The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-12-15
CURIOUS FRIEND
Of A DETECTIVE
Sleuth Meets Thief and
Hears a Story.
A HUMAN DERRICKS METHOD
Disgust of Old Timer Who Decided to
Travel Alone and Live on
Small Profits.

taAAA%aA ANetNNs
There are no scruples between dotoc- /
tlves and those criminals who have
fallen into the tolls several times.
II is no uncommon thing for a pick
pocket on ''phoney" jcwelry dealer 10
saunter up TO "a sleuth On the street
and have little chat about old times.
Ii some cases the brazen criminal gets
THE collar" and is hustled of 90 a po-
lice station and later taken TO the
Police Court. where he is charged with
vagrancy, a charge which, like charity,
covers a multitude of sins
In former days there was such "a
charge as being "A suspicious person.
The trainers OF the code now in effect
la the District saw Mt TO abolish that
charge, contending that il was pre-
posterOus and absurd For some time
the police Were at loss to understand
what they should do with their sus-
picious characters, but they finally
found loophole. The guardians Of the
peace insist that suspicious characters
are likewise persons of cvil life and
fame. and tins brings them within the
scope OF the law. Hence whenever
detective comes across "A particularly
hard nut" as they style them. they
make an arrest, but where they con-
slider the supposed crooks scheme or
trade. which they learned Of when
previous arrests were made. is a clumsy
one and the operator not OveT0urdened
with wits and inventive genus. they
play with him as a sportsman does a
trout
Muller's Renaissance.
Detective Mike Muller is one of the
oldest men in The local service. and pos
sibly is personally acquainted with most
of the criminals who have ma tiOnal and !
International regulations for shady do /
tngs. IT is not uncommon for him 10 /
meet old acquaintances-not friends 1
mind you-that have done enough time /
in prisons 10 make them eligible 20 /
vote in the prisoners election for High 4
and Exalted Chief Crook"
Muller can read the criminals like I
an open book. They know him, and d
when they fan into his clutches they /
tell the truth from the start for they
know that by his own peculiar meth 1
DDS he viii have 10 out of them before !
they get out OF the sweatbOx. and il is /
better nrst than last.
One Of His Finds.
On dreary nisht last week when a /
fine rain was sitting through the dark
AtN47t iAieitAAAi6 llA'- 4liierAtiNlE Tor LID~t ]
who pl0dded along the streets with
their heads down. Muller came upon a
short. stockily built man with hardened
cOuntenance aud eyes that were dancing
and could never Keep stil Dcbauchery.
cunning, and knavery, were written ON
every line of his face, and a black cap
such as Is usually worn by railroad en-
glnecTs. nremen, and brakemen-was
Jammed down over his brow. His hair /
which was thin and closely cropped (
showed that he might have been q
recently released penitrnuary tenant.
WITH MS hands pOked into his pockets
ana mis- coat collar pulled up until 81
met the brim of his cap and touched his
nose, the dlminutiVe fellow stood in a
ScQuestered nook ga a doorway watch
ing "a cOnViVial who was lacking ms
way out OF a well-known hotel Evil
IDENTIFY he scented easy money or no
bOdy's bad haul and he moved uerV-
ously from one side OF the doorway 10 /
the other
.'Ha. ha," said Muller. coming upon
him with all the suddenness possible. /
What have we here? said Le. as he
grabbed the Tunt by the collar with
one OF his big brawny hands and SHOW
ed the cap up with the other wei, /
II II am .AObnaI higgins chum. Alb
breviated Hennisy. I'll be bowed.
Does Not Deny It.
The abbreviated one uttered no dis
claimer. neither did ne remove his
hands from his pockets. He had been
there before. Muller inquired what he
was doing in the city.
Trying 10 make "a living, 'sames
you. he promptly replied
Anything doing?" inquired the sleuth.
releasing mis- hold somewhat Come.
loosen up. is there a job on hand or
are you Just cruising around here by
Ac oueao.Ae looking Tor some easy
Nav. dere amt no Job up us me
by me lonesome from now on. I'll tell
youse Ike those said the little crook
as he pouted out his chest and patted
II gently with his gray hands. which
looked as though they had been denied
the pleasure o. meeting water for many
moons.
1T must be "a sad story" chirped I'm
Muller. as lac pulled hard on Ills in
eylJabie cigar. Lets have IL If il amt
too long. one might as well have tried
20 separate the Siamese twins as 10 !
pull you and your pal apart
Hob Still in "Pen."
"Oh, Hobs all right. but Ee't got a
Jen-year engagement over AT Trenton I'm
the pen, and 1 don't think he'll live 10
pull throu' IT.. neider. But il faint him
dat ] IN 50 specially sore on. It's anoder
Gull dat ] chances on IN dis town dey
calls Phillie. Send me TO de island. send
me 10 dc sea, but never again dat dear
old Phillle for me"
Muller got his cue and stepped into
the doorway beside his frank acquaint-
ance- He relighted his perfecto. and h
leaning against the door lam preDared
20 hear the story OF how the abbreviated
one happened 10 change his tactics and
travel alone.
you see, DO was iu phuie. AS D foIe
you. ana dere was "a swell blowout dera
m lar if dere wasn't O. hundred
thousand people la "a gatheriu' and /
sizes EN- up, ana then gifts "A nov of
them big vide rubber bands what -
tie up me coin in after maxim me sew
eral touches.
When j goes 10 de usual chuck house
10 get me sinkers and coffee MI, /
should ] meet deere but Peg Leg Man
pin, man who was good in his time
but has done worn out his uub and mas 7.
20 do the coaching stunt from De side
lines now. Mauplu sees I'm on la
sOmethin', and wautin some of the
sWag he suggests that ] take on his aU-
prentice boy. who was much 10 the rtd
pepper variety when ID come 10 lIftin' /
wallets what you would ordinarily have
10 gil derrick TO yank up
He StTollS Over. h
We'll de guy sees alauplu looIlin' his