Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1889-04-17
THE CLEVER DETECTIVE.

There was no answer. None OF the
officers assembled at headquarters
knew any thing concerning him ex-
ccpt that the inspector had brought
him in quietly few evenings before
and introduced him as Sergeant
Fetchem. The strange inapprQpri.
ateness of suoh name for o detective
had struck them at once but the new
man had gone TO work without word
as If thoroughly familiar with his du-
ties. and his first job had been the ar
rest of a burglar whom no had caught
in the act and overpowered, bringing
him to the station alone. despite the
fact that the prisoner was a burly,
powerful fellow nearly twice the size
of his captor
Every day since his accession to the
force he had signalized himself by
some unheard-of exploit, He had dis
covered IA nest of caunterfeiters, ar
rested and put in jail II hitherto unsus-
pected Anarchist whose attic was full
OF dynamite bombs. and located bank
embezzler who had eluded the police
for two whole years. All this he had
done IA u matter Of course, and had
listened impassively to the encomiuns
passed upon his singular skill and
adroitness, The other members of the
detective corps began to grow jealous,
and watch was put upon his actions.
Ho had no difficulty in evading them
in the performance of his duties, but
they made the discovery that he was
closeted with the inspector for about
five minutes every Monday morning.
The most diiigent effort failed to dis.
cover the object of these conferences,
II such they wore, for no conversation
between the chief and the new detect
I've ever reached the ears of the listen
ers on the outside,
One Monday morning, Immediately
after one of these secret interviews,
Sergeant Eotehem was seen to leave
tho Office and board an outward abound
train, He was not seen again during
the week, Monday morning came
again and he had not yet turned up.
The Inspector was visihly uneasy.
III he Is not here In less than an
hour all h lostr' be muttered, as he
glanced at his watch and went TO the
door to look up and down the street.
1t was showing furiously.
Seized with sudden impulse. he
hailed a passing cab and was driven
rapidly to railway station in the sub
urbs, reaching it just in time to get
aboard a train coming into the city.
As he enteped tho forward door of
car he saw a man rapidly go out
through the rear door jump off the
train. and disappear in the binding
snow-storm.
With CRY OF dismay the inspector
rushed down the aisle. When half
way through the car he stopped sud-
denly. In one OF the seats was the
motionless figure of Sergeant
Fetchem It was Ia q half erect posi-
ton. with one arm extended, Tho
eyes were gazing into vacancy with a
lack luster expression,
TOO late, exclaimed the Inspector,
bitterly Fifty thousand dollars
gone! That man who left the car
moment ago was Tasoott,M
The passengers crowded around.
They explained that the sergeant
few minutes before had made sudden
but apparently weak effart To fastea
himself with chain to the prisoner,
but that the latter had quickly risea
and grapEled with him. The sergeant
had nearly succeeded ia his design
when suddenly he seemed to stiffen,
His grasp relaxed, his arm remained
stretched out, n CLASSY look came into
his eyes, and Aia whole frame became
motionless. The prisaaes brake away,
from him and was Out Of tho car be-
fore the spectators had recovered from
their surprise.
Such was the story they told the in
spector.
"What is the matter with the OIL
cerp Is he dead?" they inquired,
HE has run down" groaned the in
spectoR fool! Idiot that l. was no
to have met him one station beyond
herel This detective" he explained,
''waa cunning piece Of machinery.
1t took Edison year to manufacture
him, and | paid him ten thousand dol.
lars. lie warned me that if | ever
failed to wiRd him up at tho regular
hour he would be ruined, Sergeant
Fetchem was q seyon-day detective, /
wound him M IA usual last Monday