The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-01-29


close. mouthed, too that people imag-
inc they are working diligently on the
track and that the arrested characters
form part of their deeply laid plan.
But in this case | overruied my bet
ter sense and decided to hang around
the scene of r.y last engagement just
to satisfy feeling. that was in some
way to meet again the man who had
SO generously shared his spoils with
me. True, he had found himself in
such position that something had to
be done to buy me off; but, as
thought afterward. he could easily have
outwitted me and escaped with all the
plunder.
On the following afternoon dressed
myself in a spare suit Of clothes which
l always keep for an emergency and
wandered out of the city limits toward
the old fashioned mansion. AS l ap-
preached it l caught a glimpse Of an
active little man who seemed to be
inspecting the premises with great
concern. Without hesitation put him
down as detective. one of those half
policemen whose shrewdness consists
chiefly in following trail that is as
clear as daylight.
felt no fear of him, for l knew
that he was not the kind of man to
capture professional l knew that
bold front would disarm him of all
suspicion quicker than anything else
If he caught me sneaking about the
neighbOrhood. he would very likely ar
rest me-
Passing near the front of the house
where he seemed busily engaged in
studying the broken shrubbery. ac
costed him.
rs this the house that was robbed
last night?" | asked innocently, look
ing with great curiosity at the place
rs It? Why. who said any house
was robbed?'
He gave me hard stare. which l
returned without seeming bold.
The papers are full of it." replied
And, being out this way. thought
I'd look around bit and see the
house"
''Oh. you Gid. eh? Well. it isn't a
safe place Jusr now for strangers
why not? There are no burglars
here now. i hope. If there are. I'd
like to get Il look at 'em"
He seemed to smile inwardly at my
ignorance.
well nobody is allowed on the
| place. he answered rather brusquely
And SO if you haven't any business
| here YOU can march on
But there is no harm looking at
the house from the street. is there?"
mo. but the people don't want to be
stared at by every Tom, Dick and Har-
~ in the country. so please move on"
l hardly noticed his last remark, so
interested was 1 by the appearance OF
two people on the piazza. One was a
beautiful young woman with a figure
and face chat would attract attention
anywhere. She walked down the front
steps and turned an instant to speak
to her companion.
| Bat, handsome as she was, the man
who followed her attracted me more.
and for an instant felt myself grow
/ ing dizzy. Fortunately for me the de-
tective had turned to greet the young
| couple, and he did not see my sudden
CONSERVATION.
| never forget faces that l have once
| particularly noticed. 1t is part of
my discipline to remember them. This
one had every reason to remember
| very we'll. Although l had only seen
| it by the aid of my dark lantern at
night, knew instantly that it belonged
to my companion in crime.
He was handsomely dressed, and his
clear cut features gave him an aristo
! cratic appearance that must have been
| born in him. A slight pallor of the
| face suggested the possibility of some
| inherited disease that he was unable
to control. AS he walked alongside the
beautiful woman l had to think what
a noble couple they made. Each
seemed made for the other
| 'Well, Mr.. jenkins, have you any
clew yet?' heard him say in his rich
voice as he passed the detective.
| only slight one" was the ready
reply. ut is difficult to find any traces
that may point TO anything particular,
but by putting this and that together
think | will be able to have clew be-
fore night
saw the gentleman smile, and I'd
mired him for his GOODNESS. He evi
IDENTIFY had no more confidence in the
detectives shrewdness than l, and he
was not counting fear unnecessarily.
| How smart these detectives are,
Charles" his companion said in all Sc
riousness. "They accomplish such won,
ders that should think robber would
be in mortal terror of them all the
time
Yes, Belle, they are sometimes
shrewd. and again they are not. 1t all
depends upon the man. This Mr.. Jen
kins seems to me like very persistent
and determined person, a sort of hu.
man hound. but doubt very much If
he has much capacity for solving a
| profound mystery"