Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-07
DAILY SHORT STORY
The Privileges of the Rich.
IOriginal.l

Il tell you. gentlemen said Greg
DRY. the laws are made for the rich.
1t is the poor rwho are ground to pieces
under them.
You say tha1. Gregory you a multi
millioraire.' cried Townsend.
Yes. Il say it. Observe the poor dew
lis who come up'daily m Il morning po-
lice cOslrt. How quickly they are sent
To the various jals, usually on suspi-
cion, III bet any man in this party
so that | can put On ragged suit
and get myself arrested within two
hours, and yet / wall transgress no
laws. will behave myself as a good
citizen
I'll take,that bet" said Townsend.
las soon as l can get the rags"
An hour later a man in tatterS. fol-
lowed at a distance by several young
fellows in immaculate costumes. en-
tered IL stDre and desired to be shown
some portieres and window haugings.
Reluctantly the fioorwalker himself
took the cIKstomer'to the curtain count
or and remained there while he looked
over the goods, purchasing $500 worth
and producing bank notes with which
TO pay.
where will you have them sent:"
asked the merchant, aghast.
Clinton Gregory. 225 TIL avenue"
When Gregory left the store he was
followed by detective. Passing the
opera house. he went to the office and
selected the most.eXpensive box for the
evenings performance.
For whom, do you want it!' asked
the clerk
Myself"
'Yourself?'
ayes. Don't you understand Eng
lish:"
You get out of this mighty quick or
you'll get fred
Since Gregory was not to tranSgresS
any law he departed. As he left the
opera house the detective who had
shadowed him,.and heard the cOnversa-
ton went OJEt a short distance behind
him. Passing, down the street, Gregory
from time TO time took off his hat pO-
litely to several ladies who rolled by in
their carriages. Those who noticed
him stared at linn and were thankful
that they weres not further exposed to
his attentions by being Oh foot. Hap
pening to come, up TO lady just as she
was alightiIE& 10 enter store, lie lifted
his hat and offered To hand her from
her carriage. Sine brushed past him
and reported the matter in the store. |
A policeman was called. but Gregory
had departed.
Turning into the principal iewelry
store in the cny. ne pulled Il solitaire
diamond ring from his vest pocket and.
handing it to Il clerk. asked its value.
I'VE know nothing of the value of
paste or crystals" said the clerk, turn |
ing away.
will you kindly examine this one? !
think it's Il genuine diamond"
The clerk took the ring. scrutinized |
II, looked suspiciOusly at the man in |
rags. wedged Il glass in his eye. which |
he turned on the stone. then looked Sc
riously at its owner.
How did You come by this:" he |
asked
Il bought it,
Him. Bought it in this store"
NO: year ago in London"
Wait
Calling for one of the firm. the clerk |
whispered to him that it would he well |
to examine the stock of diamond rings |
to learn if any of them had been stolen. |
No deficit was discovered. and Gregory |
was permitted to depart in charge of Il |
detective There were now two de |
tectives on his track. and they soon |
discovered that they were watching the |
same man. The first gave a history of |
the case to the second up to the mo-
ment the suspect had entered the jew
elry store.
shall we take him inf'' asked the
second
Better wait We've got him sure
He'll give us more evidence of the
same kind. May as well have it all"
Gregory turned into a minor street
and entered a pawnshop.
What will you loan me on this scarf
pin?" he asked. producing a pin set
with ruby as big as pea.
The broker examined it.
Vat | gif you? ] gif you ten dol
lar
why, the stone is worth fifty times
that"
Yes. my frient, but l don't ask no
questions.
ASK all the questions you like. The
stone is mine. and | came by it hon
eStly'
The two detectives. who We're stand
ing at the door. advanced.
Come. my man. we want you" And
Gregory was led off 70 a police station,
where the following charges were en-
tered:
First-HavinG in lis possession large
sums of stolen money.
Second.-Purchasing goods with mon
ey supposed 10 he counterfeit
Misunderstanding ladies on the street.
Fourth.-Attempting 10 pawn stolen
jewSiry.
The prisoner was about To be led off
to a cell when several young men in re-
spectacle costumes advanced and eX-
planned matters. whereupon the suspect
was permitted TO depart in their COM