The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-17

Train robberies on the Pacific coast roads
had been frequent, and the express COM
panies, which were the greater sufferers
were using every means TO catch and punish
the offenders. The boldest OF these adven-
lures had been the holding UP OF train
on the Southern Pacific Railroad near Sac
ramento. The bandits had entered the ex-
press car, murdered the express messenger.
detached the car from the rest OF the train
and forced the engineer to pull them down
the road a mile or two, where they opened
he express safe and got away with about
$4,000 in twenty-dollar gold pieces, the
property Of the Wells-Fargo Express Com
pany.
The only thing left by the robbers by
which they might be traced was the inn
print OF bloody hand upon a package OF
paper In the express car. This was turned
over to Glenn Maitland. a detective with
leaning toward the psychic.
ga wonderful hand" he exclaimed. as
soon as his eyes fell upon It. 81 have never
seen another like IT, Look at this third
finger. 1t is longer than the second. The
owner Of that hand would take a chance
II IL stood only one in ten thousand to sue
length of the first phalange of the thumb
indicates. He had no moral nature. I could
almost swear to the identity Of the man
whose hand left that impression IL / were
TO meet him on the street."
Maitland had been successful in working
up some hard cases, and he was given this
one with permission TO work 1t out as he
pleased That suited him exactly. He had
peculiar theories and found II impossible to
work with any one else successfully.
For two months Maitland walked the
streets OF the coast cities. studying the
hands Of the people he met. He was de-
termined to find the robbers through the
lines of that bloody hand. He had built up
from them the form and characteristics of
the man who had left the impression, and
his whole theory depended on the solution
OF the problem through those means. He
scanned the white hands of culture and re-
fnement, the hands of sports, the coarse.
rough hands OF toll; everywhere and always
he was looking for that peculiar hand with
its long third finger and strongly marked
characteristics.
One day on Market street in San Fran
cisco he came upon a crowd greatly ex-
cited over a deed of heroism just per-
formed. A gentleman had rescued a young
girl from under the feet of a runaway
team at the risk of his own life. His arm
had been broken in the adventure, and he
had been carried away. bleeding and in
sensible. to his lodgings nearby. The girl,
who was evidently from the country, had
insisted on. going with them to nurse the
sufferer If needed. But what interested
MOI nrI
man himself. He had appeared in the city
several months before from no one knew
where. set himself up in expensive lodg-
ings, and had since been spending money
lavfshly, all In twenty-dollar gold pieces.
He was known as Hugo Van Staal and
posed as German baron.
Here was a clew at last The money
taken from the express company had all
been In twenty-dollar gold pieces. The
hand Of the robber was the hand OF the
man who would take just such chances as
this man had taken In the rescue Of the
girl Maitland got a boy to point out the
location OF the 'baron's'' lodgings, and
then went home to study up his line of
action.
A three days investigation by Maitland
developed the startling and almost incredi-
BILE fact that Baron Van Staal was none
other than John BONN, a former tramp.
who has long been familiar figure on the
coast. occasionally working for q short
time and then with his scanty earnings
going on with dog and tent to the woods
where he lived a gypsy life until his money
was gone.
This transformation could be accounted
for on no ordinary hypothesis. A hobo OF
yesterday living to-day the gilded life of q
profgate nobleman. Nothing was too good
for the baron He fell in with the game as
one to the manor born; that he knew of
better Gays before becoming an outcast
was evident. With a retinus Of lackeys
ever at his heels. fawning sycophants to
fatter, he did the swagger with the ease
OF a Beau Brummel. A rain of gold he
showered upon his friends. Carriages for
drives. yachts for outings, everything re-
sponded to his beck. What jolly days and
nights there were for the ladies of the bal
let And the suppers with cart blanc to
the chefs-there were none like them in
town. wine. women. mirth and laughter"
and the baron paid the freight with a con-
descending indifference that caused the
jewellers to gasp in awe. But was he the
kind OF man were he tramp or exquisite
to successfully plan and carry out daring
train robberies? Did he have third phase
Of existence. that Of the fearless highway
man?
Maitland determined on a bold venture.
The next day he called on Baron Van Staal.
As he was going up the stairs to his lodg-
ings he met slip OF girl There were
tears in her blue eyes. and her lips were
trembling with suppressed sobs.
What is the matter. little girl? Can
be OF service to your" he inquired gently.
mo. sir. have been bringing flowers
every day for the gentleman who saved my
life. They told me he was pleased to get
them. But to-day a lady is with him and
she threw my flowers out OF the window
and told me must not bring any more, for
they annoyed him"
THAT is too bad. There may be some
mistake"
''Oh, sir, do you think so?"
IT win try and find out for you. What
Is your Manner
mabel Davis. sir. I live with my aunt
over on Telegraph HILL We are too poor to
buy flowers, but gathered them for him"
well, don't worry. ! am on my way to
cali on the baron. and will make inquiries
and let you know. Meet me here to-mor-
row at this hour"
The girl thanked him and Maitland went
on. He rang the bell and sent In a card.
with the message that he was an Eastern