Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-12
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Random Shot.
tOriginal.l

O'Clock scrap of paper was left at my
door on which was written in a wom-
ans hand, Barney Redfield. who rob-
bed the til National bank OF Denver.
will be ut No. - R avenue tonight. -
l had never seen Redfield or his pic
ture and knew nothing about him eX-
cept that there was Il reward of $1,000
offered for his capture. | knew moth
| ing of the house in R avenue. All 1
could do was to go there and be guided
| by circumstances.
l found the house brilliantly lighted
and guests entering under an awning.
| l walked IN with the rest. Though l
was not in evening dress / had on an
overcoat so this did not matter for the
entrance. | was shown up to the gen
tlemen's dressing room, where l re
manned without taking off my Overcoat
till the others had gone down. Then
resolved to look about me for apparel
suitable to the occasion. Going to the
floor above, which was deserted, ran
sacked closets and drawers. finding
nothing till | came to a room in which
dress suit, shirt. collar, cuffs and a
pair of black silk stockings were spread
out on the bed. while a pair of low
shoes We're on the floor Evidently
some one was expected for whom they
had been made ready. l put them on
and went downstairs.
! ran great risk. for, though could
prove | was IL detective. had actually
stolen Il suit of clothes and was prom
| enading in them, it would be inferred,
! to steal other things. Going down a
winding staircase and seeing the host
| and hostess receiving guests in the
| drawing room, | turned into the H.
| brary. l strolled about Keeping an eye
| on every one | met. but saw no inkling
| to lead me on. A young lady who prov
ed to be the daughter of the host sat
| for long while in a window seat with
a handsome young fellow with very
restless eye, but plenty of people have
restless eyes, and Barney Redield
! would be more likely to spend his time
looking for jewclry or silverware than
spoOning. After spending an hour
| lodging the members of the family l
concluded to go upstairs, when l heard
! a gentleman say:
There's been robbery. Franks
clothes were laid out for him upstairs.
and when he arrived just now he found
they were gone"
For moment my heart stood still.
but, regaining my assurance and re-
membering that if Barney Redfield
were in the house and knew that the
family were alarmed he would imme-
diately make an egress, I said to the
speaker: =
Il would suggest. sir. that the exits
be watched to prevent the thief'S eS-
cape"
You are right he replied and de-
parted to see that my suggestion was
carried out.
1t was soon evident that the matter
of the loss of the dress clothes of Frank,
whoever he might be, had got out
among the guests, and had it not been
that l was absorbed in watching for
some man to show some anxiety, there
by indicating that he was vulnerable,
l would have felt the unplcasantness of
my position AS it was, | was not dis
concerted till l saw the host coming
toward me, his gaze fixed upon me
with no pleasant expression. He was
followed by several others, all men.
Il beg pardon, SIR" he said, but
do not recognize you"
l was cornered. What should 1 say?
What should 1 do? 1 stared at him
without speaking.
IF you cannot give a reason for your
being here, l shall send for the pO-
lice"
Don't stop for him to invent an ex-
cuse," said a guest, the man who had
been attentive to the hosts daughter.
The fact that he is unknown to you
and a suit has been stolen should be
sufficient. Here's Frank"
Frank" in business clothes, stepped
up to me and after scrutinizing me took
hold of the lapel of the dress coat
wore, turned it up and displayed n
pearl stick pin.
That's my suit" he said. Il got
that stick pin as a cOtillon favor last
week and put it in there
Now, while this had been going on
my observing faculties had been work
ing. l took especial notice of the mo-
tons and expression of the young man
l had seen with the young lady. He
seemed unduly excited, casting hur-
ried glanceS at me, as if to make sure
he had never seen me before. must
decide upon a plan for at least tenn
porary use. Turning to the host. said
cOolly:
May ask a private Interview? You
don't wish Il disturbance, I'm sure"
Don't go off alone with him." said
the young man of whom have been
speaking.
would you do me the favor to come
with us?'' l said to him politely.
ii
shut the door. The young mans nerv
BUSINESS increased. I don't know what |
put it into my head. but l resolved to
screen myself by accusing him.
81 came here to arrest Barney Red |
field" l said.
The man clutched at chair.
And l continued, having found |
my mani drew pair of bracelets
II have accomplished my work.
Great heavensr' exclaimed the host |