Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-10-30

NOW, tnen," ana the ferret.eyed
little man leaned forward as though
to add weight to his words II have
always held that q good reporter is
the best detective in the world. You
have done some good work for the
paper. Bennet-verv good indeed.
You will take this case. Devote
your whole time to 1t, follow up every
conceivable clew, run these fellows 70
earth, and-well, II you succeed, it
will make difference in your salary.
"You will take any other man on
the local staff you may desire to as.
sist you," went on the editor before
Bennett had time to reply. II should
suggest Godfrey. He's a bright fel-
low, quite up to the work, I should
think"
II think Godfrey is the right man,
SIR" answered Bennett. Godfrey
entered moment later in response
TO summons by telephone. The
nature OF the business on which he
had been detailed was explained, and
then both men were dismissed with
the injunction to do their best.
The task set these two reporters
was by no means an easy one. De-
tectives, and reputedly smart ones,
mad worked on the counterfeiting
case for months, but as the editor
said. no clew, however faint had
been found to the makers of the base
IS notes.
A week after he had been detailed
on the matter Jack Bennett sat loung-
ing in an armchair at his rooms, ex-
amining one Of the spurious bills for
the hundscth time. He had Just sue
ceeded in running down, with the
aid of Godfrey, clew which the lat
ter had suggested, but which, like a
dozen other supposed clews, had
proved false. A week is a long time
In a newspaper Office and Bennett
was beginning to chafe at his lack of
success in finding single thread.
"a bad beginning" he unused. IA
deuced bad beginning"
Taking the cigar from his lips he
again examined the counterfeit mi
nutely. 1t was almost perfect A
slight difference, perhaps, in the tex
ture OF the paper between this and
the genuine bill, but the lettering
was clear and exact, the ink black,
and the printing without flaw.
None but an expert could have dis
covered the fraud.
Then Bennett fell to thinking of
certain difficulties he had encoun.
tered in this investigation, which
had so far proved protitless Some
times he had thought Godfrey was
jealous of the precedence given an
other on the case; sometimes his as
sistance and suggestions seemed half
hearted. Still, there were times
when he was feverishly anxious to
hunt down a newly discovered clew.
There was no doubt of the mans
ability. Godfrey had worked up two
or three affairs single-handed in a
manner that proved himself a thor
Oughly capable mainland vet there
was something about his efforts to
run down these counterfeiters that
seemed but half sincere.
Little was known Of Godfrey on
the paper. He floated in on the boom
tide, just when a good man was
badly needed. Jim Durnald, one of
the rest men Kansas City ever saw,
had succumbed to the effects of six
years. continuous work in the same
chair, and was, at the time of God
frey's advent, hopeless victim of
paresis in a sanitarium, somewhere
in the central part OF the State The
poor fellow imagined he had our
chased controlling interest in the
stock Of two railroads and a steam
ship company. OF course everyone
was sorry for Durnald, but 10 = news
paper office there is very little room
running" and it was necessary to get
a man in his place at once When
Godfrey applied for the Job Fawcett,
the city editor, put him on and it
took but few days to demonstrate
that tirst-rate, all-around man had
been secured.
Eennett thought over mis- associa-
tions with the new man, and could
find no real reason for complaint.
Mentally resolving, however. to adopt
new line of research on the follow
ing day, he was about to retire, when
knock on the door startled him. 1t
was the sharp rapping of some one in
hurry.
Jack. say Jack" Bennett recog-
nized the voice as that of young
Davis Get up and let me in, old
chap" went on the outsider.
Bennett walked over, turned the
key, and threw the door open.
"Why, Davis" he exclaimed, whats
the row? you look as though you had
seen ghost" for the junior member
of The staff was very pale and very
much excited.
Davis assumed an air which told
plainly enough that he had a dis.
closure to make. The youngster drew
up chair, lighted one OF BENEFITS
cigars, and replied to his friends
query with question.
"How are you getting on with the
case, Bennett?" he inquired coOlly.
What case?"
''Come now, old fellow" went on
S,T t., l.