Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-11-05
TRANSFORMATION.

A TRANSFORMATION.
Ne were chatting one afternoon, a
tain retired detective and I. He
y in reminiscent mood.
nNo doubt you were occasionally
,rprised at the termination of some
your Investigations" ventured to
mark.
"Wen, yes" he slowly admitted.
The fact is, on one occasion was,
bore than surprised; was absolutely
a,ed. Early in my professional ca
eer / set out to find q young forger
AIMED Berry Gray, an absconded
erk of St. Louis firm. After found
inr around for about ten weeks, lat
.st located him at Austin, Tex. Not
the town exactly, for he lived with
young farmer near by.
"When trudged out to the farm I
bound that the owner was Dick Clay
lon, a friend of my boyhood, and he
Received me with much heartiness. He
was unmarried, and was running a
large ranch on which he did not owe a
dollar.
"While we were chatting on the
porch, young Gray, the man Twas aft
er, came up and made q few inquiries
about the work for the afternoon. He
was straight, handsome, smooth
faced fellow, with bright brown eyes
and curly hair OF the same color.
ais that one of your farm-hands?"
/ asked as the young man retired.
"'Yes." replied my friend. He
hasn't had much experience, but he
has great adaptability and is very
willing. He is of great use to me, but
/ do not assign much OF the hard work
to him, as he doesn't seem very
strong.
"'How long has he been with your
Iasked.
"Three MONTHS was the reply.
"What is his name?"
"'Berry Gray. By the by, he's a
well-educated fellow and quite COM
panionable.' A minute later I an
nounced my vocation and my errand.
"Nly friend did not reply at once,
his establishment was so great.
"'You detective and he q thief"
he gasped.
II simply nodded.
"'Surely there is some mistake here
Dick Clayton said in distress, slowly
recovering from the shock.
"No;' I declared, with positiveness.
I've tracked him every mile of the
way. Here is his photograph
"Dick Clayton looked at it stead
lastly for a few moments.
"'You may be right he said, but,
DO you know, this thing has sort of
Knocked me endwise? Berry, he call
ed, for the young fellow was just cross
Ing the yard with a sickle in his hand.
he walked briskly forward.
"This gentleman is detective.'
Dick Clayton said, land he is here to
arrest you for defrauding a st. Louis
firm
''The young fellow betrayed no
smotion. His brown eyes merely
took on darker shade. The look in
them as they met mine disturbed me
3 tride, and / afterward learned why.
81 am not the party he said, in q
soft, musical voice. TT is a mistake
"Isn't your name Berry Gray?' I
asked.
eyes, he replied.
"And isn't this your photograph
was my next question.
HE took the picture with start
of surprise. He eyed it critically, a
luizzical expression lowering about
ais lips.
1T is not a photograph Of me- he
"'Oh, it isn't, eh?'' I incredulous1y
'eplied. well, you are in q fix, and
you will have to get out of it as best
you can. | will have to take you be-
ore magistrate
HE became nervous, and cast an
glance at his employer, who
'aid.
I'm sorry for you Berry, and
'ympathize with you and all that,
'ut | can't interfere
young Gray interlocked the fingers
u his shapely hands and seemed lost
n deep thought for a little while.
You'll allow me to get ready, I
uppose, he said, the brown eyes seek
ng mine in an annoyed yet fearless
way.
ooh, Of course replied.
He hung the sickle on nail, enter
q the house, and went up stairs to
lis room. 4,
'Dick Clayton and I sat on the
'orch and talked for half an hour.
!" Young Gray didn't promise to
ONE back, Dick remarked.
4" He und 3D. I replied.
There's q rise in the ground in
he rear Of the house, and it's an easy
imp from his window. You'll find.
i'm gone.
:" II 80, he'll not go far, I rejoined.
Your confidence in him seems to-
g as great as mine was, Dick said,
nth a grin.
At The end Of ten minutes I rose
nd aaid IA sst