The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-12-28

B. who has been leading a fast and
reckless life, and who, moreover be-
longs to the genus degenerate, did
something once of a highly Disgrace
full, not to say criminal, character,
which act was witnessed by Willie O.,
who works for $40 per week in a shoe
store. Willie is a very wise and
worldly lad for his years, and, instead
of blabbing what he saw among his
associates, he kept the matter to him
self, but, at the same time, gave 3 to
understand that unless he paid him
some money. etc, he would let the cat
out of the bag.
This 3 is more than willing to do,
inasmuch as Willie's demand is ex-
ceedingly modest. and one that he can
readily afford to meet, rather than
take the consequences of not doing so.
But while Willie's first demand was a
mere trifie, the lad soon begins to rea-
son to himself that, having secured
the windfall as readily as he did. it
is clear that B is scared and ready to
pay more, if only he will ask it. SO
foxy Willie begins to ask little more
and a little more, until, thinking that
he has struck a gold mine, his de-
mands grow out of all reason and are
more than B can stand or afford to
meet
I'm a somewhat desperate frame of
mind the latter seeks the Office of a
private detective. Knocking on the
door, he is admitted to the presence of
a gray haired, dignified. fatherly look
ing old man, whose gentlemanly bear
ing and polite ways are quite reassur-
ing. B tells him what's wrong and
what he wants done. The fatherly
looking old gentleman gives his custo-
mer a good cigar, lights one himself,
listens to his tale Of woe, asks a ques-
ton here and there and makes a mem
orandum. of dates, places and street
numbers in his notebook, after which
he tells his customer what the re-
tainer will be and the amount he will
expect in case of success. The con-
tract closed, B goes home and takes
the first good nights rest he has en-
joyed in months, confident of the abil-
ity of the private detective to put
quietus on Willie Q.
Now, Mr.. Private Detective, having
something of a knowledge of human
nature, is shrewd enough to see that
young fellow worldly wise enough to
become a blackmailer is pretty apt to
be up to other question: BILE practices
as well, and lays his plans accordingly.
When 3 entered the detectives private
apartment through the latter's general
reception room or waiting-room, he
probably noticed, sitting or standing
about, several persons, some seedy and
others well dressed. These men are
employees of the detective, and are
known professionally as 'shadoWers'
After B has departed, the detective
calls one of them into his room and
says; X. want you to shadow Willie
a. at the same time giving him the
residence number and the place where
the young fellow works.
'These are all the directions which
the shadower receives. He knows
nothing as to why his employers desires
Willie O. Swallowed, and he values his
job too highly to ask questions.
He loses no time in getting to work
following Willie from the time he gets
up in the morning until ne retires at
night making a note of all the places
he visits, what he does, etc If Willie
boards a street car, he does the same
from the opposite side or farther down
or up the street; and if Willie goes into
a place, the shadower,. by discreet
methods is not long in finding out why
he went there and what for
Now, If it should happen that Will
lie got onto the fact that he was be-
ing followed, a thing which, by the
way, does not, occur in one case out
of ten, the shadoweT makes note of
the fact and reports the same to his
employer, who puts another man on
the scent. Things go on in this way
for awhile. until some day Willie does
something out of the way, and of
which the shadower takes note and
reports to his chief
1T is now time for the private detec-
tive to act, which he does in the follow
ing manner. Some fine day when Will
lie is quite off his guard. a polite. dig
nified old gentleman calls either at the
store or at his residence, and tells foxy
Willie that he would like to have a few
minutes private interview with him.
This he does in tones so musical, mild
and reassuring that Willie does not
know whether TO think he is some long
lost, wealthy relative who has dropped
in to give him $1,000 or whether ii is
someone who wants to buy a bill of
goods.
He takes Willie aside. and in ca
nary bird tones tells him that he is
very much grieved TO find that ne.
Willie. is annoying a friend of his.
young Mr.. B. with demands and i'm
portunities, which the latter is in no
position TO grant; then, suddenly
changing his tone and speaking so
loud that there is just the least dan
ger of those about hearing it. and
looking knives poniaFds and daggers
at Willie. he adds:
NOW. my young man, you did so
and so, on such a night. at such a
place. don't try to deny it, because I
nave the proof of it by a dozen Wit
nesses; and If I ever hear Of Won an
moving my friend again, III have you