The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1904-02-06

| Hallet.
"Its these confidential ones that the
masters won't suspect that have the
best chances to get away with the
swag," said Sergeant Pegram to him.
self, and he kept after Hsllet with
characteristic patience But for some
time he could make no progress. and
the pagers began to make filings at
| the inefficiency of the police depart
ment. But Pcgram was patient and
kept on in his own way. although he
| began TO detect signs of ctldness at the
central Office.
Other clews were followed also.
| famous private agency conceived the
| idea that the money was stolen on the
train and went to work shadowing the
| train employees who made the trip on
October 6. In Jew days they had dis
covered that Harry Viimple, train
| butcher with sporty tendencies had
| been plunging on the races since DC.
tober in manner wholly dispropor-
tionase to his income. He was arrest
ed.
Sergeant Pegram smiled. On the day
previous to Wimple's arrest he had
run into new lead with Hallet which
filled his professional heart with great
glee. He had followed him to dis
tant part of the city where he made
long call. The next day Pegram called
at the same house and after adroit
questioning learned that the name OF
Hallet was not known there, but that
THE tall man with the side whiskers
who called yesterday was Mr.. Jenkin.
son, who rented a cutie of rooms up
stairs, where Mrs. Jenkinson was in
stalled
mot that I know she is Mrs. Jen-
kinson," remarked the girl who an
swered the door and to whom he was
talking. "And it is mighty funny tc
me the way they live. even if he is
travelling mana 'runnin' in end 6
runnin' out again at all sorts of hours
an never here reg'lar nights or Sun
days or any time But it's none Of my
business, I'm sure, so long as Mrs
Jones wants to have 'em in her house
Here was lead indeed-Hallet keep
ing an establishment under an assumed
name, and a doubtful establishment
at that And when Pegram few days
later found that Hallet, under the
name of Jenkinson, had paid $1,000 on
cottage in the suburbs, he did not
hesitate to arrest him.
After he had laid the case before Mr.
Charleton that gentleman was forced
to admit that it aSoked bad for Hal
let, although he aemurred strongly
against the arrest. But the police de
partment insisted on the arrest Here
was confidential fervant who knew
Of the circumstance of the money in
the house and who might easily have
key to his masters room, and this
man was living dual life and made
purchase of property Immediately af
ter the robbery occurred, and made
cash payment that was plainly out Of
proportion to his station. The case was
plain. Moreover, the police had no
other clew and it was eminently de-
sirable to apprehend the thief rather
than accept the clew of a private de-
tective agency. So Wimple was turned
loose and Hallet arrested. He was
stolid but protested his innocence and
finally waived examination and was
bound over to the criminal court, and
not being able to secure bonds, was
kept in Jail.
All these events had required some
six weeks. A week fter Hallet's pre-.
liminary trial Mrs. Willard Charlie
ton arrived home from abroad A day
or two later she asked her husband:
where is Hallet?"
Then Charleton avely told her the
story of the robbery and it's conse.
quences.
Madam's forehead wrinkled and she
looked grave.
Where was this money, DEAR" she
asked.
"In my small alligator satchel-dont
you remember l was throwing a few
things into it the night you left II
was when you called me into your
room for a moment was the time the
money was taken"
"And the police have arrested Hal
let for it?"
YES" he replied; land the case Ger.
tainly looks strong against him-and
yet
why, the great geese" replied Mrs.
Charleton, land l am another. You re.
member I followed you back into your
room while we were talking, and see
ing that brown package which was
lying half in the satchel, l thought II
was those silk mittens Aunt Mary
wrote me she had sent me to your Office
address and which you had told
re had come and that you would
bring home, and / picked the package
up and threw it in that litter box of
mine in my closet"
There was scramble for Mrs. Charl
tons apartment, and sure enough there
was the precious package.
The case against Hallet was dis
missed and the triumph of Sergeant
Hallet turned to ashes and ridicule.
PEGGY AND THE GAS LOG.