Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-23
SKIPPED TO B0G0TA

+ Detective aCharlier Heidelberg. who was
for many years the big man Of the New
York headquarters stan. was In Washing
ton for a few hours the other day. and
while here he told story.
= never see the name Of Hogota. the
capital of Colombia, In print-as did this
morning. In connection with the reorganiza-
ton OF the Colombian 1nances-that don't
call to mind smart young fellow I got
down there about fifteen years ago" said
Heidelberg 1.-THE young chap had been the
manager Of big Wholesale art chinaware
establishment In New Fork. In the abb
sence in Europe Of his employer he had
Quilted the plant, cleaning up 10000 or &c.
900. and then bolted He was cookbook
ing. smooth-talking young fellow of thirty
or so. The circulars went out from New
York headquarters to all OF the American
consuIates In countries with which the
United States then had no extradition trea-
ties. Within month or two the American
consul at Bogota had sprung the young fell
low. Inspector Byrnes sent me down after
the absconder.
!. This Is q NY boy. you're going after the
old man said to me before I started, and
as there's no treaty with Colombia, guess
you'll have TO take your time at this job
and sort Of oil him along.
The first thing did on making Bogota
was to dig up the American consul.
Your young man Is swinging high, the
consul told me. Tonight he'll be attending
a swell al fresco fete at the home of min
lister In q former cabinet. who went out of
office with so much governmental loot that
ne hasn't got through counting 1t yet. Your
Ioxy noy Y brushing up to the former cabi-
net minister's daughter, and If you weren't
after him this way / think it's about two to
one that he'd snag the girl. Aside from
that bright prospect. he's got some power
from the Colombian government
Through the consul I managed to obtain
an invitation to the evenings fete-the con-
sui put up some kind of yarn that was
q distinguished travelling American or some
thing OF that sort. climbed into my even
ing clothes, and about 8 o'clock the consul
and were driven to the fets in one OF
those rickety old Bogota calooshes. The
consul introduced me to the host, and then
we slid around to get a peek at the young
man was looking for.
He was waltzing with his rich hosts
daughter when we found him, and from the
affectionate glances they were bestowing
upon each other It looked to me like sure
enough case of bell, book, candle and GER
tihcafe for that pair. At about o clock In
the morning the party broke up. and after
lot Of languishing good-byes with his
hosts daughter my young man made his
way to the open barouche that was waiting
trudged alongside of him.
" Think there's room for another In there,
old mann asked him.
He stared at me In the dim light of the
naturally.
" Plenty Of room alongside of me always
for fellow who talks English he replied.
Climb in. Going to the hotel2'
That's the place. I said and got into
the barouehe and sat down with him.
stars look pretty close to the ground
down here. don't they?' said I. pointing
upward after the barouche had got along
q bit. Seem to ge whole lot farther away
from the ground up In the states. Talking
OF the states. and turned and looked
street lamp that we happened to be pass
Ing, how would you like to go back to the
states-with me, say?'
'oh. he was wise lad, all right. and
In his seat and gave me the steady eye.
I'm next he said, and then there was
silence In the barouche for four or five
blocks Say. he opened up then, II go
along with you, You won't sniteh on me
down here-won't open up, eh?'
There wouldn't be anything In that for
me- said to him.
Then. on the other hand, supposfng I
buck and refuse to go? he asked me.
1" oh. nothing said I, except that I'd
make sort of inland beachcomber of you
here In Bogota inside Of about twenty min
utes;.
said he promptly then. But on this condi-
tion-that YOU give me your square word
| i
don't care to lose out on some things I've
got going in Bogota. We can fix 1t up that
I'm suddenly called back to New York on
pressing business. eh?
That's plenty good enough for me- said
/, and that night / went to bed feeling
pretty good with myself
My bright young man spent part of the
next forenoon making a round Of calls, ex-
planning that he'd been called back to New
York on urgent business. Then, after he'd
had an hours goodbye session with his
young woman, we set out for home just as
cute as could be-
He was good, all right, that young chap,
and had to give 1t to him. Upon our re-
turn to New York he made quick terms
with his employer from whom he had
copied the big bundle by surrendering the
bulk of the money. for which the employer
declined to prosecute him. and the young
fellow easily got his freedom. Then he
hustled around. got lot of nhoneyed men
OF New York interested in the Colombian
gold mines. for which he had cast-steel
concessions from the government of Colom-
bia, and just two months after I'd snagged
him in Bogota on the night OF the fete he
was back there with all flags a-f1ying. ac-
companfed by an outfit OF capitalists and
mining engineers. Nobody In Bogota ever
knew anything about his little New York
affair. he married his rich girl within a.
month after his return there, and, SO far as
know. he's down there yet, living in the
aroma Of probfty1