The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1890-01-04
mans face that might know it when

mans face that Knight knowi it when.
ever / should see it again.
spent several days in quiet inves-
tigation and then sought a private
interview with the accused. After q
few commonplace remarks I took up
the matter in hand.
II am a messenger appointed to
watch you and gain information con-
corning your habits" said l, looking
steadily in his eyes.
The young man assumed a calm
ness, but could not conceal his alarm
and deep concern. l had fully de-
termined that the cashier was not a
rogue at heart. l believed that he
was not confirmed in any vicious
practice, and if his conduct during
Jul interview warranted it INTENDED
to be his friend. have always felt
that it was our duty, if possible, to
prevent crime. We effect a vast deal
more good in this world by prevent
ing our fellow man from being a
criminal than by permitting the COM
mission of crime in order to "detect"
the criminal and punish him. How
many lives and happy homes might
be saved if this were more frequently
practiced!
After a moments pause my COM
panion asked: "Who sent you to
watch me?"
zone deeply interested in your well
fare. Can you not guess whO?" I re-
piled.
"a LADY," he asked, much agitated.
"No," I answered, and taking the
cue, I added: "Miss-, of -
avenue, so far as I know, isnot aware
of my employment, and I presume
she does not even suspect that
there is cause for it; indeed, I would
deeply regret it if she did"
He turned his face full uponm me and
there was a startled and puzzled ex-
preston resting upon it. "What do
you know about that lady, and why
did you mention her when I asked if
your principal was a lady?"he asked,
hastily.
81 know that you visited her at
her home this evening, and have rea-
son to know your feelings toward the
lady," was my response.
had been right in my conjectures,
and now knew that I had sent a
shaft to a tender spot and felt as
sured that this hit would prove a
valuable, though silent, adjunct to
the successful execution of my hastily
formed plan.
With a deep sigh Of relief he said:
II I'm glad Of it;" and then, after a
pause, asked again, "Who sent your"
"Who else can be so deeply inter-
ested in your" said T. II will tell
you VINO authorized me to follow
your movements while away from
the office, but I will precede the in
formation by the statement that my
employer is prompted by the deepest
concern in your behalf. Mr.. B. is
the individual" I said, but the young
mans alarmed countenance urged
me to add. "Yet he does notsuspect
what l have discovered; he is espec-
tally alarmed about the great change
noted in your appearance, and COM
missioned me to adopt my own
method and time in making the in
vestigation. To execute this COM
mission I determined to keep you
under my surveillance, though 1
scarcely expected Developments so
soOn."
II presume you will report your
discovery to Mr.. B. at once?" he
interrogated, with apparent alarm.
"Not necessarily replied, brief
ly.
"Can my exposure be prevented"
he quickly asked.
"That depends" I answered. The
cashier impulsively thrust his hand
into the breast pocket ofhis coat and
drew forth a roll of bills. Turning to
me, with extending arm, the money
in his hand, he said, excitedly: "You
are welcome to this, but, for Gods
sake, don't expose me; it will ruin
me ~forever!"
Restraining my Indignation as
much as possible, I said: Your
proposition is unworthy of yol as it
would be unworthy in me to { ~ept
it," My words 8 TUNED hiHE,Dand
an expression of detection and lost
hope overcast his co%untenance. See
ing the effect my speech had, I added,
earnestly: II will be your friend and
saw you if you will complyfully with
my demands"
A CLEAN of hope instantly shone on
his c%ountenance and he added, rather
demurely: What do you demand?"
Looking him earnestly in the eyes
I answered, "That you tell me truth
fully how you came to visit a faro
bank; how long the visits had been
INDUCED in; how often and with what
resn1t."