Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-09-26
WHY He FAILED.


He threw away great chance of sue
cess, and has been happier man ever
since.
There is no one but myself in England
now who knows exactly how it hap
peued, and as | was thinking over it to-
night something in the papers about
clever detective in New York brought it
all fresh back to my mind) it seemed to
me such a queer story altogether that
think 1t will interest Others to know it.
! must just alter one or two of the
names, that's all, because it is not so
very long ago since it happened, and it
came out in one or two papers at the
time, but all more or less wide of the
mark. None Of them had just the rights
of it.
You see, no one could make out how
Allan got away so easily-no one knows
except ny friend and l, and one man
over the seas, and not even the cutest
Yankee could ever guess the truth.
1t is stranger than fiction, as you will
find. But this is the story.
1put it short enough, fog writing is
not in my line. | can think things out
in my head, and turn them over and
over, till there is not much left of them
that has not been put through the sieve,
so to speak, but when it comes to pen
and ink Pm poor hand 1t means sit
ting down indoors for hours, and that
am not used to. No, thank heaven, |
can earn my bread by something else, or
very little bread would come to me, and
no chance of butter or cheese.
This is not my story at all; l mean,
not about my own life. 1t is about a
friend of mine, George Marksou.
If told you his real name you would
probably remember at once; he was one
of the best known detectives of that
time, Talk about five senses. George
had ten at least. He could see round a
case, and through a man, and into your
mind almost, aud tell you what you were
thinking of, better than you knew your
self.
And all so quiet-you would not think
he saw much, but he had seen everything
at a glance, and forgotten nothing.
have known him look into a room that
he had never seen before, and in the
evening, when we were sitting together,
he would describe that room, down to
the makers name on the clock, as mi
nutely as If he were holding a picture
OF it in his hand at the time.
He worked on his own account, and
he had constant and well-paid employ
ment, since the day he tracked the man
who robbed the Bank of Westminster;
you may remember the case-a daring
daylight robbery.
lie traced him after long search to
Paris, and spotted him there as gar
con in a cafe-a good disguise too.
George was in Spain after that for long
time, and then went to Cairo so l did
not see him for more than year He
came back with reputation more brit
liant than ever, aud settled down into
the same rooms he had shared with me
before he left.
He was middlc-aged mar when |
knew him, and the severe mental strain
of his employment, together with home
troubles, made him seem older than he
was.
His wife, to whom he had been much
attached, had died many years before.
His only son, too, had turned out badly,
got into debt (the old story of weak
will influenced by bad companions), and
then had emigrated to the gold dig
gings, and was believed to have died
there, aftera few more wasted years of
riot and dissipation.
His father had built many hopes on
his only son, and carried about an un-
healed wound caused by the bitter dis
appointment of all his expectations.
At the time am writing about, saw
there was something more than usual on
Georges mind.
He never talked much about what he
was engaged in, and took care never to
plague him with questions, but it hap
pened that a chum of mine, named Miles,
told me that George had missed a goo1
clue, and that another man, named Smol-
lett, was beginning to make name, and
was now bent on outdoing George
Once run to earth some one whom
George had failed to trace, and his rep,
utation was sure.
To outshine one of the best men then
at work was high game to try for, but
Smollett was trying no less.
Not long after, l met Miles again in
Oxford street. lie told me that Smol.
lett had scored again, and that George
had missed a lind he had made pretty
sure OF.
Ipooh- poohed the whole thing
''Chauce, all chance. Fine thing for
Smolett, more luck than good manage.
ment, no doubt" l said, feeling rather
netted, own. wait bit; you will
see which is the best man of the
two"
"Ill back Sun" said Miles, but he
remembered that George was my friend
and said no more.
/ came across Miles in very nearly the
same place next day. "Heard the lat
est7" he shouted, aud then proceeded to
explain that a forger, who had been
wanted for some time, was supposed to
be in London, and that large reward
was offered for him.
"Both on the war trail this time, "
said Miles. (which will be the best
man now, chr Getting exciting, isn't
it2'
That evening George, who had been
out all day, came quickly into the room
soon after six.
KNEW by his look that he was en-
ployed on some important mission. His
brows were drawn down into a single
straight line, and his lips were firmly
pressed together.
He stood for some time on the hearth
rug, evidently in deep thought. He had
not removed his top coat.
"Are you off again2" remarked.
He looked up suddenly. "Going to
drive to Holloway" he said. "Will you
Gomez"
knew by this that he would tell me
more of his errand. | rose at once. He
looked at his watch
"The cab will be round here in few
minutes, he said quickly. "rll tell you
what it is, Tou, if miss this, l shall