Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-09-21
ONE MISTAKE.
A Brilliant Thief Who Was CatughI
Through One Error.

A Brilliant Thief Who Was Catugh.
Through One Error.
Written for the San Fransico Call.
For wears the writer has filled a re-
sponsible position in the most widely
known and celebrated detective agency
in America. In narrating some of the
inciednts which have come under his
observation, it will be necessary to use
fictitious names, for the chief figures are
still living. In the outset let me inform
the reader that l propose to
deal with practical detective methods
and not with the absurd antics of the
mouchard who figures in ''yellow xiv
ers." Some other time | shall endeavor
to correct few of the erroneous ideas
which possess the minds of the public in
regard to this profession and describe
the matter Of fact reasonableness which
distinguishes the successful detective.
The victim of this episode shall name
Major Johnson. The majors person
was almost as plethoric as his purse
There was majesty in his bearing as he
deliberately moved down street. 1t was
a sight to see him turn a corner; it re-
quired series Of ''tackings,' and was
performed with such circumspection as
man of war might use.
Mai. Johnson was given to hospitality.
He wanted to meet all the lights in the
literary or social world, and he generally
managed to meet them by inviting them
to dine. Maj. Johnson, as the proyerbi-
al mountain of flesh, could not go to Ma
homet, so he brought MahomeJ to him
with such lures as the very best food,
well served and well cooked, and well
wined.
Besides this, you were very sure to
meet other people worth knowing. Thus
it happened, as the hospitable years
rolled by, the major knew a great num-
Der of people, half of whom he could not
call by name. He was known as gen
erous liver, and one whose nest was
comfortably quilted with the finest elder
down, in the form of hard cash.
The major walked down town one
morning. and drew from the Safe De-
| post company an envelope bursting
with goodly number of bonds. With
these valuables in his hand, he walked
down street, taking in his route a news
stand, where he always stopped and
supplied himself with the latest maya
zines and p,pers.
Scribner and Harper were laid aside,
and the major was scanning the Allan
tic, when small and apparently:a mid
dle-aged gentlemen, dressed in ascrupu-
lOusIy neat manner, accosted him. His
dignitied bearing was further empha-
sized by pair OF scholarly eyeglasses.
1t was evidently somebody who knew
the major intimately, and the major
| accused himself inwardly for not
recalling the name of the distingue per-
sonage. The gentleman spoke in we'll
speech. He casually referred to several
mutual friends, and, obtaining cue
from the article in the Atlantic over
which the major had been glancing a
| subject was preached, and both were
| soon deep in its discussion.
When at length the gentleman stepped
away the major stood with the Atlantic
in his hands, asking himself, "who the
devil Is that" Recovering himself in
| the deliberate manner which distin-
| gllished all his movements, he drew out
his purse and paid for the magazines.
| In the same solemn way he reached
| out for the envelope which thoughtlessly
| he had placed on the stand.
1t was gone.
The sneak game" had again been sue
cessfully PLAYED, and Maj. Johnson was
! minus over $4,000. NV
,tective agency, for he knew too much
about.the municipal management ofaffairs
| to waste time there.
The detective hardened to the story,
| endeavoring to conceal the smile on his
| lips occasioned by the indignant wrath
Of the victim
When he departed the business ficul-
ties of the detective revived. Let US call
him Bland.
BLAND had recognized the offender
it was English BilP'-the description
and the cool audacity of the thief told
him that at once.
The next step was to find English Bill,
and the sooner the better. Bland knew
Bill was in town, in fact had passed him
day or two ago. Several men were
sent to locate the thief.
English Bill was slender, boyish-
looking rascal, with a clear skin, whose
whole appearance was unlike as may be
the accepted ideas of a confidence oper-
ator. A-
BY noon the next day Bland had
Learned many particulars of English Bill,
his haunts, his compartments, and his
whereabouts up to certain hour. The
houses where it was suspected he might
he hiding were very carefully shadowed
The clews had been run ,out to the
enc, and Bland began to think he had
been ,out-witted by some adroit trick.
Like grandfather's clock, he stopped
short" here.
LIN studying up the matter, there ap-
peared nothing on which to hinge new
movement. Yes. there was one little
matter which seemed to point to nothing
particular or shed any light upon the
case, but there was something ODD about
it too.
Han Norris" the chosen pel of
English BILL the evening of the COB
berry had driven in a carriage to q GER
tain house, in a perfectly respectable
neighborhood- 1t proved to be an saris-
tocratic school for young ladies.
What business had Hank Norris
there? was the first question which
Bland asked himself. Bland was too
shrewd to make direct attempt to find
out the reason of that visit. He con-
Guided to operate in that direction him
self, and in day or two had made the
acquaintance of the chambermaid.
Mad. DeGrace's school is among the
most fashionable in the city. Among
other news Bland obtained while f1irt-
ing at the back gate with the pretty
chamber-maid was the fact that there
were no beings of the male sex allowed
about the school and that day or two ago
young French miss had been admitted
to the institution; that the young lady had
been suffering anguish with neuraIagia.
and had been obliged to keep her room.
The madame had alread communicated
with her parents, and it was expected