Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-19

actly knew-except, perhaps. one man. That
man was Clancy. chief Of the police depart
ment
Ultimately the grain dealers and the mil
lionaires communicated with John Billings
at his far west address. He answered eacn
letter with alacrity. He stated that he hao
never been in the town of Lorraine. He
had Just returned from a grain-buying trip,
1t was true, but all his time had been spent
in the city Of Chicago. Eventually some
one secured photograph of the real John
Billings. Alas! he was not the cattle king
who had made flying visit to Lorraine.
In the midst of it all the only man who
maintained his composure was the new
chief of police. He called one day at the
office of the Liberty Bell This was their
subsequent announcement:
SYNDICATE OF SWINDLERS SWIPED.
Clancy Caught Counterfeiter, Confidence
Man and Cattle King.
At this announcement the town was wild
1t swarmed to police headquarters But
there it found out nothing. Clancy instead
simply notified every man who had been
swindled to attend him in person at
o'clock on the following day. There were
several of these men, and they each OF
them were invited inside the railing. Then
Clancy opened up the doors to the clamor-
ing crowd. AS soon quiet was restored
Clancy signaled to an officer who stood at
an inner door. Immediately there sam
tered into the office a well-dressed man
Mr.. P. Toler Andrews gave vent to an in
voluntary exclamation of surprise.
What's the matter, Andrews?' said the
chief, mildly.
'T-t-that's the fellow that did me up-that
Tracy fellow from New York"
The chief raised his eyebrows. Are you
sure?" he asked. Andrews was sure, and
so We're dozen other men. The chief
waved his hand. The stranger jauntily
walked back by the way that he had come.
There was a buzz of conversation. 1t
ceased when a shabby sort of man, who
seemed little, entered in the custody of an
officer. He bowed nervously to Mr.. James
F. Wallace, who glared at him like a Gagged
tiger. He was identified at once by a will
ing concourse Of compliments. He, too
was retired. Two policemen then appeared
leading between them bluff, hearty, pow
erful-loOking man.
The man had no sooner entered than
there was wild hubbub.
Let me get at him!" yelled one of the
millionaires, wildly The cattle king for it
was he folded his arms. Come on" he
said with a twitching mouth, Il can take
care of you, 1 guess"
1t Is to be noticed that this was the first
OF the three swindlers who had spoken.
And when this man spoke three men slightly
started. one was young Andrews. one was
millionaire. The cattle king went back
Now, gents" said the chief, "all this
here Is just bit of by-play Bring in that
fellow Tracy he announced. The Tracy
you're made up. Undress'
Tracy looked around. "Here?" he asked
uncertainty.
The chief answered him gruff1y "I'll save
you the trouble he said. He motioned to
two officers, who seized the well-dressed
man. and jerked from his head a wig. They
stripped him of his fashionable coat, and
there stood before the crowd a man who
looked more like jailbird than anything
else.
Now you see," said the chief to An
drews. Just what you run up against
Take Elm away for a minute, till we see
the others again..
IT The me, next swindler was brought in. He,
TOO, was stripped. And this one looked
nke-1ke-. The crowd stretched forward
and rubbered as before. John Billings was
led In as soon as the other had retired His
wig and superfiuous flesh hastily removed
the self-same man.
he smiled smile large enough for three
men And then the chief smiled. And
AFTER the chief smiled he reached back of
MN ana opened large safe. From this
sa1e ne TOOK out several large rolls of bills.
Gentlemen" he began, Il started in to
cure this town Of swindlers Bein swindled
is disease and I've been around to vacci-
Ho.C q lew, " prevent the spread of the
epidemic. Several of you gentlemen have
iost some money but 1t was for the good Of
the community Now I've caught this
three-fold jailbird gentlemen, and made
MN cough up what he had left. I've lust
ABOUT divided it up in the right proportions
ana now he added, holding out the bills
to the several victims
Each grasped his own and began to count
II. me first to complete the job was p
tered. I've got it all back"
Mine. too dozen voices shouted. The
chief smiled again.
Gents he said, you're right, guess. 7
started IN to cure this town of swindIing
ana by the help of the police, and by the
heIp OF the newspapers 1 done it. But
gents. he went on. that help wouldn't
nave nave amounted to row of pins all by
9seir. Inc man who done the trick is old
Boneset Smith, the slickest detective in the
city of New York, and the greatest sleuth
mound In the world. And that man Boneset
smith. gents, concluded the sheriff. with
broad grin. lis none other than that iail-
oird-lookin' fellow that stands there.