Morris tribune., 1892-10-19

At length the ambitious young mans
| opportunity came. The head sachem OF
! the private detective agency called him
! into his private office one day, and said
| with the cautious manner and whispered
| tones that come SO naturally to a man with
born genius for this kind of business:
"Boggs, there's been lot of burglaryin
| goin on at Hampstead, down on Long Is
land. The town authorities offer $500 for
| evidence that will lead to the conviction
OF the thicves-providin you can also ketch
'em. Now here's your chance. Go down
there and work up the case, and if you win
I'll divide with you, and nothing can be
| fairer than that"
Harry Boggs coinciding exactly with this
! opinion, no debate followed. AS he was
wholly unknown in Hampstead he might
have sauntered down there without any
| disguise, but this would not have been in
character and it would have violated all
the methods of the wonderful fellows he
had become acquainted with in his yellow
cover reading. So he dressed as mechan-
ic, put on false beard and wig to match,
and staining his hands to give him the ap
pearance of the genuine thing he sailed
forth
His badge was concealed by his coat, as
was the pistol which he carried in his hip
pocket. His gripsack held other disguises
and two pairs of handouts.
On the way down-it is only an hours
ride from New York-Harry Boggs, with
the modesty of mechanics, and because he
liked pipe, went into the smoking car
1t was nearly full but he got seat beside
stocky young man, with a gold cable for
watchguard, one eyed bulldogs head
IN I,-oc -
kohinoor of a diamond blazing on his
scarf and other signs of doubtful taste and
solid prosperity
Harry Boggs soon got into conversation
with this young man, and the young man,
who was the soul of frankness, said his name
was Robert Tallman, that he was q de-
tective from Chicago, and having heard of
the trouble down in Hampstead, he thought
he would look over the ground.
Mr. Robert Tallnlan overfowed with
"reminiscences He took up the profession
because he had a downright love for it. At
first lie made many mistakes, but for the
past three years he considered that he had
the world in sling, and now he could COM
mand his own price.
"By Jovep' thought Harry Bcggs;a'this
is just the man to stick close to. l have
lots of theory, for I've read all the detec-
tive stories that are to be had, but this
man is away up in the practical working
of the profesh and SO must be as chock full
of points as a pincushion."
On reaching Hampstead they put up at
the same hotel and as the place was
crowded, owing to the town convention,
they consented to take the same room
Just before supper Harry Boggs said to
Mr.. Tallman, handing him at the same time
his card:
"You see, sir, am in the same line, and
you will be no doubt surprised to know
that am disguisedf'
But Mr. Tallman expressed no surprise
he simply said Shake, pard," and then
ordered UP drinks.
After supper Mr.. Tallman lounged about
| the halls smoking and went early to his
| own room while Harry Boggs, with all the
enthusiasm Of doubling lover who sud.
denly and unexpectedly finds himself en-
gagged to the idol Of his heart, sailed out
| ''to talk with the natives" as he put it.
! and to look over the ground.
He talked with heavy moving watch
! man about the burglaries He went into
| all the lowest liquor shops in the place
talked about the burglaries with all the
customary loafers, and after hearing their
| theories treated them.
The young mans manner attracted the
attention of even the most unsuspecting Of
the villagers, and they whispered one to
the other that this mysterious stranger
was either detective Or a burglar, but the
weight of opinion was strongly against his
being the former.
When Harry Boggs got back to his room
In the hotel, about 10 o'clock, he found the
Chicago detective smoking sgithshis boots