The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-11-12
MY ONE DETECTIVE CASE
torgnall

EteUlhN NN lN hN AANAA NANA Aa N-~et '- the business part of the town. without reference to the kind Of business. ] hnd visited some twenty stores and manufacturing places when struck the headquarters of the police depart. ment. True to my resolution, l went in The Inspector was In a bad humor about something. and I considered it a mere waste Of time to apply to him, but would not so back on my resoiu- ton.
 "what do you want3" he asked grualy.
 Anything. Detective work. if you have any
 "Dctectiyesi Blunderers rather ! want good detective right now, and ! can't get one. How much experience have youT"
 "None."
 He sat for a moment thinking, then said. My detectives are an known to the crooks. ! have a mind to try you on a case because you're not known. The -th National bank was robbed Inst night and the robbers are trying to ss out ot town with the swag IT ! arrest them. they won't have the money on them. SO I'm letting them run. Suppose I put you on to one of them. do you think you could make yourself out stupid enough for him to send Che stun out of town by you!'
 "I can do a very hard job of trying" ! replied.
 He considered awhile, then instruct cd me Co go to certain cheap hotel and put up as a guest from the coun- fry. BW O'Neil. one who was suspect ed of che robbery. was there, or had been there was to gain his cond- dence In the hope that he would send me out with at least a part of what had been taken from the bank. 1 fixed my self up In country costume and went to the place designated. A man an- swering the description of Bin O'Nel was sitting iu the office when ] went up Go register. paid no attention Go him nor be Co me. went Into the din- ing room. ate a good meal aud on going out saw O'Neu sitting where had left him. bought a i've cent cigar and while was smoking it walked mp ,o O.Nel and asked him 1T he knew when the next train left for Spottswood a village twenty miles out. He answered very cruHy that he didn't but ] sat down beside elm and began Co talk about tho price of corn. hay and other country commodities. Presently he called out to the clerk. asking mm about the Spottswood train, and re- ee.ved a reply that lt would leave in an hour He then asked what road it was on and on being informed said to me that be was going to a station on the LlLsr side of Spouswood and we would go together "That is. be add ad. -if ] can see a man before train lime" He couldn't see "a man before train time and asked me if I would take a parcel to Cottonwood. He wout telegraph bis partner to be on the look. out when the train stopped to receive ft.
 It looked as 1T the man had fallen Into che trap. but l suspected be hadn't Atauy rate ] knew there was a game Co ae played and my eyes must be like a myriad of telescopes.
 Al right" ! said. Gimme yer bun Le."
 Come up to my room. I've a bottle there. and Tu blow you od."
 It was plain he wouldn't act where others could see. We went to the room and he gave me the bundle. While be was getting out his bottle with his back toward me ! jabbed a sharp knife into the package The blade met with no resistance and ] caught sand and slwdust iu my hand. ! had just time to put uD the knife and thrust the bundle Into my pocket when O'Neu turned, and received my liquor with a smile.
 I asked for a second drink and a third and SO on as long as O'Neil would give me one. I wayed merry as ! drank. and ! soon saw by the eXpres- sion or O'Neirs face that be was quite willing l should get drunk. At last in- stead of taking my train ! fell over on the bed in an apparent stupor. Had not possessed a strong head ! would have been an appeared. It was now quite dark. and I was snoring lusdly. O'NeI turned or the light and I heard a key turn and a drawer open. Then be went out locking the door on the outside ] jumped up. glanced out the window. hung outside on the sill and let myself drop twenty feet or more to an extension and then down another big drop to the street. taking position 0n corner where ! could see every ecress. ! waited half am hour and was about to give mp the job when saw a "lay>eed" Hke myself go out through a Fda door Something | don't know uhat-mduced me to shadow him. tracked him to a railway station, whele ! directed a depot official Co cau a DO Hcpmau while ! watched my man ID few minutes the "hayseed' was ar rested On him was found the plmder done up in a bundle similar to the one ,l8- had been given to me.
 O'No.l was also arrested He told me chat a~ mine was a new face he was uncertain whether ! was a detective or not Finally be concluded that what ever uus he would send me oG with