The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-04-05

D y
who were bound for Sunnyside, and in
the distribution OF the party. after the
usual compliments had been eXchang-
ed, it is probable that Mr.. Clifford
would have maneuvereI Miss Hollen-
der into a corner for tcJe-a-tete, but
the young lady was not TO he cheated
Of her pleasure in COmroy as Il new
; type of the species. nor could Willie
HoIlender be parted from the detective.
and thus a group of four was formed.
we have had series of petty but
very annoying tLeftS at SJunys.de."
said Miss IIollcndcr &, r- Clifford
There must De thief among Ire Scry-
ants. but he is too shrevI for amateur
methods of detection. $50 ur have beg
grI Mr., Conroy 10 Get1.h hasait from
more Important affairs and i.lp us in
our pcpleXity."
AMI what does Mr.. Conmy think Of
the case" asked Clifton.
prom what your father tall me-"
said he. Il guess there's no doubt that
you've got a crook on your payroll up
there. IL must be one OF tH, servants.
/ because things have been stolen when
there wasn't a guest in the h'usc-uo-
/ body but your father and young Mr.
Holleuder"
Willie said Miss lIolleuder stern
ly, the searchlight Of suspicion is
vccring in your dircction.T
Willie opened his eyes wide with
sudden interest, and he seemed to ex-
pcrience Il genuine disappointment
when Conroy said:
As there's been only one touch
made while Willie was there and some
thing like Il dozen when he wasn't, l
guess wen have to let him out of it.
No, miss, we've got Il sure thing on the
| servants so far as l can see"
You seem confident of success" re-
marked Clifford
oh, yes, indeed" responded the de-
tective The chances are that I'll spot
an old friend before I've been there
two hours"
AN old friend?" said Willie.
Somebody with record, | mean"
responded Conroy. Somebody with a
mug in the gallery
a mug in the gallery" echoed Cliff
ford
4 beg the young lady's pardon" said
the detective, conscious of his rough
phrase. Il mean a portrait at head
quarters. If l don't recognize an ac-
quaintance right away III have to look
'em up. And when I've found a record
I've found my thief
That is always the theory of the
police" said Miss Hollender Really,
Mr.. Conroy, | expected to find you
more original"
"There's nothing original about
facts rejoined the detective gravely.
They're all old and hard, as old and
hard rs sin. Sin is in the heart and it
comes out in conduct like sweat
through your skin. 1t comes out early.
I've been in this business good many
years and while I've seen first offend
crs, so called, I've never seen a thief
that hadn't been dishonest as far back
as you could look him up. You'll find
lot Of things that have been covered
over This world amt 50 hard as you
maybe think it is. Criminals are ey-
cused. They're let off over and over
again when they're young, but the evil
is in EN-, and by and by they come to
their natural windup, and that's in
Jail"
Perhaps this may be true as to
there's" began ;Jlifford. - mean the
petty, habitual 'sneaks'-I believe that's
your word for them in America, isn't
it?-but'-
Its just as true Of all wrongdoers."
said COnroy sententiously. "Why.
what's all this we hear about these df-
vorces and the breaking up of homes?
Do you ever find one single case where
the gritty party didn't have a record?
Take cruelty and neglect and mean
ness and all kinds of diSrespect and
dishonesty to women. l tell you that
it's in the man, from his youth I'D, or
he wouldn't do it. Every one of those
divorced and redivorced men is a bad
egg and always has been. and YOU
may take my word for it, And as for
the women, may the Lord pity and
pardon 'em and lead 'em to a better
life. Amen"
He spoke the closing words with II
somber and prayerful earnestness. and
tense silence followed Perceiviny
that he had made an impression, and
being proud of it, he continued:
IF lady was going to hire butler
and should tell her that the man had
been convicted twice of robbery she
wouldn't hire him, but if he's been
convicted twice of being a bad husband
she'll marry him"
During these remarks Willie's pale
countenancc had b@en growing red
very fast. At the last his hands went
suddenly to his mouth, I'd he explod-
ed behind them with one Aystercal out
burst of laughter Then lie rose hastily
and went to the other eEG of the car.
Conroy, surprised, looked hastily in
TO Miss HOllender's face. The young
lady was beautifully serene, but with
the corner of an eye, the detective saw
Clifford and perceived that his coun-
tenance was darkly clouded.
Immediately the Englshman straight
ened up in his chair and thrust his
hands into the side pockets Of his coat.
COnrOy had often seen q nprvo1IS mon,