Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-22

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future prospects had not been dazzling
and he had been clearly given to under
| stand by his father, at an early age, that
his well being in the world would have to
depend entirely upon his own exertions
and that good education would be all
the capital he need expect, or would
get to start upon
| On leaving school, at the age of seven
teen, he was graciously allowed three
| months of freedom wherein to look around
| him, and to make up his mind to what
profession he would eventually devote his
| energies. He turned with a sigh of re-
greet from the fat, broad acres that spread
summing themselves before his envYlng
| gaze, but which he knew never could be
| his, and after some hesitation he decided
! upon adopting the law.
Contrary to the wishes of his father,
! who was anxious that he should establish
! himself with an old-fashioned firm of So
! licitors in the sleepySmarket town hear
| the paternal home, he betook himself to
! London and obtained the position of
| junior-very junior-clerk to a solicitor
in Chancery Lane, whose business was
conducted for the most part with the
| criminal classes.
After three years weary drudgery dur
to do, and very little reward of any kind
for doing 1t, he began to reconsider his
situation. He did not blink matters to
himself, and he acknowledged readily
enough that he was not exactly a gentle
man in the world IS sense, and that as he
possessed no capital to back his efforts
he was not in the least likely to rise be-
yOnd the position of clerk.
In the dim and distant future if his
health held out, and he worked hard,
and had luck, he might attain to an in
come of 100, perhaps even 100 pounds
year, but that was all he could hope for
Now Mr.. Padger, while freely owning
his defects, was not blind to his merits
and was perfectly well aware that he pos
sessed brains, and as he was moreover
ambitious, this dismal outlook did not IN
any way suit his incllnations. He would
DO better than that, he resolved, or fail
altogether.
During has sOjOurn at the lawyers Of
flee he had in the course of his business
been brought, not unfrequently, into
contact with detectives, and he very
soon came to the conclusion that he
could do very much better work in that
line than most Of the men he encoun-
tered. He was not by nature given to
act promptly. He gave in his resigna-
ton at the office, and determined that
he would become q great detective. The
work he knew was difficult, laborious,
even dangerous, but it was also exciting,
and there were rich prizes for those who
were lucky enough to come across them,
and clever enough to obtain them.
He did not join the regular police
force, for he believed he could do better
by playing his own hand, and his aspira-
tons scared higher than logging Irish
members, or protecting unpopular states
men. AS it was, however, essential to
gain some insight into the ordinary
methods OF investigation, as well as TO
obtain some platform upon which to
found his projected staircase to fame and
success, he engaged himself, as a COM
mencemeut, in q very subordinate posi-
ton to q well known private inquiry
agency.
His heart was in his work in addition
TO his head, and he rose rapidly from the
monotonous duty of watching suspected
wives and husbands, or doubtful debtors,
until great deal of the most important
and delicate work of the office was
placed in his hands
At the end of five years. conscientious
devotion to the interests of others he
felt that his position was sufficiently Sc
cured to justify his turning his attention
for the future to his own, and he with !
drew from the firm, in spite of the most |
hatteTing offers from his dIsmayed en- |
pIoYers, and started on the race for sue |
cess
That he had in no way overestimated |
his Importance in his own line was quickly |
and thoroughly proved by the prosperity |
that attended his new departure. Still
he was not yet satisfied. HI wanted
more than mere good fortune
and the money good fortune scatters from
her skirts; he longed for fame, fame
with the T writ large.
To be talked of in the haunrs of men.
and written about in the papers, to I'M
ravel some profound mystery, to unmask
some cunning and adroit criminal, to
solve some problem of Jurisprudence that
had baffled all the world else-that was !
the one aim and object he kept perpetu-
ally in sight, the castle that floated for
him among the towering clouds, the ignis
fatuus that danced before his eyes.
Even while enjoying his brief holiday
IN the white sands of Westcliffe, he
never lost recollection Of it, and when,
having gathered from the breathIess,
disconnected story of the bathing woman
what manner of scene was passing within
lie escaped the vigilance of the guardian
If the front door by wading ankle deep
o the back entrance, and beheId the
lead woman stretched upon the floor, his
hopes sweled high within his breast, and
lie believed that his chance had come at
asst.
Here was the opportunity that had till
hen visited him only i'll his dreams; it
ay with him now to make the most of it.
With a practiced eye he noted all the
Indications of any significance They
we're very slight, and he determined to
Keep them to himself If the regular
police Of the borough could discover them
hey were welcome to make the most of
hem, but he had his own interests to
consider, and it was not his place to pro-
-ide them with eyes and reasoning
lowers.
1t was for him and him alone, he de-
Jared to himself, to elucidate the mys-
cry, and he had no intention of sharing
he glory or the more solid reward with
ny man.
AS far as it was possible to do so with
ut absolutely thwarting justice, he
meant TO keep such discoveries as he had
made or should make locked in his own