Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-03-04
PROFESSIONAL
BRETHREN,
By George E. Walsh.
copyrisht, 1902, by F. NJ Buckles & Co, New York

sition, and I will have to trust much
to your honesty and tact until this
burglar scare passes away. 1t seems
strange that the gang Of thieves can.
not be caught. would give consid'
erable myself as a reward just to break
them up, for they are making the life
Of our neighbors miserable out here"
"Do you think that there Is a gang Of
them?' I asked boldly.
Certainly" he said, without hesita.
ton. How else could the robberies
be committed with such success2 Why,
have you any reason to believe other.
wise"
He looked sharply at me, and my
eyes wandered from his as I answered:
mo. except that l believe gang
could not operate as successfully as
one good skilled professional robber.
Where there are too many one or more
will get into trouble sooner or later,
and they will squeal upon the others"
"That's very true, very true" he
said refectively. Il had never thought
of that, and yet, yes, Jenkins. the de-
tective, came to that conclusion some
time ago, but secuted the idea. May.
be there Is more in the idea than l
thought I will think about 1t, and II
such q man is really terrorizing the
neighborhood I should like to see him
captured. I believe I will offer re-
ward myself for his capture"
1T would be good idea," l replied.
"for you would probably never have to
pay the reward"
"Why notp"
"Well. because man sharp enough
to evade detection all this time Is not
likely to be caught by somebody work.
ing to get a reward"
"That may be. but I shall offer the
reward at once. I'll make 1t a thou
sand dollars for the mans capture and
another thousand for his conviction"
"That ought to be sufficient to tempt
any confederate to squeal and turn
states evidence"
ut might be. but l should hate to
see the money 60 to confederate. for
it is my private opinion that a man
who tells of his comrade In crime for q
reward is worse than the man who Is
captured. He Is not only criminal
himself, but a coward and traitor"
Mr.. Goddard's eyes flashed sharply
as he spoke, but I turned away with
out further remark. knew for whose
benefit the words were spoken. Did
he think for IN instant that would
turn traitor and claim the reward
which he had offered for his own cap
ture and conviction? And yet how cas-
lily l could do It? He had placed him.
self In my power, and now he seemed
to challenge me upon my honor to be-
tray him.
But. then, he had saved my lite once,
and he undoubtedly knew human ma
ture well enough to satisfy himself
that there was no danger Of my be-
traying him. He had in reality made
coup d'etat in rescuing me from the
fangs Of the savage Dane the night be-
fore. He could easily have stood aside
and let the hound finish me. placing
me beyond all possibility Of ever after
ward annoying him. but his interfer-
ence. coupled with my sudden change
of position which brought me daily In.
to closer contact with him. convinced
me that he wanted to use me for some
purpose. Either he had some object
to attain through me or he wished to
make me his confederate In order to
dispose Of the goods he must have col.
lected. for had no doubt that the Sc
ries Of robberies In the neighborhood
had been committed by him.
What his purpose was | felt curious
to know. and looked forward to fu-
ture developments with considerable
interest.