People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1896-02-27

am a medical man, ana observation is
everything in my profession. had no
idea you were looking"
81 can see without looking" he an
Bwered. 81 thought you were a de-
tective, at first; but | couldn't recall
your face at the time / knew the force"
"Were you detective, then2" said |.
mo" he answered, with a laugh; II
was the other thing-the detected, you
know. Old scores are wiped out now,
and the law cannot touch me. so
don't mind confessing to a gentleman,
like yourself, what scoundrel have
been in my time"
1--WE are none Of US perfect" said l.
mo; but was real out-and-outer.
A fake, you know, to start with, and
afterwards 'cracksman.' It Is easy
to talk Of these things now, for I've
changed my spirit. It's as II | was
talking of some other man, you see."
Exactly So" said |. Being med
zeal man | had none Of that shrinking
from crime and criminals which many
men possess. could make all allow
ances for congenital influence and the
force Of circumstances. No company,
therefore, could have been more ac-
ceptable to me than that Of the old
malefector; and as | sat putting at my
cigar, was delighted to observe that
my air ofinterest was gradually loosen
ing his tongue. ....
"Yes; I'm converted now" he con-
tinued, land Of course am happier
man for that And yet" he added
wistfully, 'there are times when long
for the old trade again, and fancy my
self strolling out on a cloudy night
with my jimmy in my pocket. left a
name behind me in my profession, sir.
] was one Of the old school, you know.
1t was very seldom that we bungled a
job. We used to begin at the foot OF
the ladder, the rope ladder, II I may
say so, in my younger days, and then
work our way up, step by step, so that
we were what you might call good
men all through"
II see," said l.
II was always reckoned hard-worl'
ing, conscientious man, and had talent,
too-the very cleverest Of them allowed
that. l began as a blacksmith, and
then did little engineering and car
pentering, and then / took to sleight.
of-hand tricks, and then to picking
pockets. | remember, when was home
on visit, how my poor old father used
to wonder why | was always lowering
around him. lie little knew that
used to clear everything out Of hi,
pockets dozen times a day, and ther
replace them, just to keep my hand in
He believes to this day that | am in ar
Office in the city. There are few o.
them could touch me in that particular
line Of business, though"
81 suppose 1t is matter Of practice?'
j remarked.
ITO great extent. Still, a mar
never quite loses it, if he has once beer
an adept-excuse me; you have dropped
some cigar ash on your coat" and hi
waved his hand politely in front of my
breast, as if to brush 1t off. There,
he said, handing me my gold scarf pin
you see | have not forgot my old Gun
ming yet"
He had done it SO quickly that
hardly saw the hand whisk over my
bosom, nor did l feel his fingers touch
me, and yet there was the pin glitter
ing in his hand. ut is wonderful"
said as l fixed it again in its place.
"0h, that's nothingl But l have
been IN some really smart jobs. was
IN the gang that picked the new patent
safe. You remember the case. 1t wa.
guaranteed to resist anything; and we
managed to open the first that wa
ever issued, within a week Of its ap
pearance. twas done with graduated
wedges, sir, the first so small that you
could hardly see 1t against the light
and the last strong enough to prize Il
open. 1t was clever managed affair.
81 remember it" said L But surely
some one was convicted for that9"
Eyes, one was nabbed. But he didn'
split, nor even let on how it was done
We'd have cut his soul out If" 81,
suddenly damped down the very ugll
fires which were peeping from his eyes
perhaps I am boring you, TALKING
about these old wicked days Of mine?
ION the contrary,"I said, "you in
terest me extremely" .I..
"I lika IN rot q lietanar ann t,-,,et