Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-11-02
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
The Burglar at Browns
By Edward B. Clark.

The alarm bell rang denoting the
presence or burglars at Brown * Co.'S.
Eight detectives went there and found
the doors locked. The interior was in
plain view. Seven men watched while
the eighth man jumped into hack ana
was driven posthaste 10 the hotel re-
sidence OF Brown X Co.'S western man
ager. who had been transferred recent
lv 10 Chicago from the east. The man
ager was out, and no one in the hotel
knew OF his whereabouts. The detec-
tive left n message asking the manager
TO 20 at once To the store on his return.
Then the officer went to the telephone
and called up the submanager of
Brown X Co. The submanager was In,
and said he would make for the store
as fast as a cab could take him.
Tie submanager felt Il heavy re-
sponsibiIity, and he knew that 1t
wouldn't do to take any chances on the
thing. So he gave the cabman an eN-
ira dollar To get him there quick. The
submanager had been superseded by
the manager from the east only Few
days before.
The submanager reached the store.
Taking out his bunch Of keys, he let
the watching detectives into the great
silver treasure house. They searched
the place from basement To roof. but
he'er burglar did they get. There
wasn't n trace OF thief. Everything
was intact, and the submanager ami
the detectives agreed that il was case
of false alarm. Then the sub went
home, and the officers went back TO bad
cigars and penuchle.
Half an hour passed. The eight men
I'm the squadroom were watching the
clock. In fifteen minutes they would be
relieved There was click. followed
by the tattoo OF a bell hammer. II was
another burglar alarm from Brown X
Go. This time the detectives put on
their coats leisureIy. walked out the
door aud went down the stairs with
half Iaggard steps. They climbed into
the carriage and told the drivers To
go 10 Browns again. but not TO Kill the
horses OH the way. Arrived there. they
tumbled out hastily. for the front door
was aJar. and inside they saw a man
standing near the safe. The officers
pushed their way in. and the man adj
vanced to meet them. lie wore frock
coat and u silk hat. lie met the de-
tectives half way to the door. and then.
without further introduction, lie said:
I'm the new manager of this place. l
got your message at the hotel. and
came over here too late to lind You Tel
lows, IL you have ever been here mt ali.
/ just now pulled the burglar alarm
myself To see if you Chicago sleuths
have any life in you. | find you haven't.
YOU'RE worthless. good for nothing
lot. It's taken you five minutes to an
swer my call. I'll see To IL that your
agency loses this job tomorrow. and
I'll tell your manager that his loss OF
the place is due 10 your laziness and
you'll all lose your jobs too. You're
lot OF incompetents. You call your
selves detectives. Bah, You're a lot
of dubs. Now get out of here and let
me lock up"
A flush of anger came into the face
Of each officer as he listened To the
TRADE. Suddenly the rearmost one or
the group pushed his way through ana
laid Il heavy hand ON the shoulder OF
the man who had just heaped abuse
upon then. You're Il pretty good bluff
er. Slinky," sand the detective, but |
knew you the minute / laid eyes on
your evil face. You can put on 4 plug
hat and swell clothes all you want, but
L can tell that sneaky look OF yours
anywhere. It's pretty near fifteen
years since i sent you to- Joliet last, but
it'll be less than a month before you go
again. Come along now" and he start
ed to pull the man vino was found in
the store toward the door
The victim drew back with a face
like a thundercioud. How dare you"
he said. I'm the new manager OF
Brown & Co. Here's my card. Here
are my keys and letters addressed to
me. How dare you call me Slinky."
"Oh. that's all right, Slinky," said the
detective. 1--WE just said you're good
buffer Keys, Cards! What are they
to get for man of your genius? Come
now. SIinky, no row. Grab hold of him
on the other side. BILL
Between the two burly detectives the
victim was led to one of the waiting
carriages, expostulating and entreating
all the way. Il tell you I'm the man
ager of this place. Take me to the
house OF the submanager. Mr.. Barton:
he'll identify me-" Into the carriage
the prisoner was hauled. The detec-
tive who had dubbed him Slinky wills
pered something to the driver and the
carriage went north across the river.
Say, Shiny, what job have you been
doing recently? L haven't heard from
you since you came out OF the pen
Hang on to him, Bill. there; Slinky's n
slippery cuss, and perhaps we'd better
put bracelets on him" And the detec-
tive dangled pair OF handouts before
the victims eyes. The prisoner squirm-
ed and nearly burst into tears. Then
he fumed again. Just then the car
riage drew up in front of North State
street residence. Call Mr.. Barton out,
Bill; I'll tend to Slinky all right"
AIR. Barton descended the steps i'm