The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-11-20


Oh - ~ of those irritating young
s. x y men whose stock in trade
o. ~ consists of an important
SskMsSK&R manner and a positive
voice. Billy Hartley was a
private detective and business was bad
with him. He had gradually nursed
himself into state of mind where he
believed that the world did not appre-
ciate him. When a man so believes,
the plot invariably begins to thicken
into an ominously fatal sort Of stew.
One day as Billy sat in his room at
the "Grupelli" apartment house, he
peeled the following little sweet po-
tato of thought and threw it into the
simmering saucepan of his additional
thought:
Il must bring my detective ability
before the public in n way which will
make a marked impression" said he.
He chopped up a logical turnip or
two, and thOughtfully stirred them in.
1.-The public does not bring me its
private cases and so l cannot prove my
worth" he continued. 4 must there
fore fix up case myself. Now there
are q lot Of robberies going on in this
neighborhoOd and the police seem help
less Why can't I whirl in and catch
these thieves"
Billy Hartley communed with him
self until he began to hate his own
company.
by the Great Guns of War! l have
it, he finally exclaimed
He wrote the following note:
Dear Sir-If your representative
viii be at the corner of Broadway and
Eighth street tonight at u o'clock
will hand him 500 as agreed. He
must have this letter to identify him,
and the signal will be a sneeze."
Billy Hartley sealed this note, adj
dressed it to himself and placed it on
a conspicuous part of his bureau. On
the envelope he added the words:
valuable In haste"
Billy Hartley tiptoed TO the window
and cautiously peered out. "Oh, if
the burglars would only call here and
find that letter." he murmured implor-
ingIye
Billy Hartley tiptoed to the door and
listened intently. They'd go for the
$500 aud then we'd nab them sure, "
he continued. in q sibilant whisper.
"Why, It would make me famous"
Billy Hartley picked up his hat and
opened the door. He shook an omin.
Gus finger with a warning gesture for
absolute silence and disappeared.
The worlds a stage. Up in one OF
the boxes sat Dame Fortune intelli-
gently following Hartley's little side
play
"Now I'll just help this worthy young
man." remarked the Dame to herself
and she settled costly down to see this
thing through.
The worlds a stage. The actors are
ready. The prOmpter is at hand. The
stringed instruments in the orchestra
are shivering out their trembliest mu
sic and a thrilling detective mystery
rapidly begins to unfold itself,
It was night The stars shone bright
Jimmy Short and Gus Simmons, at
tired in irreprOachable evening dress
Nvended their devious way UP Yves
Forty-sixth street They had an ute
disregard Of the fight of the crow
Their faces were bathed in an efful
gent happiness. Their gestures were
of the heroic size. They had all TIT
enviable appearances OF having dineC
to the tuneful accompaniment Of cork
that pop and tinllling glass.
Occasionally Jimmy was stricken
v-ith q CONFUSION Of apopletic merri
gent isn't it easyT he whispere,
to his companion at these times.
"Its almost too easy" replied Gus
wagging his head in a reflective man
Ter.
The Bacchanalian procession Of twl
stopped in front of the "GrupelH'
They assembled the steps. One of then
luvched inside The other sat dow
on the door step and softly wept n
lie unlaced his shoes. A sophisticater
policeman smiled indulkently as b
passed.
But now behold Il curious thing! Tn
rethod and manner Of the revelle
1,ho had lurcbed inside suddca