The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-06-26
CHAPTER XVI.

Al POLICE HEADQUARTERS.
On the day following the incident
of the black coupe, Superintendent
arnes, the chief Of police, was seated
in his Office, studying a mass of writ
ten reports that lay before him on the
desk. Evidently what he read was not
to his liking, for ibis generally smooth
forehead wore a deep frown and now
and then hel uttered an exclamation
that showed his anger and disgust.
Inspector Barnes, as he was better
known in the city, looked more like
prosperous banker than man who had
spent the principal part of his life in
| Investigating the undercurrents of So
ciety. He did not wear that worn and
| worried look we are accustomed to as
work laid out for him. He was none
the less a capable officer, and if his
smile was "childlike and bland" he
was feared and respected by the law
less world, and justly so.
Barnes was not in good humor on
the morning in question, and after
he had finished his reading leaned
back in the big chair and puffed for
moment on his black cigar, sending
forth such clouds that he resembled a
fat idol surrounded by incense. His
glance fixed on the ceiling it only
changed to look now and then with
scowl at the pile of papers before him.
Suddenly he leaned forward and rang
the bell sharply at his elbow.
| The folding doors in the center of
the room opened and his personal at
tendant appeared.
Send Mac here at once!" he said,
and Iolled back in his chair again,
smoking more vigorously than ever
and engaged in deep thought. The
attendant bowed himself out and
moment later the chief of detectives
entered. and, closing the door behind
| him, advanced to the desk where his
superior was seated
! He was a small man, looking not
| unlike an overworked clerk, quick and
nervous in his movements, with a long
| pale face and sharp eyes that almost
glared from beneath bushy eyebrows
| Want me, SUPERB" he asked, in a
| to eloquence or long speeches.
IT am thinking that this department
yours, mine, everybody's, is in a bad
state said the chief.
"Ah," but the little mans face was
unmoved.
Look at that stack of reports there"
exclaimed the other, pointing to his
desk. Mostly made up of the hopeless
attempts to find the fellow who is at
the head Of the most of the robberies
that have been committed In the city
during the past year. And not one Of
our people has been able to get even
clew to his whereabouts. Now, that
fellow must be caught or the depart
ment will stand forever disgraced.
| Never since have been connected with
the force have we been confronted with
so many failures. Why If things 20 on
this way you and will have to get
out, that's ALL
I'm sure wish it was different"
sighed Mac, shifting nervously from
one foot to the other. After all, It
may not be the work of one man.
You know thief gets reputation.
and then every other crime of note is
set down to his credit, or discredit.
Just like in our own business. We
often get credit in the papers for I'M
earthing a criminal when it may be,
like as not, entirely the work Of one
of our men"
Inspector Barnes looked at his
personal insinuation intended, but
the little man was busy cycling the
glass case containing criminal curl
osities.
well, If these robberies are not
the work of the same man, why
don't you catch the ones who are
guilty2" he said, in voice OF exas-
pSiSdtlOll. ISllsGy you L Sllll .DGlleVe
there is one behind 1t all, for these
affairs bear the same stamp. It is, of
course. possible that some one else has
copied his methods. Whoever he is, he
is a clever man. and we have not heard
OF the like since the days Of George
Leonidas Leslie. II I were not sure
that Leslie was very dusty, should
believe that he had hand in these
matters. Now, Mac, why don't you
catch him?'
why. indeed?" with a smile. :.Why
don't capture rainbow to make RIB
bons out Of 1t for my wife? tell you.
Super, we are doing all we can. we
have had some men who work for him
=. hand, but, though industriously
pumped. they know little more about
him than we do. To call the man "a
shadow Is wrong, for he never stays az
long az shadow in one place. But I
have an Idea.