The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-22
The Supcrintcndcnt'S s
EXannplc.
by OPIE READ.


At q small town on a railway run
ming through Kentucky an express COM
pany had been robbed Of five thousand
dollars. The loss of the money was in
significant when simply viewed as the
removal Of SO many pieces Of paper
bearing the portrait Of a distinguished
American, but the necessity to hold
up some one in the g!aring light Of the
law as dazzling example was mo-
mentous consideration. 1t hay be OBJ
served that q great corporation never
knows an evil-doer as an individual.
but regards him wholly as an ''exam-
Eie:" indeed, the closest relationship
and services that have endured through
many years can be forgotten by a great
llsh an example. And l have often
wondered why some one has not taken
up the business Of professional eXam-
ple. to undergo q sentence to prison,
for reasonable salary. to show to the
world that the great corporation Is
determined to enforce honesty. Well.
five thousand dollars were taken one
night from the express office in Spring.
dale. The safe was blown open, the
town trembled for three days in de-
lirlum Of excitement, and the agent.
with a bruise on his head, lay in his
room at the tavern. At that time I
was operating u detective agency in
Louisville (truly q despicable calling,
I must say), and the division super
intendent Of the express company sent
for me. A great man was he. Con-
sc:ously impressive, portly, with ami
nal life running like an engine within
him. As l entered his private apart
ment he turned in his chair, and. look
tng at me moment. said:
SO you are Captain Blake?"
My name Is Blake; yes, SIR"
Il suppose you have heard Of our
little affair down In the country"
Yes; have read an account Of It."
What do you Think"
1T Is only now, sir, that have found
It to my advantage to think"
'Ah; see." And after short pause
he added: "Now. I'll tell you what we
have done. and then I'll tell you what
we want you to do. The agent at
Springdale has been arrested"
He paused and looked at me as If he
expected me to show astonishment, but
! didn't. l simply said: Eyes; and he
continued: about six years ago he
came to us most highly recommended.
strictly sober. and with no bad habits.
There Is no bank in the town, and on
trusted with large sums of money. He
Is Of q good family, and during many
years his father has been cashier Of a
bank in this city"
He leaned back in his chair, stroked
his side whiskers and looked at me,
and fancied that l could hear the
great engine of health pumping within
him. II authorized his arrest last
night" ne went on, land have dis
patch telling me that the town is great
~ excited. The physician is unable to
head was self-inflicted, but he agrees
that 1t looks suspicious"
Well, said I, what do you want me
to do?"
q, have a scheme" he answered.
4, acre have been SO many similar
pes, you understand, that I believe
could convict him upon the testi-
Nony Of the physician and other sus-
picious circumstances; and although it
IL necessary for us to have an example,
you understand, yet I should like to
know beyond question whether or not
ne is guilty. I may be over particular,
but, the fact is, want him to make a
confession. I may be trifle soft
know"
asked.
"Oh, yes, surely" he quickly replied,
but as general thing we are willing
Tor the law to settle that point and act |
accordingly. But down in that part Of |
the country an example is badly need
ed, and II this fellow Haines could be
Drought to confess. why 1t would be
we'll it would be good thing for us.
you know"
"And your schemes"
rs this. I want you to be put into
the cell with him, win his confidence
ana worm a confession out of him."
Rather an old scheme" was bold
enough to reply.
"Oh, I've been told you are a most
discouraging man, but am determined
upon this, and I am willing to pay
handsomely for your services. and IL
you succeed the amount of conpensa.
tion shall be doubled"
Tnis, or course. interested me, and
during more than an hour we laid our
plans and talked them over, and when
l lett him 1t was with these words:
do my duty"
That evening an officer conducted me
along the main street Of Springdale.
The sight of the handouts upon my
wrists caught the eyes Of the corner
Aouu6eTS, anu soon crowd was fol.
lowing us and occasionally I heard
the remark: "Got him all right,
haveHt they? I heard the words
horse thief, bet you," and as unim,
pulsive.as am turned around to con-
front mottled face. The officer, who
knew nothing Of the superintendents
scheme-who was proud to be made 80 |
1mportant-gave me jerk, and the mob
applauded him. BY the time we reached |
the jail the air was full of horse thief"
mad no sooner been showed through
the door into the corridor than the
words hang him" smote my ears like a |
plow from mallet. for knew the alb |
norrence IN which my countrymen held |
the stealing of a horse; that, charged
with any other crime, a man might
nope for some sort of a hearing, but
that to be suspected Of horse theft was
more than likely to mean deaf ears and
quick action. The mob was now fierce.
The 5ailer. q fat and humorous old fell
low, stepped out. I stood in the corri.
DOR Just behind him. Near me stood a
man holding key waiting to show me
to my quarters.
Boys" said the jailer. what do
you want?"
You know what we want, Buck"
replied lank fellow who had assumed