The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-16
TIM GROGAN, SLEUTH.


You can't have her. Tim Grogan
You're a likely boy enough, but 1 look
higher for my Mary than a detective.
You're down there in what they call
the front office. and that's the place
that's always shook up and the no
goods being sent back to travel beat.
You can't have her l tell you And
Malachi Flanagan, the prosperous
contractor, leaned back in his chair and
looked fierce.
Detective Tim Grogan looked sadly at
the floor. and then he said: Mary
wants me, Mr.. Flanagan" and at that
instant the door opened, and as an
echo to his words pretty Mary Flan-
nagan said: Yes, l do want Tim, pa
We'll. you can't have him, Mary.
What's he done? He couldn't catch a
thief with dragnet. Let him do some
thing to show that he's likely to get
Frank O'NeilI's place some day and
then maybe I'll listen to you. I'm goin
out now down to see about some bids
for Nelson's big warehouse, and don't
you sit around here moonin'. 1 won't
have it, Mary Flanagan, and L won't
have it, Tim Grogan."
But the next night found Tim Gro
gan there again and Mary smiling.
though fearful.
Are you here again, Tim Grogan? I
tell you tonight what l did last night
DO something to show some day you
Cali Nc CIllCI OIL ponce ana maybe IL
talk to you. Don't you come round
here again, Tim Grogan. I'm goin'
down tonight with plans in my pocket
for Nelson's building. 1 saw about the
bids last night. There's twenty men
after this job, but I'll beat 'em all out
with these plans of mine and the
works worth $4,000 cold cash to me,
and it amt the first 1000 I've made
with my brains, Tim Grogan. Why
don't you do something like that? De
tectlVe are you? Look out q farmer
don't sell you a gold brick And NAL
achi Flanagan put on his hat and left
the house.
At il o'clock he was back white and
ag1tated. Mary" he said, I've lost
the plans. 1 lost 'em coming home The
things to be decided tomorrow night
about the work and l know from what
happened at the office that I'd get the
job but the plans are gone and 1 can't
duplicate EN-, and old Nelson won't
wait. am out of $4,000, and that fool
Grady will get the job just my luck
The plans were stolen. 1 know it. They
We're taken from me on the elevated"
Call in Tim, pa said Mary. You
say he's no good as a detective, but 1
know BETTER
He isn't any good, Mary but I'll give
him chance. If he finds these plans
he can have you.''
Mary went to the telephone. In TWEEN
" minutes Tim Grogan was in the
house. Don't tell me anything. Mr.
Flanagan, excepting what you lost and
what elevated train you took home. and
where you sat. If I find the stuff 1 want
ness.''
Il lost some building plans and 1 took
the Northwestern elevated train thai
left the Madison street loop station at
1910 and sat in the rear seat of the
middle car
Tim Grogan disappeared through the
front door
Mary. if Tim finds those plans he's
hot <I,..k
we saw in the play, and in a year he'll
be out of the front office and upstairs a
fight in the chiefs chair"
The next morning at 10 o'clock sharp
Detective Tim Grogan walked into the
Flanagan Darlor and put the missing
plans into the hands of the old man,
who was just getting ready to go down.
town.
There they are. Mr. Flanagan" said
Tim, and I've saved you $4,000 this
day"
You have, my boy, and Mary's yours,
and now how did you do it?''
| We'll, Mr.. Flanagan, it's not for you
| nor others who amt detectives to un-
| derstand the workings of real sleuth's
mind. I'll tell you what 1 thought and
how [ deduced. as they say, other
thoughts and finally got the trail of the
| thief and the papers.
You told me lou took the rear seat
right hand side of the middle car of the
10:40 train. From that I worked Now.
| Mr.. Flanagan, lame man talked to
you on the car
Mr.. F'lannagan's eyes popped How
do you know it. Tim?''
Dead easy to a sleuth. Mr.. Flanna-
gan. l found the marks of his crutch
on the floor in front of the seat where
you sat The lame man was an Irish
man and he came from County Kerry"
| Mr.. Flannagan's eyes popped again.
| Tim, you're the devil himself. How d
you find that out2"
4 know you, Mr.. Flanagan. No man
could get you talking enough and
thoughtless enough to rob you unless
he talked so you'd think you was back
in your boyhood days, though you've
dropped your own brogue long ago. The
man smelled of musk. Mr.. Flanagan,
and he put his hand on your shoulder
like this, Mr.. Flanagan
Tim, you've got the devil beat
=" Twas easy to find that out. 7 knew
it before I left the house. Your own
overeoat smelled of musk, Mr.. F'lanna-
gan, and if you'd see here on your
shoulder the fellow took hold of you so,
fond like. and his nails caught up a
| thread
Tim. you're equal to a Gvhole tribe of
| devils for cunning. The fellow did have
crutch with a nail in the end of it.
| which made marks in the floor: he did
come from Kerry; he did smell of