The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-12-10


Nobody need know, and if nothing hap
pens YOU won't laugh at me-"
l answered that / could rot allow
him to take the risk. and I held to this
opinion although he protested that
there was no ground for alarm.
This man wouldn't make luncheon
for me, uncle" said he, squaring his
bread shoulders. ''Td be positively
ashamed to lay a hand upon him in
violence. Besides, III bring down my
shotgun if you'd feel any safer"
We discussed the matter for few
minutes, with the result that I tele-
phoned to New York for detective
whom l have occasionally consulted.
He is at the head Of one Of the best
private bureaus and prides himself
upon personal acquaintance with eT-
cry criminal of consequence in the
country.
That evening after dinner Donald
and I went out for walk, and in a
secluded place which had been desig-
mated in advance we met Mr.. Graves
Reedy, the detective. When the case
was unfolded to this astute and expe-
rienced man, he confessed that he not.
ed in it some slight favor Of the un-
usual.
Il amt exactly accustomed to hav-
ing descriptions come in this way"
said he, "but I'll tell you one thing
right off the griddle-I know the man.
1 amt seen him in some time and
thought he was out Of business. It
was said that he'd gone to Australia,
and then I was told that he was dead.
But, dead or alive, David Creel, alias
Williams, alias Carney, is the man."
"You recognize him." said /.
He spread out his hands as one who
dismisses matter that is all settled.
Perfect" said he. There's only
one Scotch Davy-that's his nickname.
He's a safe blower, and good one.
He must be sixty years old by this
time"
HE didn't look it," said Donald.
Hes a we'll preserved man." re-
joined the detective, cor was the last
time I saw him. He's always lived
right; never dissipated or had any bad
habits. He was a good man in his
way and kind to his family. Did you
notice how he was dressed"
"a sort Of dark sack suit, as re-
member" replied Donald.
Kind Of a reddish brown"
"Yes, with faint red stripe"
"You mean what they call an inVisi-
BILE check" said the detectiye-"stripes
up and down and crossways?
precisely"
Reedy rubbed his head.
That's the suit he was wearing nine
years ago when saw him last" said
he. Cant have it yet. Be worn out
before this time By gee! It begins
70 look as if he was dead"
He laughed softly and then became
serious.
"Nly advice to you, Mr.. Harrington" !"
said he, sis just this: Leave the whole
business to me. If there's anything in
this, we'll nip the man right here. II
there isn't anything in it, you don't
want a word said. Am right?
I assented, but ventured to inquire
what steps he intended to take.
"I'll hang around" said he. 'If
Toy-v c SrniDr n This lob
he's been in town to look the ground
over. If he was going to do it tonight,
he'd come gently walking in from one
Of the neighboring towns about 10
o'clock or so and lay around behind a
fence till it was time to operate. That's
his way on a job like this. I know
him. I'll bet hat that Z can go lay
down in place where Davy will fall
over me if he's our man. know him
as we'll as that"
"Where would it be?" l inquired with
interest, for I like these men Of fine
instructive perception who can foresee
the acts Of their natural enemies.
''There's a path comes up across lots
from the railroad station" he replied.
ut splits in a field, and one half Of It
runs up to your Office, as you call it,
while the other goes to Elm street just
at the junction with your private way.
Davy will loaf along that path because
that's where nobody ever goes at
night"
II struck me as a distinct probability.
l asked whether Reedy thought that
there was any chance of Mr.. Creels
operating" Immediately, and he re-
piled that he saw no reason for delay.
If he knows the stuff's there" said
he. '.tonisht's as good as any other. /
advise you to sit up pretty late, SO that
if any message comes from me you
won't have to stop to dress. Maybe
III get him on his first round. With a
fellow like that there's no use Of wait
ing till he actually breaks in. Consid-
ering his record, we can send him up
anyhow, whether he docs anything or
not. The judge'll know that Scotch
Davy wasn't out here for the scenery.
So you can't tell when you may hear
from me-"
Donald suggested that We might get
into the office secretly and wait there
without q light 1t would be handler
than going to the house. This was
pronounced too risky by Reedy. we
might frighten Mr.. Creel away. 1t
would be easy, however, to get into
the main factory building and wait IN
a certain little room in the end nearest
the Office. We might stay there as
late as would be possible without ex-
citing alarm at the house and then go
home.
This plan was adopted, and we ef-
fected an entrance into the factory
building without the knowledge OF my
watchman, a detail upon which Reedy
insisted. While this project was IN
process of execution the detective Sc