper lip. but wore small whiskers, |
more like an English man of business of
ten years ago than native of la belle |
France. He was well but not fashiona-
bly, dressed. and carried small cane.
with which he kept gently tapping his |
boot when not speaking. While the |
servant was in the room he confined his
TO generalities. and gave
his opinions freely on the political sub
jects of the day. When my friend
spoke of the robbery and pointed to the
chest out of which the property had been
aiken. he merely glanced at it, looked
1t the lock for moment, and turned the
He asked Madame TO call her maid
md talk to her on some indifferent sub
Get. This was done, and watched his
ace during the time the woman was
present; but he merely looked at her
,nce, and continued tilking to me-
The only point on which he seemed
'eally anxious was to obtain n fuller
description of the articles lost than that
lie had been already furnished with.
My friend offered to give him details
hen and there, but he declined to wait
or it. on the plea that by prolonging his
-isit he might arouse suspicion among
he servants We suggested meeting
lin near the Rue de Jerusalem: but
lie laughed at the idea, saying that if
lie We're once seen near the police-ofiice