Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-30
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
BLACK. WHITE
OR BROWN?
rOriginaL.1

tive business. When a man is brought
to trial for his own murder. it is prima
facie evidence that he is not fitted to
hunt down criminals.
had conceived u great fancy for the
detective service from reading about
NJ. Lecocq and Sherlock Holmes and
| determined to make it my business.
secured 4 job in Chicago, but was dis
charged within a week for stupidity
giving away Il plan to trap den OF
counterfeiters. Resolved TO make an
other trial. l went to St Louis, but l
had gained such an unenviable reputa-
ton among detectives that l concluded
before again applying for work to oblit-
crate all traces of my former record
by changing my name. From William
Black / became Thomas White.
1 secured n job on case of burglary.
1t was rather dangerous work. and
for that reason probably it was given
to me, n stranger without credentials.
Information had been brought in that
gang of robbers had their headquar-
tiers in n dive near the river front. and
1 was sent out to investigate the place
and report. If the men who had been
entering houses for the past month
were there. | was supposed to gain
some inkling of the fact upon which
the police would be warranted in MAX
ing n descent and arresting the in
mates.
Dressed shabbily. at an early hour in
the morning I went to the saloon. found
it open and within as hard a looking
lot as ever went to Jail Staggering to
i n cd Irin inf
to keep my ears and eyes open. but de-
spite my threadbare clothes | was spot
ted for spy. OF sudden the lights
were put out, and felt grip on my
shoulder. Quick as Il flash l slipped
out of my coat. and in the darkness
the man could not tell me from one of
his own number. Making for the door,
1 rushed out. leaving my vest in the
hands of one of them. a part of my
shirt with another and tore down the
street toward the river. followed by the
gang. Seeing Il steamboat tied TO the
wharf. dashed aboard. BY this time
there were numerous police signals,
and my pursuerS desisted. On the boat
all We're asleep except n watchmGn. TO
whom l confided the facts. and he per-
mitted me to remain.
came aboard and arrested me. This
considered an end to the matter, for,
although | was not known TO them, l
supposed that | would have no trouble
in establishing my identity. l asked to
be taken to the detective Office with
which was connected, and my request
was granted. When we entered, the
chief was in conversation with Il man
l,nn IL ot.l lNttf
whose voice sounded familiar When
the two had finished and turned 20 me.
recognized in the speaker the man
who had given me the job in which l
had stupidity given away the plan to
trap the counterfeiters. 1 stood before
the two detectives. presenting rather a
forlorn appearance.
1--WE tracked him aboard n steam
boat" said one of the policemen. Hes
one of the gang who made away with
Mr.. White last night
Hello, Black!' said my former en-
ployer. "What are you doing here?"
Here was muddle. He knew me as
Black. l mad given my name to my
present employer as White.
You are mistaken in the person."
said.
after which he took my employer into
back Office for long colloquy. Then
it occurred to me that he was telling
him how l had given his plans to the
counterfeiters. now doubtless believing
that was in collision with them. Aft
err awhile my employer came out and
looked me over critically. Then with
out 4 word he motioned my guard to
take me to Jail.
My efforts to get an interview with
him were fruitless. When l was ar
raigned. 1 found that l was charged
with being one of my own murderers.
/ would have laughed at being ac-
cused OF my own murder had not the
difficulty of proving my identity been
apparent All the evidence was against
me. was moving from place to place
under at least one alias. Doubtless the
police expected to discover more 1t
was a clear case that I was n counter
feiter. and now I was burglar and n
murderer. and. what made it doubly
Irritating to me. / had murdered my
self!
l spent months in Jail while the po-
lice were waiting for me to turn up.
Occasionally my keeper would inform |
me that had been seen in New York, |
San Francisco. New Orleans. Imagine |
my feelings at these reports. knowing |
that they would turn out false and
were only delaying matters. When |
my body was discovered. mutilated al
most beyond recognition. gave up in
despair.
1t was about this time that /. togeth-
er with those of the gang who had |
been arrested. was brought to trial 4 |
young criminal lawyer came to my cell |
and proposed 10 take my case. saw
that he was smart as Il whip and en-
gagged him. Then told him my story.
Whether he believed me or not | don't |
know, but he pretended that he did.
n.hir rrnS Lie limo nf dnfoncn. IIn