The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1892-02-04
HNINSANE SLEUTH.
a Barber Craxef by Reading De-
tective Stories.
Ins Strange Conduct While Shaving =
Real Detective Gives the Latter
Some Very Uncomfortable
Sensations.

Much has been said about the life of
che detective, his manner Of working
and the tricks Of his trade. The fact
Is, however, the outside world has lit
tie knowledge of the business and what
has to be learned in it before mai, be-
comes proficient officer.
Some men get the idea that they
would make good detectives, and be-
come ambitious to follow the business.
They read thrilling detective stories
and become so much worked up in
them that they think Of nothing else.
There is o certain class of people In this
city who read of the work done by the
detective force, and can give full ac-
count of the work accomplished by
each individual detective during the
year, says Pittsburgh paper.
There is barber In Allegheny who a
year or more ago became very much alb
sDrbed in detective stories. He would
newspaper accounts Of how detectives
had gone about to work up certain
cases. He soon became possessed with
the idea that he would make splendid
detective. A member Of the force was
In the habit of going 10 his shop for q
shave. The barber would besiege the
officer every time he came with ques-
tipns concerning the detective business.
Finally it was noticed that the barber
WAS going insane on the subject One
dny recently the detective went to the
shop for his usual shave. It was the last
time he patronized that shop. He had no
sooner taken his seat than he noticed
the actions of the tonsorial artist were
somewhat peculiar. He strapped the
razor with unusual vigor, and mutter-
ing to himself would now and then
look around in wild-eyed manner at
the officer. The latter was becoming
thoroughly frightened. He had dealt
with all kinds of desperate criminals
and had been in the business all his
lie. He never knew fear, and was al
ways prepared for the worst. When
he saw that the barber was evidently
out of his mind each individual hair on
his head began to stand on end.
He did not like the idea Of sitting
quietly down and letting a crazy barber
slash his throat from ear to ear without
demonstrating. Yet he knew that he
would run great chances if, after he
had got all ready and the barber was
preparing to go to work, he should at
tempt to leave the shop without wait
ing for his shave. He decided to sit it
out and watch carefully every move
ment of the barber. He nerved himself
for the ordeal, knowing. too, that the
barber could sever his jugular in the
smallest fraction Of second, and that
would be the end Of him. The barber
had no questions to ask.
This taciturn disposition was unusual
for him, and the detective was morally
certain he was concocting something
evil. He seemed to be hours in shaw
ing him. There was not another soul
in the shop, and the detective had no
hopes of defending himself If the luna
tic decided he should die. There never
was more thankful man in the world
than that Allegheny detective when the
barber had at last finished his work
and called next" to the empty chairs
along the sides of the room. The man
srddenly disappeared from town few
days ago, and nothing since has been
heard from him.
JoHNNY's BULGE ON GRANDPA.
zhs Advantage He Took of His Poor Old
Relatives Deafness.
Johnny is chubby-faced youngster
who for the past six years has been the
light of an East side household, says
the Pittsburgh Democrat. Johnny has
q keen sense of humor, but his occa-
sional pranks have not always met with
the appreciation on the part of his
fnother to which he thought they were
entitled. Johnny has been properly
Grained, and perhaps overtrained, by
his fond parents, and with the perver-
Eity of children has developed strong
prejudice against saying the little
prayer his mother has taught him to
repeat before retiring.
eSeveral weeks ago the little fellow
made visit to his grandparents in the
pountry. He was led away at the time
BY his grandfather, who had instruc-
lions from home concerning the even.
ing devotions.
But grandpa is very deaf and white
obed Johnny decided to introduce
hange in the usual programme, so as
e knelt by the bed he began: "CoAe,
title boy blue, come blow up your
orn. The sleeps in the meadow, the
owls in the corn" and repeated to the
nd that familiar jingle of the nursery.
'sThat's good boy, Johnny" said the
d man, as he tucked him into bedj
always say your prayers and you will
BOW up good man." and Johnny
linked the other eye as he chuckled
PER his little joke.
He Obeyed Orders.
An East Dover (Me.) farmer had a
perannuated mare and not thinking
advisable to winter her, spoke to
3Re boys to take her out, shoot her
{1I hurry har fO1. a nnonnu cnnSidara-