Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-05-04
Betrayed By Sweetheart.

Detectives are not endowed with
omniscience, and therefore they are
not always successful in hunting down
their prey. In the course of my long
career as a police and private de-
tective | can truthfully say that | was
not often baffled; but, like the clever
est men in our profession, | was some
times compelled to own myself de-
feated The case | am about to relate
was one of these-I am proud to say
1t was not long after | had quilted
the force with pension and set up
business for myself as a private de-
tective, and so far business had not
been brisk. Many people fancy that
a private detective has not as good
chances as one belonging to the force
of getting at the bottom of mystery,
forgetting, it seems to me, that a
police detective is trammelled by the
orders, restrictions, and sometimes the
jealousies of his superiors, while the
private detective can do as he likes.
Come, wake up, Sandy; here's a
telegram for YOU said Mrs, Sharp
one morning.
| had been to the house of an old
police chum the night before, and had
stayed until past one, so | might be
excused for being still in bed at nine.
Can you come here at once? If not,
ulease wire.-Mrs. Moffatt, Blanefield
House"
So ran the telegram. and, as | knew
the lady to be a wealthy young widow,
| dressed as quickly as possible,
swallowed hasty breakfast, and
hurrying away to Queen Street High
Level Station, caught train for
Blanefeld l had about a mile to
walk when | left the train, and it
was nearly noon when l arrived at my
destination.
had seen Mrs. Moffatt in Glasgow;
she had been pointed out to me soon
after her romantic marriage TO Mr..
Simon Moffatt, one of the richest OF
Glasgows merchant princes. Mrs,
Moffatt had been a waitress at a city
restaurant where Mr.. Moffatt was &C
customed to dine, and had fallen in
love with the handsome good-tem-
pered girl. The offer to make her Mrs.
Moffatt was accepted by the sensible
young waitress, and, If she had not
loved her mddle-aged husband, she
had been a thoroughly good wife. and
when he died, leaving her three
fourths of all he possessed, with a lit
tie girl of three she seemed in no
hurry to marry again, and gave not
the slightest encouragement to GER
tain fortune-hunters who would gladly
have espoused the rich and beautiful
young widow.
When sent in my card at Blame
field House | was at once admitted
and ushered into Mrs Moffatt's morn
ing-room. ! saw by the compressed
lips and cleaning eyes that she was
strongly moved, and came TO the con-
clusion that it was no light matter
that would engage my attention.
Have you lunched, Mr.. Sharp? No?
Then you really must have a glass OF
wine and a sandwich. You can
listen to me all the same" said the
lady. ringing the bell.
When the servant had retired after
setting the sandwiches and the wine
before me- Mrs Moffatt. opening a
drawer in her writing-desk, took out
two cheques, and, handing them to me,
said
Are you Judge Of handwriting
Mr.. sharp One Of those cheques was
signed by me- the other is a forgery
Can YOU tell me which one | signed.
| examined the signatures carefully,
and soon satisfied myself which was
the forged cheque, handing II back to
her
THAT is the forged signature. 1t
bears signs of having been traced,
| said.
You are right The forger tried his
hand with this cheque, and as Il was
cashed without question, he forged
this one, and, taking another cheque