Los Angeles herald., 1905-03-19

Wv ALL OInEEI, lne beginning
w and end of so many a finan-
cial journey, has an excellent
eye for faces as we'll as figures. 1t is
no more keenly and constantly on the
lookout for proverbial fleece on the
harmless, necessary lamb than for the
Objectionable trespasser below Fulton
street.-the dead line.
This imaginary barrier has Just been
strengthened by an order which will
prompt unwecome visitors in the finan-
cial district to tread even more care
fully than ever to avoid being firmly
though quietly shown the door-an or
der dictated by the more or less nerv-
Gus tension prevailing and by the fact
that during the last few months an
exceptional number of undesirable vis-
several occasions troublesome have
been frequenting the locality. Obvi-
Gus reasons are given in explaining
why comparatively few such intrusions
have come into public notice, the prir-
cipal one being that moneyed. men are
toriety attending such cases..
As revealing the way In which the
great financial center is sequestered
from the under world, the following
( incident, which occurred a few days
ago, may be told. The writer, in COM
pany with Wall street guardian, was
passing the new stock exchange in
Broad street. Since 1876, when the de-
tective bureau was founded, the off,
cial in question, as it's head, has earned
a reputation probably second to none
in the country as bogie to evildoers,
confidence and green goods men, coun-
terfeiters, forgers and other dwellers
in the shadow. His memory for faces
was at the moment illustrated in a
novel manner.
Being an inveterate smoker, the dis
siple of Lecoq was chewing on cigar
and in an inimitably earnest way, was
apparently absorbed in the converse
tion to the exclusion of everything else.
But suddenly, without raising his eyes,
altering his tone or changing his gait,
he quietly directed attention to man
on the other side of the street, at the
same time volunteering modest wager
that he knew him.
Nothing about the dress or appearance
of the man across the way distin-
guished him from at,dozen well dressed
bankers and brokers around him. He
wore a top hat, an overcoat of sartorial
atI
cepting that he was swinging a cane
perhaps too jauntily for business
man he might easily have been mis-
taken for a prosperous curb broker.
: His face was at the moment in eclipse,
as he was slightly ahead and was
observers, but faster.
Thinking him merely an acquaint-
ance of the veteran officer, or perhaps
subordinate in the department, the
writer ventured an inquiry to that et-
feet. For reply the famous detective
smiled non-committally and cast an
other sidelong glance across the street.
Removing his cigar he then uttered q
low but penetrating, sibilant sound
with his half closed lips. The effect
was electrical. The man started,
looked back over his shoulder, changed
color as though he were standing be-.
fore a chromatoscope and came to a
sudden halt. His agitation would have
been amusing had it not been tinged
with something bordering on terror.
HIN! AS expected" said the vet
eran with quiet, amused smile un
noticing the sudden interest he had
awakened. Then
SAM" he sharply calculated, still
moving ahead in half abstracted
manner, and watching the stranger out
of the corner of his eye. The petrifed
statue again heard, but he was unable
t. locate the speaker, until the latter
made peculiar motion with one hand
and repeated the sibilant utterance in
a slightly lower tone. The man at
once detected the movement, and, re-
gaining ahis animation. he slowly
crossed the street diagonally and was
soon face to face with the officer.
Pretty good clothes you have on.
SAM" commented the Cerberus. VERY
good clothes. In fact. as compared with
those you were wearing the last time
we met" with a chilling sarcasm In
his tone. BY this time the man was