The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-02

lar in each other made it clear that the
Chronic Traveller could be relied upon for
an interesting Renaissance in this direc-
ton. We accordingly rallied him upon his
perfidy in so long Withholding an evenings
entertainment. and finally. after many
apologies from him for the personal char
acter of his recoIlectons. we found our
selves listening with deep attention to the
following romance of a detective.
Allan Dingleton was undoubtedly the
greatest detective who ever lived. For four
years. previous to 1880. held position of
confidence and trust under him. It was a
peculiar position, insomuch that while my
services were not those of a detective, yet
all the secrets of the detectives art, and
all the tremendous condolences of the most
important private detective system in the
world. were from my peculiar relations to
this extraordinary man laid like an open
book before me.
was present at his most important
councils: was his constant travelling COM
panion in all lands; and. though a young
man, believe was, as no living man had
ever Deen, MS trusted dNNlStI anu AAAtAAAs
On the subject which has just been I'M
der discussion here, Allan Dingleton had
views of his own. He believed that for
each condition, each situation, each COM
plication, bearing upon the ferret ting out OF
crime there was somewhere nature
whether trained or unframed, precisely
fitted for each individual task. His mar
vicious success in his profession came
through his ability to put the right man
in the right place at the right time in
other words, from his perfect judgment OF
men and their individual capabilities.
Before proceeding with my story, can
not resist recalling his judgment Of journ-
alists, and particularly of reporters.
"Ah, Ralph Euston," he would say to me
with a gentle shake Of his knobby head,
a curious half closing of his kindly gray
ewes and a pursuing of his lips into a smile
of wise protestation, you newspaper fel-
lows are natural detectives. No man can
be a successful reporter without uncon-
sciously being a detective. Energy, daunt-
lessness, persistence. cunning of the best
sort, almost faultless judgment, keen per
ception of human motives with the added
endless friction which enables lightning
like conclusions, are all in the able repor-
ter's makeup. In the best sense, he is the
only true detective who exists"
"Why, then" l would ask. do you not
make use OF them among your hundreds of
employees"
because" and here the grim. yet kindly
old fellow would always laugh heartily,
their positive genius for unraveling po-
litical. social and criminal mysteries is
only surpassed by their mistaken and un-
shakable loyalty to their news instinct.
There is not known human hardihood or
sacrifice they will not undergo to work
out likely theory; but the instant they
have achieved victory, they cease being
GAINED
then be flashed before all the world"
/ was naturally proud that l had stood
the test of self-control in this regard. He
had found me an ambitious literary young
fellow; the successful correspondent with
O rowing commission, of a great daily
Journal. Something which | had written
had pleased him. He Immediately engaged
me- leaving my journalist connection I'M
disturbed.
Then. as 1 afterward learned he had
contrived all manner of shrewd devices to
entrap me into what he termed news
paper explosion" Superintendents and ass
sistant superintendent rushed at me with
all manner of condolences. l was given
keys with which to unlock wondrous
card houses of sensation. l merely
thanked this one or that one appreciat-
lively for their friendliness, perhaps occa-
sionally remarking;
well, we'll! That would be good for
one, two or three columns (as the case
might be- If / were still in the newspa-
per business"
/ often burned to utilize these false
clues. They were most adroitly and
temptingly placed before me. But by
mighty effort 1 did resist and so stolidly
withal that the open sesame and COM
plete trust, respect and, l feel sure, affec-
ton, finally came.
1t was all wonderful literary study
TO me such as few men have access to.
j simply strove to be worthy of my op-
pertunity; and in this way but a short
time elapsed when whatever abilities l
possessed occasionly became valuable
TO this great detective system.
There were places where my acduaint-
ance, my journalistic connections, and
even my own family and social position.
gave me the character of address not
usually available in the detective service.
The old chief. too, was so gentle in his
requests. Nothing came from him as a de-
mand. Would do this. or that as a per-
sonal favor to him? This was ever the
way with Allan Dingleton; and when af-
lection goes hand in hand with duty, one
best pace is easily reached.
1t was not strange, then, that 1 had
achieved success in the various cases
had been given; or that, while not hold
ing the position of a detective, with my
and under the direct guidance of this mas
ter spirit, who always held that detective
acumen consisted solely of the sensible
application of common sense" l soon be.
came fairly well trained in the practical
work of the detective.
This was the condition of things nearly
four years after 1 had become Allan Din.
gleton's confidential employee and almost
constant companion, when, one morning
in early spring a great diamond robbery
had occurred in the city.
AS a consequence available oper.
alive, as the detective is termed in these
great American detective institutions had
been hastily dispatched from the agency
Even bookkeepers, stenographers and
record clerks were required in the unusua
and imperative demand to cover all sus-
pected points and parties
had taken the early morning mai
from the postman to Mr. Dingleton in hi.
private Office.
While we were jointly running over tn,
letters l came upon a large package from
the Southern Express Company, which
was one of the agency's most importan
patrons. 1 opened it and called Mr.. Din
gletons particular attention to it.
He glanced at its contents hastily; aros,
from his chair, tramped up and down tn,