Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-09-21
PLUCKING A PR0D|CAL.
Detectives Story of a Fool and
His Money.
The BUSINESS MANS SLY GAME.
BE Wanted Partner and Hired Detect
ives to Shadow the Young Speutlthrift.
Some Subsequent Developments That
Surprised the Hawkshaw,

ives to Shadow the Young Speudthrift.
Some Subsequent Developments That
Surprised the Hawkshaw.
This is story the beginning of which
dates back more than five years
One day the detective was seated in his
Office, guarded by the double doors and
thick walls that deaden the secrets whis-
pered 70 the sleuths, VIXEN the colorcd boy
who guarded the door brought in a card
1t bore the name Of q man well known in
business circles, one who had taken part in
various movements for the bctterment of
the whole population and who had some
reputation n church worker
The detective was secretly flattered to
receive a call from the prominent person,
and he wondered what the .ase would te
The well known business man seated
himself and after glancing around to make
sure that he would not be heard said: Il
have come to ask your services in EatHr
which concerns me greatly. I'll be l.. Of
about it, As You probably know, the house
of which l am the head is Ga of the old
and reliable institutions of the town and
enjoys reputation for honesty aud fair
dealing. We wish to hold that reputation
am very much puzzled as to what is my
Uuty all TtttllIlN HiGuc
me. You have probably heard of Il young
man named Delaney Barnet. His father
died about six months ago leaving the
young man large sum Of money, as much
Us $500, 900, | have been told
The detective nodded and said. II think
1t is fully that much
Now, the friends of this young man are
very anxious that he should embark in
hnSinpSs They raaliza fh,t
lions surround a young man who has
plenty of money and nothing to do l may
tell you, in fact, that l am in receipt of an
offer to put $500, 900 of this young man S
money into my business He is to become
my junior partner if we can agree on
terms. You will understand why | am
anxious to know all about him. leave it
in your hands to investigate his conduct
fully. OF late l have heard unfavorable
stories concerning him, but l wish to do
him no injustice by accepting mere r,Imor
What wish to know particularly is whcth-
er he drinks or gamblcs. l want Won to
watch him to see if he has any notion of
the value of money. Let NE know who his
associates are. Give me full information
as to how he spends his evenings"
The detective had attended to many such
cases before, but it was seldom that he saw
such n good fec in prospect
He set his best men or the track of De-
lancey Barnet. The Operatives" who
worked on this case had to be well dressed
and snowy fellows who could follow the
gilded Mr.. Barnet to his various resorts
without attracting suspicion.
Tney began to send in startling reports
as to the assorted night irolics of the young
man.
On Monday young Mr.. Barnet would go
to the poolroom and lose $3.50, after which
he ould go to swell hotel for dinner, ac-
companied by several polished blacklegs
In the evening he would attend the the
atsr, and after the theater he would go to
fancy restaurant and purchase many
bottles of wine for somo obscure stage
women and an assorted lot of worthless
men. At a late hour he would be taken
home in n cab.
For Tuesday he would perhaps vary the
programme by losing his money at a poker
game, and the nights carousal might be
transferred from the fancy restaurant to
the private fiat occupied by one of his nu-
mcrous acquaintance, and, after being
loaded into the cab, he might go to a
Turkish bath house instead of his own
apartments.
Taking one day with another. it was a
story of reckless expenditure and the Grim
tnal waste of money. Young Mr. Barnet
loaned large sums to cheap adyepturers
He gaInblcd with sharks, and any one
with clear head and half an eve would
have known they were sharks, and clumsy
ones at that Valuable jewclry was Law
ished on the coarse women who joined in
the nightly orgies Delaney, old boy, -
was the pet of the half criminal set that
tries to loiter along with rcspcctablcs. and
all Joined merrily in the fleeing of the
lamb
The reports which were forwarded day
by day to the staid old business man prov.
cd conclusively that Delaney Barnet was
an amiable and good hearted young man
who had not the slightest trace of business
sense.
1t was shown that he yielded easily to
temptation, drank iinmodcratcly sqlan-
dered his money with it.otic enthusiasm.
and under the impression that he was to
be y man about town, chose for his associ-