Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-19
A SMART TRAVELLER.
HE CAUSED A sLEUTHHoUND VERY
GREAT ASTONISHMENT.

Officer a Lesson in Carefulness.
A famous western detective declares
that he never surprised a criminal more
completely than he himself was sur
prised in journey from Albany to New
York.
He was seated comfortably in a parlor
car skimming over newspaper. when a
gentleman rose from the seat opposite,
and touching him on the shoulder re-
marked in an offhand way, as if they
had been chatting together for hours:
'sWell, sir, of course you will do as
you think best, but it's my opinion that
you are on false scent"
"How do you mean?" asked the de-
tective, staring at the man with all his
eyes in a vain attempt to make out his
identity.
"Why, l mean that there is no use in
your trying to find out the motive
which prompted this young girl to throw
herself into the river, because she was
dead before she ever left the land"
"What young girl? What river? Who
are you talking about and who are your"
All this rather sharply, for the west
erner was not little piqued by being
addressed thus familiarly by an entire
stranger, who seemed-and that was the
puzzling part of ito be perfectly fa-
miliar with his private affairs
81 trust, sir, that 1 am not annoying
you," said the newcomer with the ut-u
most courtesy. 81 know what profess
sional discretion calls for on your part,
but the extreme interest | take in the
fate of this unfortunate girl prompted
me, perhaps unwisely, to venture the
suggestion you seem to resent"
Somewhat Modified, but as much in
the dark as ever as to the mans identity,
the detective replied:
''But, my dear sir, how can you pos
sibly take any interest in my business
when you do not know me?"
"Ah, but there you are mistaken" said
the other smiling. II do know you very
well and sympathize deeply with you in
the loss of your poor mother, who died
about month ago, if am not mis-
taken"
This was indeed the case and wonder
ingly the detective listened as the gen.
tleman went on:
"By the way, you must have had an
exciting time in your recent trip abroad
in pursuit of those st. Louis counterfeit
ers. What pity they gave you the slip
at Mannheim. But for. that you would
have accomplished one of the greatest
pieces of detective work of modern times.
Don't you think that German banker
who was SO friendly betrayed you to the
rascals?'
81 haven't the slightest doubt he did,"
exclaimed the man of vile, "but who in
the name of heaven are your"
The stranger, still smiling, continued:
81 suppose you have given up the idea
of having that boy of yours follow in
your footsteps? On the whole l think
the law will be a better career for him.
He has not your strength and endurance
and"-
''Now, look here, my FRIEND" inter-
rupted the bewildered detective, "Iet's
call halt on this funny business. I'll
own up you have got the drop on me.
Now, come, what is in the scheme? How
do you come to know, and above all
how, in the name of all that is mys-
terious, do you know things about me
which no one"-
"Oh, know more than that" was the
exasperating reply. 81 know all about
the mean way you were turned down at
the head office last summer. know the
man who did it and why he was jealous
of you. 1 know how you proposed to
get square with him in this very case by
proving that he has accepted hush
money from''-
'sFor Gods sake, my dear sir, be care
full what you are saying. Some one in
the car may be listening. Do you speak
French?"
"That is precisely what l do speak,"
said the other, and suiting the action to
the word he continued in that language,
which he spoke with the purest Partisan
accent.
'sNow listen and will give you an
explanation of the present enigma Pos
sibly you may find in it a lesson for the
future.
'sDo you remember being down in
Pennsylvania about fortnight ago,
riding from Pittsburg to Oil City with a
dark complexioned man about my height
who wore full black beard?"
eyes," answered the detective, 'sI do.
That was an eastern detective who was
working with me on a bank robbery.
He is one of my best friends"
"And you told him, did you not, all
about this recent row you have had at
headquarters, and discussed with him
what was the best thing to do about it?'
eyes; but how did you know that?
Did he tell your"
"Never mind how l know it. You
also talked over with him the case you
are now working upon and declared
your intention Of exposing the dishonor-
able conduct Of your rival. Is not that
true? And if SO; don't you think that
for detective of your experience you
showed lack of caution in speaking of
such serious matters in public CARP
eyes," answered the detective quick
1y, s'but remember now that my friend
and spoke only French as precaution.
No one understands French out in west
ern Pennsylvania.
"And what if told you that / was in
the seat behind you all the way to Oil
City, apparently fast asleep? What
would you say to that?"
The detectives jaw fell.
"Do you mean to tell me that all you
know about my life and my business
you got from a chance conversation
overheard on railway"