Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-18
between thirty-three and thirty-four

on the southern coast of Essex, but as he
was the youngest of seven children his
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 nave to
depend entirely upon his own exertions,
and that a 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 envy1ng
gaze, but which be 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 sleepy market town hear
the pateTnal home, he betook himself TO
London and obtained the position of
junior-very junior-clerk to solicitor
in Chancery Lane, whose business was
conducted for the most part with the
criminal classes.
After three years weary drudgery, dur
ing which he was provided with plenty
to do, and very little reward of any kind
for doing It, he began to reconsider his
situation He did not blink matters to
himself, and he acknowledged readily
enough that he was not exactly gentle
man in the world S 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 120 pounds a
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 inclmations. He would
do better than that, he resolved, or fail
altogether.
During his 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 i'll that
line than most of the men he encoun-
tered. He was not by nature given to
indecision, and to decide with him was to
act promptly. He gave in his resigna-
ton at the office, and determined that
he would become 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-
tions 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
mencement, in very subordinate posi-
ton to 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
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
fattering offers from his dlsmayed en-
ploYers, 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. He wanted
more than mere good fortune
and the money good fortune scatters from
her skirts; he longed for fame, fame
with the f writ large.
To be talked of in the haunrs of men,
and written about in the papers, to I'M
raveI some profound mystery, to unmask
some cunning and adroit criminal to
solve some problem of Jurisprudence that
had baffied all the world else-that was
the one aim and object he kept perpetu
ally in sight, the castle that fiOated for |
him among the towering clouds, the ignis |
fatuus that danced before his eyes.
Even while enjoying his brief holiday
on the white sands of Westcliffe, he
never lOSI TeCOIieCJlOu Oh II, anu WD6u,
having gathered from the breathless, |
story of the bathing woman
what manner of scene was passing within |
he escaped the vigilance of the guardian
of the front door by wading ankle deep |
to the back entrance, and beheld the |
dead woman stretched upon the floor, his |
hopes swel1ed high within his breast, and |
he believed that his chance had come at |
last.
Here was the opportunity that had till |
then visited him only in his dreams; it |
lay with him now to make the most of it. |
With practiced eye he noted all the |
indications of any significance. They |
were very slight, and he determined to |
keep them to himself. If the regular |
police Of the borough could discover them
they were welcome to make the most of |
them, but he had his own interests to |
consider, and ii was not his place to pro-
vide them with eyes and reasoning |
powers.
1t was for him and him alone, he de-
clared to himself, to elucidate the mys-
terry, and he had no intention Of sharing |
the glory or the more solid reward with |
any man.
AS far as it was possible to do so with