Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-06-26

Ahsbosfs to come here loaded with corn
from the upper Mississippi ana Onio
rivers which was sold to our planters. who
mainly looked to The North for their sup
ply Of grain, while their attention was
wholly given to raising cotton A snort
time previous tn the rob5ing Of the hank
one Of these fstboats had arrived here
loaded with corn and lay moored to the
bank lust below the steamboat landing
One day went down there to buy some
corn for nv plantation. when. on going
on board. discovered my detective inside
fiddling away on violin tor dear life, to
the great enjoyment of the boatmen. Oh
course took no notice of him. but it oc-
Cured TO me that he was wasting valuable
fine. especially when every hours delay
favored the scape of the guilty parties
As for him. he kept saving away without
even 40 much as CHANGING toward me. and
completing ms business. took my d.
parture.
A week bad elapsed and in the interim
had heard nothing from the detective
and. judging from what had seen oil hini'
felt that he was inclined TO De negligent,
so I concluded to drop line to the CHIEF
AT Cincinnati hoping that he would there
BY be aroused to full sense OF his duty l
accordingly did 80. and another week
elapsed. when one day the dete tive came
to nv office, and looking very sheep
i-h. a. thought, told me thatthe ilstb@at-
men. having disposed of their corn, were
going back home and had offered to take
him along as far as Cairo; thai he had
done all he could here and wished TO tdke
advantage of that opportunity and retarn
homes At first | was too disgusted and
indignant to speak, that he had loafed
around for two weeks, and had. without
a word Of warning. come and announced
his intention Of throwing up the work and
at the same time his determination to go
home At last found my tongue suffi-
GENTLY to tell him to get out OF my Office
or would kick him out. whereupon he
speedily saved me the trouble. In the
present state of affairs hardly knew what
was the best course to pursue. | was con-
stantly being questioned by the directors
as to what steps | had taken, and my
evasiye replies had only increased their
Impotence / could not entertain the
thought of going before them and relating
the manner in which had been tricked,
so | concluded to again write the chief,
setting before him all the facts, and request
him TO send at once one Of the best men in
the service. and thus, if possible, regain
the time lost.
About ten days after | had mailed this
letter | was setting in my office chatting
with "A couple of professional friends when
heard rap on the door and in walked a
spruce-looking young man, who greeted
me with, "Be you Judge South ~ Upon
my assuring him that was that individ-
ual, he continued, II am agent for the Con-
tInental Life Insurance Company OF Hart
ford. the soundest company in the hull
Union, and I've just got the documents reg
lar done up teu to prove it." | assured
him that had no desire whatever to take
out policy. but my interruption had no
effect upon him, for he was, doubtless.
wound up to discharge "a certain amount
: of fanf;,ronade, which he proceeded to do
with the greatest volubiity. My friends
arose and left in disgust and | was about
to follow them when suddenly his manner
changed. and drawing from his pocket
letter which he handed me. remarking in
an entirely different manner, Excuse me
for having adopted this lite rttse. but did
so in order to make your friends leave and
get you to Yourself as well as to give you
specimen of my ill in personating char
acter" In the meantime had glanced
over the letter, which was in reply to mine
written to the chief. and stated that the
bearer, Joseph Wheeler, could be perfect
ly relied upon as thoroughly competent to
work up the business required. replied
that men of his profession appeared to have
very strange ways and proceeded to tell
him how the other man. his predecessor
had acted.
Continued Tomorrow