Connecticut western news., 1894-05-31
A TRYING POSITION.

A In l 1INU I IODlllON. Matters had come to crisis between myself and landlady. My bill was sadly in arrears, and Mrs. Ringwoodie, having passed from frowns to words and from words to importantly, had ended with a peremptory demand for payment.
 Not being ready or having the ready to comply with her requirement. had nothing for it but to vacate my room and surrender my night key, the former being wanted, I was given to under stand, for MT. O'Bosh, an old customer of Mrs. Ringwoodie whom she was under standing promise to accommo- date and whose arrival was hourly ex- pected. MT. O'Bosh, may here say, was Mrs. Ringwoodie's Mrs Harris, a convenient myth, one who never came, but was always coming when a delin' quent boarder was to be got rid of.
 had come to the city to be an author, but my efforts with the pen to scrape acquaintance with fame and fortune had not proved over successful.
 Down to my last dollar, with no i'm mediate prospect of another, and weariet. with long search for cheap boarding house whose terms were not invariably in advancc5'' sat me down in an out of the way restaurant to face tough beef steak and the still, tougher question of what was best to be done.
 A grave looking gentleman sat oppo- site, dividing his attention between a bottle of wine and the evening paper.
 What a bungling set these detectives areI' said the gentleman, whose tone left it doubtful whether he spoke to him. self or me.
 Why" he continued, answering my look, "here's that bank robbery, nearly week old, yet with every clew to guide them and the stimulus of hand some reward besides, those who should have been hot on the scent within an hour still stand gaping, with their fin gers in their mouths. Things were man. aged differently in my day."
 ''You were detective oncc," ven- tured to surmise.
 He nodded.
 ''This reward-is it very large?' I asked.
 Hive thousand dollars" he an swered, flor the recovery of the proper ty and capture of the thief !"
 'Twould be quick way to make money" said l, If one knew how to so about it. "
 Would you like to go halves in mak ing the etfort?'' he queried, summing me up with scrutinizing glance.
 ''I fear should be of little service" I returned. ''I have no experience in such matters and am almost stranger in the city"
 'The very thing to render your aid invaluable. This crime is evidently not the work of novice, and to your pro- fessional thief every detective's face is as familiar as pals. The mere sight of one puts the game to flight. Under slillful guidance you could work unsus- pected Now, if you'll put yourself in my hands for 36 hours, believe we can bag the prize. What say you-is it Q bargain"
 It was not exactly the road to fortune had set out in, but it looked like q shorter cut at starting. At any rate, my circumstances were desperate, and I saw no better chance to mend them.
 I accept your offer," said.
 Come along, then, said the stran- ger, rising, and having settled our scores we left the place together
 In the street he took my arm, and aft CT q long walk through unfrequented by streets my companion called halt be- fore somber looking house, into which he admitted us with latch key. He led the way up stairs to shabbily fur nished apartment, in which dim light was burning. ..-..t We seated ourselves, and my compan- ion was beginning to unfold his plans when a knock was heard at the door. He held up his finger in token of si- lence.
 The knock was three times repeated in a peculiar manner, when my host got up and cautiously opened the door.
 A man stood outside with his hat pulled over his eyes.
 Excuse me moment" said my companion, stepping out and closing the | door.
 I heard low and earnest voices ill the passage, but only distinguished the words: "Train for Boston at 10. San Francisco train at II :30. !"
 Soon there was sound of departing footsteps, and the door of the room open. ed and the proprietor entered.
 'I've no time to explain further now," he said. Meet me at the depot in time for the 10 o'clock train to Bos ton.'
 "But have no money" answered
 ''I'll see to that, 2" he replied.
 There was little time to lose, and rose to go
 Would you mind carrying this satchel?" said he. ''I have short stoI to make by the way, besides having 2 valise to look after''
 I received from his hand the article il question, which was small and light In the waiting room of the depot my attention was drawn to the clicking of { telegraphic instrument.
 had once been an operator and haC learned to read messages by the ear. | is said eavesdroppers rarely hear good O themselves. and the present case, thougl the listening was involuntary, proves no exception.
 Judge of my amazemeat when hear clicked off, in language to me as plail as speech, full description of my per son and everything pertaining to me down to the satchel in my han,l, i which latter it was said would be foun a portion of the bonds stolen from tn = bank. I did not stay to hear wha followed, which was doubtless an orde | for my immediate arrest