Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-08-13
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Heroic Part.
IOriginaI.l

nara heou. Win na0uSOnle peFSOHs
fine manners and n smooth tongue,
crossed her path Jessie was infatuated
with him and broke with me for him.
Before they were engaged Read con-
fessed that some time before he had
got into trouble with the business house
where he was employed and had been
discharged. He told a very pathetic
story of the wrong that had been done
him, intimating that he had taken
blame upon himself to shield q fellow
Ilerk. Jessie sympathiZed with him in
the matter and admired the spirit that
led him to tell her of this before she
engaged herself to him.
For my part, l have never met any
one who was ready to suffer for me,
though l have found many who were
inclined to let me suffer for them.
didn't believe in the magnanimity OF
Maynard Read, especially as there was
nothing about him to back his story.
But ii must be remembered that he had
taken my girl away from me. At any
rate l wanted to prove him dishonest.
didn't dare investigate the Offense he
had spoken of for fear Jessie would
hear of it and be my enemy for life. 1
Reads way so inviting an opportunity
to be dishonest that If there were dis
honesty in him he would avail himself
Of it. l didn't make an amateur de-
tective of myself to blunder through
what / didn't understand, but hired
1.-The real thing"
1 introduced my friend, Leslie Mer-
rill. to Jessie, and he was so we'll liked
in the family that he soon became
frequent visitor at the house. Mrs.
Lewis, Jessie's mother, owned hand
some pair of diamond earrings which
she never wore Merrill succeeded in
persuading her to let him have them
for considerably more than their value.
When the price, which he took care
should be in marked bills, was ready
for payment he took them to the
Lewis house, carelessly left them on
the mantel In a room where Read was
waiting for his fiancee and went out Of
the room. Returning later. the bills
were gone-and so was Read.
The same afternoon Merrill reported
the matter to me. assuring me that
there was no doubt of our tracing the
marked bills TO Read. He would
watch the thief, notice where he spent
money and take up any bill he might
give out, which undoubtedly would
| bear the private mark. Then he would
have Read arrested. l went home to
dinner, where l learned that my old
college chum Bradwell Jones. whom l
had not seen for several years, had
called and insisted upon going TO my
room. but the mans description did not
correspond with that of my chum.
was dressing for dinner when there
came a knock on my door and man
stepped In with n search warrant. l
was much surprised, but as L was not
aware of having anything l should not
have in my possession l told him to
go ahead with his search. l was still
more surprised, indeed thunderstruck,
when from one of my bureau drawers
he took out $3.50 in bills.
'I'Il take these" said the constable.
"Thcy're exactly the amount of money
that was to have been paid for Mrs.
Lewis earrings"
1t didn't take very long for me to
discover that my detective had got me
into q snarl. Read had doubtless seen
him put the bills on the mantel and
suspected his object. Read must have
feared my influence with Jessie and
seen in this incident an opportunity to
break it up. He doubtless induced a
pal to visit my room and place the
bills in my drawer, then sent the con-
stable to make the search.
Well, here was "a pretty kettle of
fish" l was arrested and taken to the
police court. l sent for Merrill. who,
when he saw the turn matters had
taken, Notwithstanding the slur it in
volved on his detective skill, couldn't
help laughing. Whereupon 1 gave him
a piece of my mind that made him
angry. This was very foolish of me.
My enemy could not have carried the
matter further. for Merrill was the
owner of the bills at the time they were
stolen, and If 1 were prosecuted must
lodge a complaint. Whether he was
really angry or feared his mistake
would injure his business, he not only
lodged a complaint, but identified the
bills by his private mark. 1 was in
dicted, but gave bail and was set at
liberty to await my trial.
The evening before that trial came
off 1 received a note from Jessie invit-
ing me to come to see her. 1 went. and
there, with her. was Merrill. Jessie
came up to me, took my hand affection
ately and half crying, half laughing,
said to me:
ITS all been explained. l thank you
for your noble effort in my behalf"
What noble effort?"
mfr. Merrill mean Mr.. Bfgly-will
Iexplain."
"Qur detective Office" he said, twas
Swallowing Maynard Read for a big
offense when you engaged my services.
Your engaging me gave me a great
advantage in introducing me here, be-
sides enabling me to win Reads con-
fidence by giving you away and en-
abling him to get the better of you.
With these aids 1 have secured evil
aence to prove that he has stolen $780,