The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-04-12
HIS SACRIFICE.

HIS SACRIFICE.
He threw awaya great chance Of sue
cess and has been happier man ever
since. There is no one but myself in
England now wko knows exactly how it
happened, and as l was thinking over it
tonight something in the papers about
a clever detective in New York brought
it all fresh to my mind it seemed to
me such a queer story altogether that
think il will interest others TO know It.
I must just alter one or two Of the
names, that's all, because it is not 50 very
long since It happened, and It came out
in one ortwo papers al the time, but all
more or less wide Of the marx. None Of
them had Just the rights Of it.
You see, no one could make out how
Allan got away so easily-no one except
my friend and I, and one man over the
seas-and not even the cutest Yankee
could ever guess the truth. It is stranger
than fiction, as you viii find. Bot this
Is the story. It is not my story at all
mean not about my own life. Ii IS
about friend of mine, George Markson.
If told you his real name, you would
probably remember at once he was one
Of the best known detectives Of that time.
Talk about Eve senses, George had ten
at least. He could see around a case and
through man, and into your mind al
most, and tell you what you were think
ing Of, better than you knew yourself
And all so quiet yon would not think
he saw much, but he had taken in every
thing at 2 glance, and forgotten nothing.
! have known him to look into a room
that be had never seen before, and in
the evening, when We were sitting
together, he would describe that room,
down to the makers name on the clock,
as infinitely as if he we're holding pict-
ure Of il in his hand at the time
He worked on his own account, and
he had constant and well paid employ
ment since the day he tracked the man
who robbed the bank Of Westminster;
YOU may remember the Casa daring,
daylight robbery. He traced him, after
q long search, 70 Paris, and spotted him
there as a garcon in q eafe-a good dis
guise, too.
George was in Spain after that for q
long time and then went to Cairo, so
did not see him for more than a year.
He came back with a reputation more
brilliant than ever. and settled down in
70 the same rooms he had share with
me before he left-
He was a middle aged man-when !
knew him, and the severe mental strain
Of his employment, together with home
troubles, made him seem older than he
was. His wife, TO whom he had been
much attached, had died many years be-
fore. His only son, too, had turned out
badly, got into debt-the old story Of
weak will influenced by bad eompan-
ions-and then had emigrated to the
gold diggings, and was believed to have
died there, after few moe years Of riot
and dissipation. His father had built
many hopes on his only son, and carried
about an unhealed wound caused by the
bitter disappointment Of ali his expec;a-
nons.
At the time an writing about, | saw
there was something more than usual on
Georges mind. He never talked much
about what he was engaged in, and
took care never to bother him with ques-
tions, out it happened that a ehum Of
mine, named Miles, told me that George
had missed a good cles, and that another
man, named Smoliett, was beginning to
make name, and was now bent on out
doing George. He had once run TO earth
some one whom George had failed to
trace, and his reputation vas secure. To
outshine one Of the best men then at
work was high game to try for, but
SmoIlett was trying. no less
No: long after met Miles again in
oxford street. He told me that Smolleit
had scored again, and that George had
missed find he had made pretty sure
Of
pooh poohed the whole thing.
Chance, all chance. Fine thing for
Smollett-more luck than good manage
meni. no doubt" 1 said, feeling rather
nettled, own. "WAit bit and you viii
see which is the best man Of the two"
"Fll back Sn-,r began Miles, bat he
remembered that George vas my friend,
and said no more.
came across Miles in very nearly the
same place next day. Heard the latest
he shouted, and then proceeded to ex-
plain that forger, who had been wanted
for some time, was supposed to be in
London, and that large reward was
offered for him
@BOthon the war trail, this time" said
Miles. (Which viii be the best man
now, Ell? Getting exciting. isn't il ?"
That evening George, who had been
out all day, came quickly into the room
after SIX. l knew by his look that he
was employed on some important mis-
sion. His brows were drawn down into
a single straight line. and his lips were
firmly pressed together.
lie stood for some time on the hearth
rug, evidently deeply in thought H'
had not removed his top-coat