Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-06-19
The Story Teller.
AlINK FROM A CHAIN.
BY WALTER F. JEFFERs.

Office in Cincinnati q dispatcn came
calling for a detective to 60 to H.,
then a small town about 20 miles
south. AS our chief would not be
present for three or four hours 1 de-
termined to answer in person. In q
short time was speeding southwark
as fast as steam could carry me, after
leaving a note in the Office explaining
my absence.
A three hours journey brought me
to H., where sought the squire, as it
was that gentleman who had sent for
me. He Informed me of shocking
double murder that had been commit
ted there the night before.
An old couple living alone on the
outskirts of the village, and reputed
to keep considerable money in their
house, had been murdered, and the
house set on fire, that all traces of the
murder might be removed.
After carefully examining the prem.
ises, 1 found in the lower part OF
the garden, hanging to a stout bush,
a piece of watch chain about two
inches long, of a peculiar pattern, and
1 concluded that the person who own
ed the chain was the guilty party.
For nearly four months work.
ed on the case without success, and
getting discouraged, was on the point
of giving it up altogether, when re-
ward of $500. was offered by the au-
thorities of H., made me stick te,it q
little longer. :.
One day, having some private bust
ness to transact, I went to another
small town 80 miles west of H., and
after finishing my business, I found /
had to wait nearly four hours for the
train. To pass the time I took walk
around the village, and while 80 doing
I passed q schoolhouse out Of which the
scholars were just coming, and as they
started game of baseball, I stood for a
few minutes watching them. While
so doing, a tall, darklooking man went
by, and one of the boys, in answer to
my inquiry, told me it was a Mr.. Hill,
ton, their new teacher. Ofcourse there
was nothing strange in that, but some
how I felt as if L should learn more
about him, and this feeling grew &c
strong on me that I concluded to stay
few days in the village and try and
make his acquaintance.
Accordingly, I put up at the village
hotel, and that evening formed the ac'
quaintance of a youth of 1S or there
about, at whose house the teacher was
stopping. As the boy was intelligent
1 thought the best thing could do was
to take him partially into my conf.
dence, and accordingly I did, promis.
ing him large pecuniary reward il
nv suspicious proved correct.
He promised to aid me and keep bis
own counsel.
Now, perhaps it may seem strange
that should put a man down for a
murderer at a single glance, but it is
part of detectives business to take in
at glance everything, and by the
single glance gave Mr.. Hilton while
he was passing, I saw q chain extend
ing a little below his vest and at times
entirely concealed by it. recognized
the chain as of the same pattern as the
piece 1 had in my pocket, and that
alone formed the grounds of my sus-
Ipicion.
Next day, by appointment, I met
the bow again, and after q long talk
we decided that he should let me into
the house that evening and secrete me
in a room adjoining the teachers, from
which I could watch his movements.
Accordingly, that night I stole up to
the house through the garden, and
was met by the boy, who hurried me
through the now deserted kitchen and
up back stairs to a room, where he
left me, after telling me he would re-
join me when all the family had re-
tired.
In about an hour I heard footsteps
ascending the stairs and going into
the teachers room, and in about 10
minutes afterward the boy rejoined
me, and his first movement was to
cali my attention to ray of light
shining through a hole in the wall.
On applying my eye to it beheld the
teacher, with his back toward me,
seated in chair reading.
Presently he arose, and after taking
off his coat and vest, he turned in
such a way that I could see the chain,
and then knew it was exactly of the
same pattern as the piece had.
His next movement was a surpris'
ing one. He deliberately removed bis
long whiskers and wig, and then |
recognized him as Mike DAILY, noted
confidence man of St. Louis.
I whispered to my companion to
look also, which he did, and then in
return asked what I intended to do,
I told him would remain all night in
the house and arrest him in the morn.
ing while on his way to school.
In the morning, about three o'clock,
the boy let me out, without disturbing
any of the family, and I remained in a
wood near the road until heard the
teacher coming, accompanied by four
or five of the scholars.
I stepped out leisurely into the road
and strutted along as if I were enjoying
the morning air.
| Wbon oona I'M he nodded and