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


be seriously interrupted. | shall loaf
about town, and you must guard against
showing any signs of recognition when
you happen to see me. Above all,
place ihe most perfect confidence in
me. for shall not see you again until
have something of Importance 10 COM
municaie. In the meantime no one but
yourself, not even the bank officers, best
know that am here; for the knowledge
could do no possible good, and might do
harm" Rei,erating his promise TO call
on me again at the proper time, he bade
me good night and left.
This noident had so completely unset
tied me for further professional work that
night that | closed my office and went
home.
For several days saw him from time
to time loatng about the streets, fire.
qnenting saloons, and would frequently
see him from my office window sitting on
the steps of the bank across the street
eating crackers and sardines. In spite
of what he had told me, it was difficult
To realize that he was not worthless
vagabond.
1t was quite common in those times
for Hat boats TO come up here loaded
with corn from the upper Mississippi and
Ohio rivers which was sold tn our plant
e,s, who mainly looked to the North for
their supply of grain, while their atten-
tion was wholly given TO raising cotton.
A short time previous to the robhlng of
the bank one of these flat boats had ar
rived here loaded with corn and lay moor
ed to the bank lust below the steamboAt
landing Cine day went down there
To buy some corn for my plantation. when.
on going on board discovered my detec
1--we inside fiddling away on violin Tor
dear life, TO the great enjoyment of the
boAtmen. OF course took no notice OF
him, but it occurred to ne :hSt lie was
wasting valuable ilm", tspeclaiiy when
every nour's delay favored the escape ai
the guilty parties. A. ior him, he kept
..wlng away without even so much as
glancing toward me, and completing my
business. took my departure.
A week had elapsed, and in the inte-
rim and, Judging from what Aqd seen
of him, fe,t that lie was inclined TO
be negligent. 40 concluded to drop Il
line to the chief at Cincinnati, hoping
that he would thereby be aroused to Ii
full sense OF his duty. ! accordingly
did so, and enctAet week elapsed, when
one day the detective came to my office,
and looking very shecpish, az thought,
told me that the d4ttostmea, having dis
! passed Of their corn, were going back
home and had offered to take him along
as far as Cairo that he had done all he
could here and wished to take advantage
of that opportunity and return home. At
first | was too disgusted and indignant
to speak. that he had loaled around for
two weeks, and had, without word of
warning. come and announced his inter.
ton of throwing up the work and at the
same time his determination to GO home.
At last found my tongue sufficiently to
tell him to get out o; my 9th e or | would
kick him out, whereupon he speedily
saved me the trouble. In the present
state Of affairs hardly anew what was
the best course TO pursue. l WAS con-
stantly being questioned by the directors
as to what steps | had taken, and my
evasive replies mad only increased their
impa,ience. | could not entertain the
thought of going betore them and relat-
ing the manner in which ! had been
tricked, so | concluded to again write
the chief setting before him ali the facts,
and request him to send at once one OF
the best men in the service, AMI thus.
if possible, regain the time lost.
About ten days after had mailed this
letter | was setting in my office chatting
with u couple of professional friends when
| heard rap on the door and in walked
a spruce looking young man, who greet
ed me with, "Bc you Judge South :"
Upon my assuring him that | was that
individual, he continued, Il am agent
for the Continental Life Insurance Com
pany of Hartford, the soundest company
in the hull Union, and I've just got the
documents reglar done up ter prove it,
assured him that had 10 desire what
ever to take out a policy, but my inter
ruption had no effect upon him, for he
, was, doubtless, wound up to discharge d
certain amount of fanfaronade, which he
proceeded to do with the greatest volu-
bility. My friends arose and left in dis.
/ gust and | was about to follow them
when suddenly his manner changed, and
, drawing from his pocket letter which
, he handed me, remarked in an entirely
different manner, Excuse me for having
l adopted this little ruse, but | did SO il
order to make your friends leave and ge
: YOU to yourself as we'll as to give you {
specimen of my skill in personating char
acter," In the meantime had glanced
e over the letter. which was in reply t
!. mine written to the chief, and stated
0 that the bearer, Joseph Wheeler, coul'
: be perfectly relied upon as thorough.
: competent to work up the business re
f quired. replied that men Of lis pro
fession appeared to have very strang
Q ways and proceeded to tell him how tn
4 other man his predecessor had acted.
"Well," said he. she has gone now
g and, as the old saying goes. there's n
v use crying over spilled milk so we'll dis
4 miss him at once from our minds and pro
It ceed to speak of the matter that brough
I me here" He asked me all manner @
= questions about the burglary, and, afte
j conducting a regular cross-examinatio