Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-09-28


Of the great city.
But to return to my friend. Captain
Jim Irving, who, before our party had
separated, had opened three bottles Of
wine. Before leaving I had asked him
to call On ne at the st. Nicholas. The
next day he came and invited me 20
take drive with him to Fordham the
following Sunday. On Sunday he OPP
peared behind fast trotting horse and
in every respect an elegant turnout.
Soon after dark we returned to my
gars, we started for police headquar-
tiers. There he attended to some routine
business, having first introduced me to
two of his chief detectives. Many who
read this will recognize the men, but
in this narrative they will be known as
Stanley and White. will not further
describe them now, but as they will ap-
pear in the story from time to time the
reader will he able to judge what man.
ner OF men they were.
For the next eight weeks my life
went on much the same as usual In
our business we made some money, but
by one unfortunate investment lost our
entire capital, and, what proved worse
for me, my partners health began to
fail Dissipation, late and heavy din
ners and irregular hours began to break
a not overstrong constitution; conse-
quently one Saturday he abruptly an
nourccd his intention of withdrawing
from the partnership to take trip to
Europe. There was nothing to divide
save the furniture in Our Office, which
he presented to me. The following
Wednesday he sailed with two members
of his family. saw him off, bidding
him what proved to be last farewell
I left tie wharf feeling very lonely and
miserable. 1t may lie well to remark
here that he died 4 year later in Italy,
one moro victim of fast life, while
was spared, but took no warning from
his fate. In truth, was in the Prim-
rose Way, which is ever found most
tormcn.ing and unhappy thoroughfare.
Meeting Irving from time to time, he
was most flattering i'll his attentions,
while l VIC young enough and silly
enough to be pleased with his notice.
One evening about this time / met him
while coming out Of Wallack's theater
Shaking hant; warmly, he invited me
to supper at what was then known as
upper Delmonico's. After supper, walk
ing to the St. Denis hotel at Broadway
and Eleventh street, we found Detect
ives Stanley and White. Here wine
was ordered, and long after midnight
VIC parted, they first having exacted a
promise to dine with them the follow
ing night ct Delmonico's, at the same
tirio stating that they wished to make
me business proposition.
AT IL arrived and entered the res
taurant, was at once recognized by a
waiter, evidently on the lookout, and
ushercd into q private room up stairs.
Only White had arrived, but soon Irv-
ing and Stanley came, and supper was
ordered. With such gentry as these wine
is always IN order. Then they became
confidential, and the conversation turned
to the subject OF making money. Very
skillfully they extracted the confession
that had nene.- When excited by the
talk and the wine l cried out, by
heaven, WANT money! Stanley grasped
my hand and said, "Of course you do
a mans fool without it, Irving in
terjected, "Are you game to Go us a
favor and make $40, 900 for yOurself:'
"But how:' Igasped. go to Europe
and negotiate some stolen bonds we
have, will you?"
For $1O,o to become accessory to a
crime!
1t was an appalling proposition, and
slrank from it with an aversion
could not conceal any more than he and
his confederates could conceal their
chagrin over the way I took it and over
the fact that their secret had been i'm