The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-08-26

ago." said Felix Boyd, through a
wrv=sh or zSsKs. He is not the burly
midnight ruffian at mere fancy of whom
we shuddered in our trundle-beds. the
bearded fellow in rough attire and sim
lister mask. with a kit of tools under
his coat and a brace Of Smith e. Wes-
sons in his hip pockets. whose chief at
tribute was brute force and who
cracked with equal complacency a mer-
chants safe or the merchants skull"
Jimmie Coleman laughed, knocking
the ashes from his cigar, and nodded
approvingly.
This central Office man was Boyds
very intimate friend and most ardent
Hdmirer probably the latter because he
knew much more of Boyd's remarkable
talents than any other man. so was
best able to appreciate his extraordi-
nary abilities.
He had dropped into Boyds Office In
Pine street half an hour before, merely
to enjoy a morning smoke in genial
company.
You are right. Felix" said he.
Things have changed nightly i'm that
respect since we wore a frock and
knickerbockers."
Instead, Jimmie" added Boyd,
in ruminatiIfg mood. 1--WE have today
the much more intelligent and danger
Gus scamp, who forms and executes his
designs with exquisite cunning and sa-
gacity, and who employs every modern
mechanical device with which to over
/. come the constantly, improving safe
guards he encounters. The transition
has been gradual but is very pro-
nounced, and the detective art has un-
dergone a corresponding change.
That is true. too. Felix"
THE successful sleuth of today. Jim
ME, besides possessing the logged per-
sistency and brute courage of old, must
be a man of broad intelligence. a keen
observer. and subtle analyst and one
capable of discerning remote relations.
The detection of obscure bits of evil
dence and the art of making correct
deductions therefrom, chiefly serve TO
solve the great criminal mysteries of
the present day
Time and again, Felix, you have
demonstrated that" nodded Coleman.
witness that bond robbery of Curry,
Gale & Fiske last November By the
way, see that that man Wykoff, whom
: you suspected of having had a hand in
that affair. is again operating on the
curb"
Boyd smiled oddly. and laid away his
pipe.
"Wykoff. as I remarked at that time,
was not the master knave in that af-
fair" said he. Take my word for it,
Jimmie. there was another Richmond
somewhere in the field. That ingenious
robbery was not designed by Paul
wykoff. but by some much more capa-
Bile and far-reaching knave."
DO you still think 500"
Il do, indeed" said Boyd. with no
ticeable gravity. 1T is my impression.
Jimmie. that something seriously wrong
exists down here below the Dead
Line"
why dc you think SOL"
Don't ask me why; the grounds for
my misgivtngs are still vague and in
definite. Yet / seriously believe that.
somewhere in this wealthy locality.
where millions change hands with each
passing business hour. somewhere in
the very heart of our great financial
maelstrom, there exists AZ veritable
genius for crime?"
"A genius for crime?" echoed Cole
man.
"A man whose obscure personality
may be only vaguely discerned behind
crafty operations executed by others,
yet directed by him with all the evil
ingenuity and consummate foresight of
a master of knavery. / see only vague
eigns of this at present, Jimmie, now
and then cropping out in crime of new
and peculiar originality, all Of which
point to a masterful and malignant
genius hid I'm the background. AS yet
4
mite line upon him; but some day ]
shall do so. Some day, Jimmie, one OF
these peculiar crimes will give me a
clue to this master knave, who. I be
lieve turks about here like a spider in
its web. and conspires with and directs
q well-organized gang Of"
Easy" put in Coleman, lifting his
forefnger. There are steps In the cor
ridor. Some one is coming this way"
A stranger unceremoniously entered
He was about 80 years Of age. stOutly
built, and his pale face and dilated eyes
at once indicated exceeding nervous
ness and excitement.
"I am looking for Mr.. Boyd-Mr
Felix Boyd" he said. quickly. with
restless glances at each of his hearers
do / find him here?'
Boyd reached for his pipe. at the
game time signing the stranger to 3
chair
81 am Felix Boyd said he. Take a
seat, sir
I'm a moment just a moment" nerv-
ously retoined the stranger, Fastening
TO produce a card. 81 am Nathan
Dickson of Maiden Lane. dealer in dia-
rronds. and the American agent fol
come of the largest diamond merchants
of London and Amsterdam. My. card
MI Boyd"
Thank you" murmured Boyd. with
his keen. gray eyes half hidden under
their dropping lids And what. pray
can do for you. Mr.. Dickson p
Il come to you from my bankers. who
told ms that II 1 mentioned their name
you would readily advise me-" Dickson
quickly. exclaimed. mentioning one Of
the largest banking houses in Wal
street. Il have been a depositor will
them for nearly twenty years, Mr.
Boyd. and they advised me TO consult
You. sir, instead Of going-to the centra
Office. as / at first was inclined"
These references to the bankers
served at once TO ensure Boyds inter
est. for reasons limited at in an earlier
narrative. He laid down his pipe with
out having lighted it. and again waved
his visitor to a chair.
You do not know me by name. take
IT," said Dickson, as he sat down.
"Only since seeing your card" sale