Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-10-18

am medical man, and observation is
everything in my profession had no
idea you were looking"
Il can see without looking" he an
swered. 81 thought you were de
tective, at first; but | couldn't recall
your face at the time knew the force.
''Were you detective, then?" said |.
NO." he answered, with laugh; Il
was the other thing-the detected, you
know Old scores are wiped out now,
md the law cannot touch me, SO
lont mind confessing to gentleman,
ike yourself, what a seoundrcl | have
oeen in my time.
I'VE are none of us perfect, said l.
mo; but. | was real out-and-outer.
A fake you know, to start with, and
afterwards 'cracksman.' 1t is. easy
to talk Of these things now, for I've
changed my spirit. It's as if | was
talking of some other man, you see. !"
Exactly so, said |. Being med
ical 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
malefactor; and as sat putting at my
cigar, / was delighted to observe that
my airof interest 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
name behind nae in my profession sir
was one of the old school, you know.
It was very seldom that we bungled
job We used to begin at the foot OF
the ladder, the rope ladder, if ! 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
81 see" saidI.
Il was always reckoned ahard-work
ing, conscientious man, and had talent,
too-the very cleverest of them allowed
that. 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 He little knew that /
used to clear everything out Of his
pockets dozen times a day, and then
replace them, just to keep my hand in
He believes to this day that am in az
office in the city There are few G.
them could touch me in that particular
line of business, though"
Il suppose it is matter Of practice?'
! remarked.
ITO great extent. Still, MAI
never quite loses it, if he has once beer
an adept-excuse me; you have dropped
some cigar ash on your coat, and he
waved his hand politely in front of ny
breast, as if to brush it off, There.
he said, handing me my gold scarf pin
''youSee have not forgot my old Gun
ming yet.
lie had done it SO quickly that
hardly saw the hand whisk over my
bosom, nor did feel his fingers touch
me, and yet there was the pin glitter
ing in his hand. st is wonderful
said as fixed it again in its place.
''Oh, that's nothing! But have
been in some, really smart jobs. | was
in the gang that picked the new patent
safe. You remember the case. It wa:
guaranteed to resist anything; and we
managed to open the first that was
ever issued, within week Of it's ap-
pearance. 1t was done with graduated
wedges, sir, the first SO small that you
could hardly see it against the light,
and the last strong enough to prize it
open. 1t was a clever managed affair.
Il remember it, said |. But surely
some one was convicted Tor UnaJ?
Eyes, one was nabbed. But he didn't
split. nor even let on how it was done,