The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-02-17

My next step was to set ON foot o.,
inquiry into Mullen's family histo,r'
and antecedents l hoped, and in fant
Delleved, that the clew which held ~
his identity would in itself enable mo
to trace him, bat at the same time 7
fully recognized that circumstance
might arise which would render tLot
clew useless and throw me back nnn,,
such information as could be ascertained
apart from it. That | should NOT be -,
prepared for such q contingency yros
very necessary, and I therefore commits.
stoned private detective named Green
whom i knew to be able and trnst'
worthy, to ferret ont for me all that
could be discovered Of Mullen's mast
Having wished him goodby and GOOD
luck, L started for Southend, whittier
l intended journeying in the com
rany OF the little talkative man with
whom Mullen had had the brush obont
the fusees. thought it more than likely
that he was commercial traveller. mart
ly because of the deferential stress and
frequency with which he interpolated
the word "sir" into any remarks he
CHANGED to make, and partly because of
the fascinating politeness with which
he addressed Mullen and myself-po.
likeness which seemed to suggest that
he had accustomed himself to look unon
every one with whom he came into con.
tact MS possible customer under whose
notice he would one day have occasion
to bring the excellence of his wares.
and with whom, therefore, he was apx.
ious to be Oh good terms
That he lived at Southend I knew
from an observation he had let fall
and after watching the barrier at Fen
church street station for a couple Of
hours l saw him enter an empty third
class smoking compartment five min.
utes before the departure of an evening
train. Half crown slipped into the
guards hand, with request that he
would put me into the same carriage
and reserve it, effected the desired re-
suit, and when the train moved out of
the station the little man and myself
had the compartment to ourselves.
knew from what had heard of my
companions remarks on the occasion
when | had journeyed to Southend with
him that, though talkative and inquisi-
tive, he was also shrewd and observant,
as men of his occupation generally are,
and as 1T would he necessary to ask him
two or three pertinent questions 1
thought it advisable 10 let the first adj
vance come from him. That no was al
ready eying me in order to ascertain
whether an overture toward sociability
was likely to meet with welcome |
could see. The result was apparently
satisfactory, for after an Introductory
cough he inquired whether I would like
the windoW up or down.
Always beware on railway journey,
when you wish to be left to the com.
pany Of your newspaper, of the man who
is unduly anxious for your comfort.
'Twere wise to roar him at once into ST.
lence, for your gentle answer instead of
turning away wrath is often too apt to
beget ii. Speak him civilly, and you de-
liver yourself bound into his hands, for
you have scarce made your bow Of ac-
acknowledgements, sunk back into your
place and taken up your paper again, be-
Fore his tongue is hammering banalities
about the weather at the thick end Of
the wedge he has inserted.
TO BE CONTINUED