Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-05-31
WHAT LUCK WILL DO.

Hunl UUUA WILD UU'
II had the selection of a cor ps
of detectives, l should pick out
men who are known as luc ky,
writes an old detective. Cert ain
men are thus characterized, fnd
the term also properly belongs to
them. Certain other men are M
lucky, and the term also properly
belongs to them. l have worked
alongside of officers who were as
sharp and keen as men ever be-
come, who were perseyering and
tireless, who had the pluck of =
warrior and the patience of slave,
and yet they were "down on their
luck as the saying goes that is,
the big things passed them by and
fell into the hands Of others. In
detective work one must have
courage and Judgment. He must
know human nature pretty well.
He must be fairly sbrewd and
sharp. If he is working a blind
trail, the rest must be left to luck.
And the luck and ill luck of
detective life is something wonder
fol. The i'll luck is suppressed as
much as possible. In the month
of June, 1867, l was spending a
few days with relatives of mine on
a farm near OOeTlin, Ohio. l had
been in detective business about
FIVE years. We got no newspapers
at the farm, aud | bad not received
a letter for 10 days, and had not
heard the least bit of news from
the outside world, when uncle and
drove into the town one day. On
the way in got out Of the wagon
and picked up a copy of Cleye-
land paper which was lying on the
highway. The first thing l saw
was an account of a murder at
Peru, Ind, several days before. An
old man had been murdered and
robbed of large amount Of money.
Not the slightest clue of the
murderer had been discovered. No
one could say whether he was old
or young, white or black, or which
way he had gone. 1t seemed a
hopeless case, aud felt a bit sorry
for the two Chicago officers who
had been sent for 10 work the case
out. The first call l made after
reaching Oberlin was at the post
Office. | then visited a barber shop,
but the two chairs were occupied,
aud | had to wait abOut ten min.
utes Having nothing 20 occupy
my mind, looked the two BARRIERS
oyer in detail, and then turned my
attention 10 the customer in the
nearest chair. / began at his feet
first. He wore No. s CATERS, and
they were a new pair indt ed, they
had never been blacllened. His
trousers were irayed abOut the
bottom, and, as l came to look
closer, saw that they we're old
and threadbare. CJn the left leg,
which was nearest me, between the
knee and the AMI lie, were several
stains, They Tight have been
made by either blood or acid.
When the nan sat up straight
after his shave | saw that his coat
was also old, and / looked over to
his hat ON the hook to find 1t very
rusty. The BARRIERS were not
speaking to either of the men, so
that both must be strangers in the
town. Ny man had reddish haIr,
which he had had clipped close he
fore / came IN. His neck WAS sun
burned and dirty, and, after look
IDg him over from toe to crown, !
said to myself:
"This chap has all the locks of
a professional tramp. That suit
was probably given him, but ten
to one he stole those CATERS
Wonder if he can scrape up enough
to pay the barber
The bill was thirty.fve cents.-
The man gave me furtive look az
he got out Of the chair, and while
beng brushed he felt in his pockets
for change. He had two ten-ceni
shlnplasssrs, but as these were not
enough be half turned from me
and Gshed greenback out Of bis
pocket. The barber bad to 90 oui
to change it, and the man was SC
impatient and nervous that be
could not stand still. WbeD The