Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1906-03-29
THE MAN WHO ARRIVED.

AS Briggsville was town OF z UOO
inhabitants and boasted a fair hotel.
there had been arrivals there bv train
for many years. but they were what
might be termed everyday arrivals
Drummers paid the town visit men
looking for an opportunity to go into
business would come that way stran-
gers who didn't always unburden
themselves to the iuquisitive landlord
would come and go. Each and every
guest received more or less public no.
tice, but dropped out Of mind when
he dropped out Of sight.
The man who finally arrived slip
ped in SO quietly that he had been
guest for three or four days before it
was generally known that he was
present. He walked up from the de
pot instead of riding in the bus and
paying quarter extra. He didn't
make a rush for the bar as soon as he
arrived. He didn't damn the train
tor being late nor cuss the town on
account of the mud holes in the streets.
He took the landlord into his conf
dence at once and explained that he
was in poor health and might spend
a month IN recuperating. He ate
supper and then sat down in the bar
room and smoked and dozed and
answered but few questions and asked
none at all, and 1t was the general
verdict before he went to bed that he
didn't amount to shavings compared
with other arrivals.
George K Jones, as the man who
arrived had given his name, moved
about town for the next week with
out attracting any particular notice,
and without anyone caring particu-
larly about his health. The land.
lord of the hotel had just told friend
of his that Jones was apparently a
softy, who had tired himself out in
wondering why a coffeemill turned to
the right instead of the left, when he
was asked for private interview.
He instantly made up his mind that
Jones wanted to stand him off, but
he granted the request.
In two minutes there was great
transformation. Jones, of the sleepy
eyes and tagging feet, became as alert
as fox. He acknowledged that he
had registered under false name;
he confessed that he was not what he
seemed; he owned up that he was at
the head of a detective agency and
ready to do business with his host on
the most liberal terms. There hadn't
been any crime of any account around
Brlggsvllle for several years, but this
state of affairs could not last much
longer. There would be crime-wave
sweeping along pretty soon, and his
agency wanted to be in it and make
most of the arrests and receive most
OF the rewards.
He was there in advance Of the
wave to lay his wires. He wanted to
make of the landlord a detective
real old sleuth of the first order. and
he had printed commission, duly
dated and signed, that would be ex-
changed for twenty dollar bill. The
landlord was to spot robbers and MUIR
derers az fast as they turned up and
send IN bis report and receive half the
rewards
1t did not take the proprietor of
tie Clarion more than FIVE minutes
to decide on handing over. His in.
| come from the detective business
| would not be less than $1,000 a year,
and might run to three times that.
and his opportunity for "spotting"
were Al.
OF course, he was told that looking
wise and saving wood was the foun-
dation of detective work, and given
many vei bal instructions, and half an
hour later he was down in his bar
and sizing up three or four old topers
he had known for fifteen years, and
wondering which of them was plot
ting murder. That evening be pick
ed out no less than seven men to keep
an eye on in the future, and it was
generally remarked that he seemed
more alert than usual.
Next day the man who bad arriy-
ed eauntered into the livery stable.
he had sauntered in there before.
talked horse for few minutes, and
then sauntered out again. much to the
disguet of the owner. This time be
didn't talk horse. The livery man
! was all alone, but he was taken to