The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1892-05-13
A SMART TRAVELLER.
He CAUSED A SlEUTHHOUND VERY
GREAT ASTONiSHMENT.

tive-The Means He Took to Teach tn
Ohicer = Lesson in Carefulness.
A famous western detective declare
that he never surprised criminal nor,
completely than he himself was sur
prised in journey from Albany to New
York.
He was seated comfortably in parlo1
car skimming over a newspaper. when
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:
well. sir, of course you will do as
you think best, but it's my opinion thai
you are on a false scent"
How do you mean?" asked the de
tective, staring at the man with all his
eyes in vain attempt to make out his
identity.
why. | 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.s
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 Familiarity by an entire
stranger. who seemed-and that was the
puzzling part of ito be perfectly far
miliar with his private affairs.
II trust. sir. that | am not annoying
you" said the newcomer with the ut
most courtesy. II know what profes.
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 mollified, 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. 81 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
rascalsY'
II 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 better career for him.
He has not your strength and endurance
and
Now, look here. my FRIEND" inter-
rupted the bewildered detective. lets
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. II know all about
the mean way you were turned down ut
the head Office last summer. know the
man who did it and why he was Jealous
of you. know how you proposed to
get square with him in this very case by
proving that lie has accepted hush
money from
"For 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 | 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.
Nov listen and will give you an
explanation of the present enigma Pos.
sibly you may find in it a lesson for the
future.
do you remember being down in
Pennsylvania about fortnight ago.
riding from Pittsburg to Oil City with
dark complexioned man about my height
who wore a full black beard?"
''Yes," answered the detective, 81 do.
That was an eastern detective who was
working with me on 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?''
"Yes; but how did you know that?
Did he tell you?"
''Never mind how 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 canton in speaking of
such serious matters in public carr
"Yes, answered the detective quick
ly, 'but remember now that my friend
and spoke only French rs 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 thaty'
The detectives jaw fell.
''Do you mean to tell me that all yoa
know about my life and my business
you got from a chance conversation
overheard on a railway"
Precisely.
And that you never knew me, or my
friend. or any one who knew usY'
"Never."
well. stranger. you are smarter
detective than l am and you've got
that's just chain lightning.
There's just ten minutes to wait here.
Come along and have cigar. New