Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1900-01-19
My Vocation.

..VS, Observation-Disclosures iCis,s,G,s,s,c,ts
by nam is Arthur Clarence Fitz.
gerald Mackenzie. | am %, tall, good
looking and a clerk. | am not absolute
" miserable. but am nevertheless far
from happy.
The IA Cf NV own unhappiness is
that | cannot alight upon the particu-
Jar walk in life in which my ABILITIES
are destined to make me fHmors
1t was my fathers great principle
that every man is a genius in n partic-
ular department, bnt the chances are a
million to one that be never finds that
department.
For 80 years he worked at the trade
of bootmakiny without becoming q pen
ny piece the richer. and it was Only on
his deathbed that he found he ought to
have been u cabinet minister.
My own delusion was that | ca1re
into this world for the sole purpose Of
showing its inhabitants something
startling in the detective line.
My opportunity came at last. | was
Walking down the Strand in that calm,
thoughtful manner peculiar to people
Of great brain power when Il passerby
looked seurchingly into MY face. 1t
was Only a glance. and be passed ON al
most Immediately, apparently satisfied
with hi3 inspection
literally jumued with eagerness md
delight The man. although oatwardly
refined and geatlemanly. had a very
striking face.
fhEt man, said | TO myself. "has
every indication Of being Il villain.
Then a thrill Of excitement ran through
Ine Al lie waited ahead | noticed that
his ear tapered TO a point at the top;
II was, in fI,t. a splendid example Of
what il known in physio5onony as
the criminal car
''That man is a villain, sail /.
Having come 10 this rather imp1r-
tsnt conclusion. 1 Immediately formed
the idea Of following him First of all.
1 turned MP my coat collar. A detective
must not on any account be conspicu-
Gus. Now my linen lie always white rs
spow. and therefore necessarily conspic-
uous
tien followed my man in a SLOUGH
ing. shutting way, in order to show
people that had no object in follow
ing him. | founded my shoulders,
bowed my head. looked up under my
eyebrows with tbs most approved ferret
expressions and followed my quarry
with the pcrtinacity OF a bloodhound.
"His general appearance and de-
meanor | s%oliloquized, ''are indica-
tive of refinement. lie is therefore a
gentleman. Being a gentleman. it Gun
not be his object to rerpetrate a COM
moi burglary. He has the aspect of a
foreigner. Being a foreigner. he may
be a RIssinn. and. being a Russian. he
must be a nihilist. Good heavensl The
welfare Of the populace, the very fate
OF the dynasty. may be at stake. Per-
maps this man carries an Internal ma
chine concealed upon bis person. But
what is the life of one man to the safety
OF thousands1 | will risk my life for
the
Here Icollided violently with a lamp.
post This delayed me for some time,
bnt when | again caught up to my man
/ was rewarded by perceiving unmis-
taxable signs of criminal comnrunica-
tion.
Two or three times | had noticed an
individual ON the opposite side of the
road almost keeping pace with the one
l was following. | was rather sugpi.
cious Of him at first, but when saw
him 90 into a public house | naturally
came to the conclusion that he had
dropped out Of the chase.
l was wrong, however. A little far
ther on my nan turned back and wel.
into the same house. Now. thought l,
as followed him, the plot thickens.
found my particular villain sitting
at a table reading a newspaper.
For nearly a quarter of an hour
furtively watched them. Then my pa.
thence was rewarded. The man who
was reading took outs pencil and be-
gan scribbling something ON the margin
Of the newspaper.
Presently the man threw the news.
paper down by the side Of his accom-.
plice and walked out. did not follow
him this time. / felt convinced that he
had left behind all l wanted.
thought Of walking over and taking
mp the paper, but, as / anticipated. be-
fore | could 90 SO the other man pounced
on it like a hawk. For a few minutes
he pretended to read tho news. then |
saw his eyes sneak to the side Of the
page and devour the pencil note.
Now this is where | displayed my
genius When the man had read the
note. be deliberately tore of the piece.
folded II mp. stuck IL into the gas and
lighted his cigarette with It. Like a
Fash ! took out a cigarette, and. walk.
ing over to him. said the usual. AFTER