Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-09-18

| ndence IN me, ana allow me 10 Work IN
my own way, and the first step ! shall
take will be to let every one know that
am dective and the purpose for which |
have come" Well, that completely as
tonished me- | had read stories about
dst' ctives, and they were always described
as transacting their business in very
mysterious and secret manner. Publici.
ty was the last thing desired, for that
only served to put guilty parties on their
guard. But the chiefs letter babe me
trust him implicitly. and it was due him
to allow him to manage his case as he
thought best. accordingly introduced
him to the bank people, and then. at his
request, we walked around to the Banner
Office where he made the acquaintance of
the editor. He registered at Hobson' =
Hotel, the best in the town and soon
made himself acquainted with everybody
He played billiards and poker, was fire.
qucnt visitor to the saloons. though he
never appeared to drink to excess, took
buggy rides and became generally re-
garded az hale fellow. we'll met" II
he did anything toward discovering traces
nf the burglary, no one was conscious OF
It, and people ceased to speak of him as
Il detective The directors, now that they
had detective among them, ceased 10
worry me, and | thought if they We're
satisfied, certainly ought not to COM
plain.
A week or ten days must have elapsed
in this way, when one day Mr.. Wheeler
came To my office and handed me the fol-
lowing letter, for there was no telegraph
ic communication with this place at that
time, which read:
MrNirnIS, Tam, Aug ,, lSai.
[oSih IlAeelsr, Esq. l't-oo Ctg, utsS.
DEAR SIR-i have myrpen. four or them,
safe In itil here. Oct a requi-ition from
the Governor OF Mississippi. Come mp At
once and bring with you the Sheriff OF
YazOo county.
Very Truly.
A. SUPERINTENDENT,
That was the name OF tho 1i,rst dctec,
tive. and ielt there was some mystery
that did no. understand, so asked to be
enlightened.
"Well," said he you can rest perfectly
assured that all will come out right in
the end. You must pardon me for not
saying more now. Just write out the
proper application to the Governor and |
will take Il over to Jackson on my way
up and get the necessary papers, while
YOU can have cell arranged in tie Jail
to receive the company,
! prepared the application as he had re-
qnested, and he and the sheriff departed
for Jackson. In due time received a
letter from Memphis announcing that
they would proceed with their prisoners
by boat to Vicksburg, and stated the time
they might be expected here.
Punctually at the time appointed the
boat arrived here. and on board were the
four prisoners. guarded by the sheriff,
Wheeler and StrikenheImer. The latter
was altogether changed in appearance, be-
ing a well dressed-man. | was anxious
to hear the solution OF the mystery, and
after the prisoners had been duly lodged
in Jail invited the two detectives to
spend the evening at my house. 81 sc-
cept your invitation upon one condition, y
said Mr.. S, "and that is that you prom
ise not to kick me out" With that
pleasant allusion to our last parting we
indulged in good laugh, and they ac-
companied me home. After tea we re-
tired to the library. and lighting our ci-
gars. Mr.. S. thus began;
"You are already familiar with my ac-
tions up to the time when | announced
my intention of leaving. so there Is no
necessity to repeat that. As you know
acted the part OF tramp to avoid at
tracing notice. | carefully examined
the manner in which the burglars had
done their work, and saw that it was
done in no bungling way, hut was the
work of professional experts. In small
ulaoe like this the arrival and departure
of every stranger is noticed. After a
careful investigation arrived at the con-
clusion that the burglars were still here.
One day l happened to stroll down on
the wharf. and got into conversation with
some of the men belonging to the hat
boat. We got into friendly way, and
they asked me to go on board and drink
with them, which. Of course. | did. II
occurred to me that things appeared
rather more comfortably prepared inside
than was usual among men OF such
rough class. They had little counte'
built in one corner, and behind it little
bar. They even had an ice chest. One
of the party prepared the drinks, and
having nothing with which to break the
ioe he went into the back part OF the
boat and returned with regular jimmy
in his hand. Now, jimmy Is not al
article that one sees lying around loose
every day, so I said to myself: "Oh
no that's the way the land lies. wen
you and won't part company for while
at any rate. Looking around | saw
violin hanging on the wall, and as ha'
learned to fiddle. among other accomplish
ments, l took it down and struck up
tune.
This delighted them, and they calle'
for one tune after another, and that dl
version, coupled with taking severa
drinks. cemented quite friendship, a
least upon their part, as for myself,
certainly felt strong attachment 10
them. They invited. me to come again
which did, and continued to be Ire
quent visitor until they were ready .
leave, when they invited me to go wit
,hen, 40 far as Cairo. for | told them