The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-09-22
THE MAN WITH THE GREEN
SHADE

THE MAN WITH THE GREEN
SHADE.
Speaking of bank cases." said
Capt. Sphinx. retrospectively. Il was
up against an affair early in my ex-
perience that pretty nearly drove me
out of the business. They told me at
headquarters, on the strength of it,
that | wasn't cut out for a detective;
I'd make better dry goods clerk or
truck driver. l tell you, it was bit
ter experience for me, and one ! was
not allowed to forget for years"
Tell me about it." urged. You'll
never have better chance to relieve
your mind; confession is good for the
soul"
"Humphr' said he, gazing at me
through half closed eyes; sit may be
good for my soul, but it's good for SO
much per column to you-I know you
newspaper fellows. You GO up and
down the earth like a lion. seeking
whom ye may devour' Everything
is meat to you
Don't be SO suspicious" | said. 1T
DcCOhc yOuy luI
made ready pad and pencil.
The captain went off into dreamy
1everie over his cigar and | had to
stir him up several times before he
really got to The story. The affair
happened when he had not been long
promoted from the ranks and was still
attached to the fourth metropolitan
station. The Fourth precinct wasn't
any better in those days than it is
now. A hard crowd hung around
Perry and Cross streets and the crooks
weren't on the best of terms with the
police, as they have been since, under
one or two captains. Old Capt. Bob
Warren, who was In command during
Spink's apprenticeship, never let up
on rogue until he had him behind
the bars or had driven him out of the
precinct, and the bad crowd was at
knife's point with the police.
One day Warren sent for Sphinx to
come to his private office He found
the captain closeted with young
woman, one who quite surely was not
an habitue cf the district. She was
plainly and modestly dressed. and
Sphinx wondered by himself how she
had come ia that locality where braz
en- women of gaudy attire held sway
She was brilliant brunette. with fine
eyes and an abundance of hair
Somehow the quiet attire seemed not
to fit her; there was something orien-
tai about her which suggested rich
gowns and jewels ynd other barbaric
splendor. She turned her brilliant
eyes on Sphinx, and ne, being young
and chivalric, succumbed.
But old Warren had already been
charmed himself by the girl. Il
want you to listen to her story, Sphinx"
he said. tits a most valuable tip, If
-ahem!-if true"
The girl timidly raised her eyes to
the gaze of the younger officer 80,
Sirr' she said, clasping her ungloved
hands, you will believe me, will you
not? | am a poor girl. | have nothing
to gain and everything to lose by tell
ing you this. l am driven to it by
my conscience | dared not speak
while my father was well; he would
have killed me, and then-and then
he is my father! But now that he is
down and the thing all planned,
cannot let it go on"
Come, come, my good girl, inter-
rupted Warren, ''go on with your ste
ry. Just repeat what you told me,
to Mr.. Sphinx" Evidently he had
heard a similar outburst before and
did not fancy having it repeated to g.
subordinate. The fact of the matter
is, Sphinx, there's plot to crack the
Holystone bank"
The Holystone" exclaimed Sphinx,
in undisguised amazement. The Ho
lystone was one of the wealthiest and
least accessible to burglars of any
bank in the city and was situated in
the Fourth precinct.
That's what" declared Warren
go on, girl
"My--my father is-has been, l
mean-an expert" she began again,
hesi.atingly. "We have never been
here before. We recently came from
the West and father planned this
this job. But now he is down with
infammatory rheumatism and the
doctors say he may never get up
again. He-he won't trouble you any
more. II didn't dare give his plan
away while he was active, for he al
ways suspected me"
why didn't you leave him?" ask
ed the captain.
He's my father; II couldn't do
that replied the girl, with sob.
"Well, if he's laid up isn't the plan
dead?" inquired Sphinx.
No, sir. They're going to do it. l
heard them say so. l don't know just
when; but it will be within fortnight
| think" and then she repeated the
details of very plausible plan.
by Jove" Sphinx exclaimed, Il
wonder some of 'em hadn't thought of
it before"
Looks straight to you, does it,"
asked Warren
1T looks So admitted the detec
tive
"Then you'll 60 on the case, I'll
see the bank people myself, and"
He looked at the girl again. That's
all, miss. If this tip proves the
straight thing and we bag them, we
won't forget you
And nothing will he 9one to faith
erP' she asked anxiously,
Not rs long as he behaves himself"
You won't set your men on him,
slr2" she begged. He's never done
any job here. SIR
I'VE shan't bother him as long as
he behaves, tell you,'' said the cap
tam. testify, but when the girl had
left the room he said to Sphinx: You
had better keep her in sight, or send
man after her. We may want to
know where to find her"
Sphinx obeyed by following her him
self He felt as though it was rather