Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-08-23
IT WORKED
BOTH WAYS
LOriginal.1

manceS of Gaboriau and Conan Doyle,
we entered it at the same time and
for awhile worked in the same city.
This could not very well continue for
ever, and we ut last drifted apart. For
awhile we correspondent, then finally
lost track of each other.
Meanwhile for me the romance had
gone out OF the detective service, and
it had become the detective business,
unvarnished, at which l struggled to
keep the wolf from the door for my
self and family. 1 made very little
money and tired of my duties. How
ever. there was no help for me. 1
knew no other calling and kept on
hunting criminals.
One day l was sauntering along
Washington street, Chicago, when a
man passed me and whispered in my
ear, &c. & G.'s in ten minutes" then
passed on and was lost in the crowd.
Who he was, what he meant or
how he came to know me was Il myS-
terry. My training as detective at
once assured me that might be on
the track of Il crime. &c. n G.'s i'll ten
minutes' 1 have it! The letters We're
the initials of Il large restaurant and
saloon near by. L kept right on TO
the place, entered it and looked about
for my man. He soon entered, passed
me without Il glance and went to
private dining room, to which l fol-
lowed him. The door was scarcely
closed when he said TO me:
ITS some time since we met. The
last L saw of you you were being led
off by n cop with Il pair of bracelets
on your wrists. So wash
Memories are not always pleasant.
Better come to the point ut once.
Fright you are. summons and L
(you know Simmons; I'D was with US
on the other job was discharged last
week. Well, we're goiRg to crack
bank, and we are badly in need of
man we can trust TO witch. II you'll
join us, Wen share the plumber in
thirds"
consented, and he unfoldcd plan
to rob the -th National.
How the man had mistaken me for
some one else 1 could not imagine.
However, did not trouble myself very
much about it, being absorbed with the
wonderful piece of luck that had be-
fallen me. l was too old a bird to
give away my secret for nothing l
went to the president OF the -th Ma
tionaI and told him that l knew of n
serious misfortune about 10 happen to |
him and that l would tell the secret |
for $4,000. He questioped me TO get |
q clew without paying flor it. but l |
sealed my mouth, and he finally con- |
tracted TO pay me what l asked.
or course on the night we were to |
rob the bank had policemen stationed |
at convenient places, who at the |
proper time swooped down upon us |
and captured us red handed and just |
as the burglars We're about TO get |
away with $4,000 in bills, besides a |
large number of government bonds. |
| was led away to Jail with pair of |
handouts on my wrists, which were
taken off as soon as 1 WAS out of |
sight of my colaborers. Meanwhile
The man who had met me on the
street was standing beside me waiting /
for a Black Maria.
There's no way in the world this
could have leaked out" he muttered,
except through you. Now, L believe
you gave US away at Buffalo. You'll
pay for this
The next day I received my pay and
IN the evening sat by my fire smoking
and planning for new
start with my capital when the fact
suddenly popped into my head that l
had been mistaken for my twin
brother. Had Bob gone to the bad?
My own brother, born at the same
lime, grown up with me, burglar,
was sickening,
As soon as / could get away L start
ed for Buffalo. There l visited the
chief of police, who helped me to in
formation about the bank robberies
that had occurred in that city, but
here was no record of any one of my
lame-Wharton-being connected with
my of them. One day a police cap
tain, on seeing me, stared at me
then asked:
"How did you get out?'
1 soon learned that he mistook me
or a man who had been convicted of
bank robbery q year before and SEN
fenced to the penitentiary for five
Years. 1 went to the prison and there
'ound my brother Bob. As soon as he
Jaw me he threw himself on my neck.
'Oh, IOm, this comes OF reaulhS
and Conan Doyle"'
Explain, Bob"
81 fell in with some men who pro-
POSED to rob q bank and convinced
hem that was one Of their kind. Be
ore 1 could explain how 1 intended to
rap them they were arrested and
,eached on me. Papers were found in
ny room connecting me with them. L
vas arrested, tried and convicted. The
nan who got the reward 1 had hoped
or was a newspaper reporter and no
detective at all. wish l had the necl1s
If Gaboriau and Conan Doyle IN one
moose. I'd hang both OF them higher
han Hannah"
You should have taken precau-
ions. l have just made $4,000 for
Icing what has sent you TO prison."
/ went to the governor and stated