Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-08-03
DAILY SHORT STORY
sErArHIEFTo CATCH THIEF.
IOriginaf-l

murder case, di NuiCli ilhu Hl'tAt
months of inCessant labor. Having
made a great reputation on ii and al
good deal of money in hunting down
the robbers of the Arlington bank, re
covering all the funds taken, l resolved
to have a rest. An ocean liner took me
10 England, and l found myself in
London and was seeing the sights when
/ was astonished TO receive request
10 call at once at the American en-
bassy. On my arrival there / was
uShered into the minister's private of
flee, where he was clOseted with one
other person, young man who seemed
very much worried.
Mr. Ruff he said, Il happened to
see In your name among American ar
rivals the man who managed the Ar
HngtOn bank case at home, in which in
Stitution ] am a director. 1t is abSO-
lutely necessary that you give me your
services. This Is Mr.. Ogden Kemble,
messenger of the state department at
Washington, who has recently arrived
with dispatches for our minister nj
Berlin. On the voyage he was tricked
out of the dispatches, and they are III
possession of a man who holds them
for an enormous ransom. If not paid
he will deliver them 10 the German of
fetal in whose hands they will do the
most harm. He IS awaiting our relhy
to his demand at Dover. Go there at
once. and while am pretending to CON
slider the matter of submitting to
blackmail make an effort TO recover
the papers"
and on arriving went straight to the
hotel where the thief stopped and reg
iStered an assumed name.
The thief was registered as Nelson
Kearney from Chicago. l found him
during the evening in the billiard room
Of the hotel smoking. | took Il seat be-
side him and looked as he was looking
at the players. | knew that he was
killing time while he waited for word
from London, and kept up yawning
as though l was n time killer myself.
This brought me into conversation with
him. though this was not with view
TO further intimacy, for while sitting
by him | accomplished all l wished. !
was about to get up from py chair and
20 away when he asked me If | would
like TO play game Of billiards. In
twinklinG | made up my mind that lie
would try to work me for money with
which 20 pay his expenses while wait
ing TO make his big haul for the papers.
| 50 l consented to play billiards; but,
proving inexpert at the game he soon
tired of playing with me and proposed
cards. ! aSSented, and we went into
small room and sat down to card Ia
III L., &.
small stake and knew that this would
Dc The proper timc for hle to spring my
game. He did as l expected. Putting
my hand into my pocket TO take out my
pocketboOk. | paused with the air of
one frightened, rummaged all my 9th
| er pockets; then. arising from the ia
| BILE. | barred the egress and called out.
"Pollcer The landlord came running
in. and. pointing TO Kearney. l said:
Landlord, when | came from home
| was told that your house was respect
| able. l haven't been in il two hours
before I've been robbed. This man pro
posed to play billiards with me. then
cards. At last he proposed to play for
money, and when / looked for my peck
etbOOk 1t was gone. Call policeman"
l feignCd to he terribly aggricved and
talked "COckney' 50 fast as scarcely to
be understood. Kearney looked at me
contemptuOusly and said:
You fool farmer, l haven't got your
money"
Il think" | replied holly, you must
be an American trickster They say
Americans are awful sharpers."
The landlord was about to send for
h.,
such attention concentrated upon him
self AT time when he was working a
big game. begged the landlord to salts
fy himself of his innocence by search
ing him. The landlord consented, not
wishing for a scandal In his house, and
in the skirt pocket Of Kearney's coat
found my pOcketbOOk. l identified 1t
by telling him before il was opened the
exact amount OF money there was IN
II. besides other articles. had slipped
il in Kearney's pocket while sitting be-
side him in the billiard room. Kearney
looked at me astonished and for the
first time suspected me TO be some
thing more than a British farmer.
l stormed at the landlord, who
wished me TO hush the matter I'D and
be satisfied with the return Of nv
pocketboOk. till he was forced to call
in the police. and had the satisfaction
of seeing Kearney marched to the sta
ton. As soon as he was gone l went
TO his room. the number Of which l
had carefully noted on the register.
and was about TO use my lock picker.
when the chambermaid came along
and / asked her To let me IN, dropping
half crown into her hand. She com
piled, and, closing the door behind me,
In q few moments / had my nippers
on Kearney's yalise, where found the
documents. | took only time to COM
pare them with my list, then ran down
stairs by back stairway and left the
hotel leaving Mr.. Kearney, or what
ever his name might be, TO get out of
the scrape as best he could
At midnight l boarded a train for
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