Morris tribune., 1892-05-18

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
a born genius for this kind of business:
"Boggs, there's been a 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 ethieves-providin you can also ketch
'em. Now here's your chance. Go down
there and work up the case, and if you win
Ill 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 or the wonderful fellows ne
had become acquainted with in his yellow
cover reading So he dressed as mechan-
ic, put on a false beard and a 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
a stocky young man, with gold cable for
watchguard, a one eyed bulldogs. head
in brass on the top of his cane, a perfect
kohinoor of 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 de-
tectiye from Chicago, and having heard OF
the trouble down in Hampstead, he thought
he would look over the ground.
Mr.. Robert Tallman overflowed with
"reminiscences. He took up the profession
because he had downright love for it. At
first he 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 Jover' thought Harry Boggs, "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 disguisedp'
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
of doubling lover-who sud- |
denly and unexpectedly finds himself en-
gagged to the idol of his heart, sailed out |
Ito talk with the natives" as he put it, |
and to look over the ground
He talked with a 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
of even the most unsuspecting of |
the villagers, and they whispered one to |
the other that this mysterious stranger |
was either detective or 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, with his boots |
off and all the appliances for making |
punch before him on the table.
"By Jinks!'' exclaimed Mr.. Tallman,
Pm glad you're back, for am awful |
lonesome, and never did like to drink |
alone"
Harry Boggs did not need much coaxing, |
though he assured the man from Chicago |
again and again that he "made it rule |
never to drink while he was out on a job,"
but as this was an unusual case, and Mr.. |
Tallman was brother, he would join him. |
And so our private detective smoked and |
drank punch till he lost consciousness.
He never knew how he got to bed, but till |
the day of his death he must retain very |
vivid recollection of his waking up.
1t was broad daylight, and number of
savage looking men were bending over
him and shaking him, and when he tried
10 rub his eyes he found handcuffs on his
wrists, while one of the men called out:
HAL you internal thief! We've got
youf'
.Got nawthin," stammered Harry Boggs.
tTm private detective, ! am, and don't
you hayseeds forget itr