Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-11-02
DETECTIVE HAS AN EXPERIENCE
Fails to Land HIS Man, hut
AccumuIates Lot of
Knowledge.

The adventures of e. A. Smith, oil o
street, Lincoln, should be sailed down as
the most unique effort In the role of the
sleuths that has ever been sprung on
Omaha. Smith had a personal interest i'm
the case lie set out to unravel Some one
stole his watch chain and with it a square
box charm in which his dearest treasure
a woman's portrait, was enshrined. why,
1 didn't care a red for the chain; it only
cost me 500 at first, but that picture!
1 wouldn't take thousand for It" Thus
he explained to the desk sergeant on his
arrival last Monday. Il bet you my room
mate got that chain - that's Gallagher.
He's up here. tracked him right here to
Omaha You wait till git him."
He was dressed in a dogskin coat that
made him a character in itself. but anyone
would have spotted him for detective
from the enormous pair of field glasses
which he had swung over his shoulder
He said he had bought the glasses because
he thought he might need them.
The police encouraged him to go out
and scout around a bit and see IL he could
ind a trace of his lady's face and its
abductor; so he started. A wave Of pity
struck him for his intended victim, and he
turned TO Sergeant Renffrow seriously
and said, Shall l leave my colt here?"
"What?" said the sergeant, you don't
tell me you rode horseback all the way
from Lincoln?"
Nav, l meant this" and he began to
draw from the region Of his hip pocket a
gun which grew longer and longer until
about fourteen inches Of the barrel ar
rived from the depths of his jeans. "Of
course. l don't want to hurt him, but 1
kinder want i'm to know l amt a trifln', -
said Smith. He was advised to leave tia
a Colts.
Again he turned TO the door, and when
he had reached it, thought of a letter he
had prepared. He threw il on the desk.
IF anything should happen TO me. please
send this letter to this address; here's a
stamp
He rummaged up and down Omaha all
night Monday night and in the morning
came back for his Colt" ready to depart
for Lincoln. He thanked the captain for
the treatment he had received and the
valuable hints they had given. but he said,
The kid, he's doubled on me-"
At u o'clock Tuesday he came rushing
back without his dogskin coat, his field
glasses and his Colt" I've been mis-
treated down here" he said, jerking his
head toward South Tenth street. Il wish
! you's would come down and see. l bought
\ a watch for $500 down there. and just
because l didn't have only 500 handy he's
gone and made me put up my coat and the
glasses and that there Colt FOR security.
| Now that amt fair. is it?"
Captain Mostyn looked al the watch. II
was worth about IS cents; so he sent down
an Officer and made the Dawnbroker take
back MS watch and deliver 10 Smith nj,
! property aud his Colt"
! Now" said the captain. I'm just goinl
/ 70 lock you up. You're a mighty good de.
tective, but you can't take care of that
| Colt. "
But ! want 10 git back "a Lincoln,
! suggested the detective. THAT fellow
might get away again
| mo" said the captain. Il won't let you.
Now, captain. II you Just let me &,
I'll go right down 10 that depot and Sc
there solid till that Lincoln train pull
out. l got to git that feller an that pic
ture. / wouldn't take n.oOO for that pic
| ture."
The captain gave in. "Aint this Colt
bird" said the Lincoln man as he shove
1t gently into his jeans ana walked proud
out Of the police station.