The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-08-05

loser, entering on a career with a vague
instinct of revenge.
"A book of many chapters would be
necessary to gave a detailed account of
my system of research for lost valuables
and the development of my perceptive
powers and vigilance. I found that the
best way was to divide into districts the
city in which I was working, and have
pursued my vocation in almost every
large center of population in the United
States. These districts were to be visited
in their turn, the findings credited to each
and the yearly balancing Of the accounts
showing the exact profit Of each one.
''In most of my cities of operation I
have portioned off five district as follows:
First District-Postoffice, side streets
public bridges, large Office buildings, mar
kets.
Second Distrfct-Railway stations.
leading hotels and cafes.
'Third District-shopping district
Fourth District-Theaters, public, gath
erings.
Fifth District-Hotel Hobbies, wash
rooms, writing rooms.
"Over these districts have, with slight
variation, been on watch for years,
searching for what was lost; never steal
ing. however great the provocation. and
with no vices to force me out of what I
considered the safe and moral limit
'"The list of districts may mean nothing
to the layman. But they have meant for
me yearly income far greater than I
could have earned at trade.
"To find, and not to steali that is the
question. at least to one who has con-
science enough to permit of any moral
debate.
81 tot RTo ~, -.
yielded more to me than any other two
Of the five.
"F'1uctuating as In all branches of bust
ness. any one may have suddenly pro-
duced profit above the average
AS an Illustration, the second district led
the others during three years. But 1t was
also the district requiring the greatest
vigilance and effort.
"The first district never led, but 1t has
rewarded me handsomely for the time de-
voted to 1t, and. consulting only personal
desire and taste. has been my favorite
field.
But it is mostly women who lose pock-
etbooks and valuables, and almost always
near where they shop.
ga few incidents will make clear some
Of the hardships and rewards of my work
"Once, passing line of cabs I saw a
pocketbook on the seat of a hanson. I'm
doubtedly fare had forgotten It, In
an instant had engaged the man to drive
me to the Union station. He charged me
81, and my profit for the trip being S27g
as the amount in the pocketbooI1 was $3.50.
"In my inspection visits in all five dis
tricts have given especial attention to
the doorways and steps leading to private
dwellings. In the second district one day
carriage was driven up to a handsome
house woman alighted. went up the
steps, rang the doorb and, receiving no
response, returned to 4ier carriage. After
she had left I saw a purse. which she had
dropped on the steps, and it was at once
appropriated by the inspector The purse
contained Jewels and cash.
''The next day the following advertise
ment appeared in a newspaper:
LOST-Thursday, a purse containing
Jewels and a sum of money. Finder may
retain the cash If Jewels are kindly re-
turned to s @
''The lady received her Jewels
My fifth district Welded to me one of
my most important finds and the denoue-
ment of this event added greatly to nv
welfare-cpening new fields for my re-
search, al d giving me the support of a
man Of far-reaching influence in the af-
fairs of the city government, by which, I
confess, have profited.
Near a prominent hotel, late at night,
found a large. official enevelope contain
ing papers and documents of no small
value to the owner. Looking up his adj
dress in the directory. L called immedi-
ately and handed the papers to him. He
offered me no reward, simply inviting me
to call at his office the next morning My
welfare was greatly enhanced by this in
cident
'"The greatest danger incurred in nv
work is the tendency to become a sneak
thief. The profession develops all of
the powers constituting the mental force
of the thief, namely watchfulness. quick
ness Of perception, and a knowledge of
the extreme carelessness Of many persons
with regard to valuables they may
chance to carry in their pockets or in
their hands
''As an illustration of this latter SUBJ
ject can site the case of a wealthy wom-
an who lost her purse twice in thirty
minutes at railroad station First she
left her purse at the ticket office window.
and secondly, on the bench, when she
rushed to catch her train. The first time
I handed it to her, receiving as reward a
most gracious smile; the second time 1t
became my property, although I looked
conscientiously for an advertisement of
the loss, in view of reward.
1.-THE reader may condemn my sang
froid in attempting to give a clean bill of
health TO a calling tainted with some of