Nevada County picayune., 1889-09-11
"I'm Watching a Man"
What are you doing there p

man l nave met Tor some IilIe. i1e is simply leaning against a pile of boxes, trunks and the like at rail road station. Upon first glance he looks like a sleepy old fellow, who may have drunk more than flagon of rum, or he may have walked a long distance, and, therefore, he is fatigued As anyone approaches him in the crowd he looks sharply and then seems to become oblivious.
 That man is one of the sharpest detectives in the State of Massachu- sets.
 What are you doing therc?' is the question again.
 Quickly, without moving a muscle, without looking up again, he an- swered, in a low, distinct voice: "Don't speak to me now; I'm watching a man." l moved away.
 Presently the crowd gets thicker. The sleepy gentleman by the trunks becomes suddenly aroused. He moves about very rapidly among the people. What will he do!
 Hardly is there time to walk ten paces when he has disappeared. The train thunders into the station and the people went aboard. The man was nowhere,
 That night one of the boldest burglars was arrested and lodged in iail. He was arrested on the tram, and by the sleepy man.
 The arrest was accomplished thus :: As rough looking man with tin pail in his hand walked quickly from the depot to the train the detective followed him closely, and just as he was about to put his foot on the step he ripped and fell upon the platform. In an instant the detective fell on top of him.
 The two men were assisted into the car, and then the detective apol- ogized for having fallen on him. They sat down together in the  smoking-car, the oldfashioned de- tective shook out of his pocket lot of cakes and apples, and they began to eat and talk about the news.
 That was bad bit of work those fellows done there in Boston. Die you see the evening papers,"
 "What do you mean:" said the man.
 "Why, that safe burglary last night"
 Was there a burglary"
 "Yes: didn't you hear of it? Why they stole over slO0,O00 worth of cash, securities and bonds from the --- bank"
 'Indeed! Any arrests:'
 Not yet, but the officers are close on the track of the leader of the gang"
 Are they? Do they think they have the right man?"
 "Yes, they are watching man 1T East Boston by the name of Ridge wood, a noted burglar"
 Just at this moment man arose from the seat behind and walked ou of the car. He passed on into tho next car.
 That's our man." whispered tn, detective to his apparently injured companion.
 The two men arose and passeC into the next car after the fellow who had arisen.
 They caught up to the man as h' was going out of the next car. Th' train was stopping at short station The man got off. He was arrested
 "How did you know that wa Ridgewood 2" was asked of the detective.
 "Because, when mentioned his name he started and left the car There is something about crlmina that gives him away to practica eye. saw that man on the platform he was walking up and down. He did not walk more than eight feet before he would turn and walk back again, At this 1 became aroused and watched him closer.
 Ut was when l tripped up my friend that l wanted to avoid suspi- cion; the burglar was behind us-the man who fell first is one of the best detectives in Boston. He was dressed like workingman and carried a pail. When he fell the man whom we were watching did not notice us.