The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1907-06-05
EADeteCtive's Storu;
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Iorisinall
I'VE never know how a case Is go
ing to turn out" said the detective
Sometimes we waste sympathy on
people, and sometimes We don't give
them sympathy that they deserve.
Some years ago young fellow Eve
will call him Llghtbody -Iightbody's a
good name for the sort of fellow he
was) went to New York and got a po-
sltion in a banking house. They said
he was smart as chain lightning. At
any rate, he climbed right up In the
estimation Of his employers, and soon
he became their right hand man. But
while they thought he was attending
exclusively to their interests he was
attending exclusively to his own. He
Gas in everything where money
g to be made or lost, though where
ne got the capital to work with no.
body knew.
"The fellow bit of more than he
could chew and TO save himself used
his employer funds. and about the
same time Mr.. Llghtbody disappeared.
"a year or two after his disappear
ance it was reported 10 his former
employers that he was living In
Central American state, and was en-
ployed to go down and bring him
oack. The job was delicate> one,
aimee there was no extradition treaty
with the state in which he had made
bis home.
Furnished with all the evidence /
would need, including photographs, ]
sailed for Central America and on
reaching my destination found that Mr..
Lightbody was at the capital and q
prime favorite with the government.
He had got some valuable concessions
that were likely to make him rich. He
had won the heart Of the daughter Of
one Of the prominent citizens. who was
considered very lovely girl.
"Of course / had letters to first class
people in my pocket, for 1 knew before
starting that my man was cutting
heavy swath socially. waited for
some important function to let me in
on an equality with the man l was
after. A ball was given to which /
was invited, and, getting myself up in
the latest style of evening dress, 1
Joined the throng. OF course Light
body was there, and so was his girl.
During the early part of the enter
tainment he was in such demand and
was so devoted to his fiancee that
didn't even make hla Acquaintance. ]
saw them together frequently, and 1t
was plainly case Of genuine love on
both sides. l pitied the girl; but, as l
lave said, l had made up my mind to
attend to business and let sentiment
alone.
shortly before the ball broke up
Joined party of men in the supper
room who were drinking champagne
and smoking cigarettes. Lightbody
was among the number. made an
effort to ingratiats myself into his
favor and had some success. But he
seemed anxious to get away, and saw
him soon after dancing with his girl.
When the affair broke up stood on
the veranda, keeping my carriage
standing while waited for LIghtbody.
Presently he came out with his fiancee
and her mother, put them in carriage,
and they were driven away. Light
body returned to the house, went IN
side, got his hat, came out, lighted q
cigarette and WAS going down the
steps when I stopped him and asked
which way he was going. When he re-
piled told him that was going the
same way and would be happy to take
him in my carriage. BE accepted the
invitation, and we got In and were
driven away. We had not gone far
before l said to him:
"'Mr. - calling him by his real
name, how would you like to go to
New York on the steamer with meP
HE OWNED the situation at once
BE made no reply for some time, then
said:
There's no extradition treaty be-
tween the United States and this coun.
try, and could put you to some trouble,
but I'll go with you provided you won't
give me away here and give me time
to arrange my affairs. What do you
say to thatr
"'All l want is you. l don't want to
peach on you. The steamer sails to
morrow night Can you be ready?
Eyes.
"The next day the fellow gave out
hat he had been called to New York
on some important financial business
ana said goodby to his girl, promising
to be back soon. The next evening we
sailed, arriving in New York in due
time.
II wondered bow his girl would feel
when she heard that he was an EN-.
bezzler and had gone from her to states
prison. And here's where my refrain.
ing from telling her comes in. The
AFFAIR for which he was wanted in
yolved several people besides himself
and he was the only one not to blame.
4hC hGLC LID duu u1U
families. He drew suspicion away
from them by fight On his return he
presented his schemes in Central Amer.
lea to the losers and agreed to take
them In. This he did without inform.
Ing on the real culprits. The losers,
finding that far more money was to be
made from his concessions than they
had lost, accepted his terms, gave him
funds, and in two weeks he was back
on the isthmus more Of high financial
fiier than before. His concessions
turned out to be very valuable and
made him and his associates rich. he
married the girl and became a per.
manent resident OF Central America,
There he is greatly respected, but in
the United States he is still regarded "A
embezzler. He never threw the blame
where 1t belonged.
How do 1 know that he was inno-