Las Vegas daily optic., 1907-02-22

Fut'f
Policeman Barney Flynn was grlev-
ously troubled by u youth of the name
OF Horati0 Mann. Horaiio was a we'll
meaning young fellow. but he had er-
roneous ideas. He had read dime
novels until he had become imbued
with the idea that a detective is the
greatest of created beings. and II was
his ambition To be one Hence his ad-
miration for Flynn. He had heard
stories of the pOliceman's prowess. and
he haunted him. He wanted TO know
all about his methods and his exploits.
and more than all else he wanted the
policeman 20 get him position on the
force or with some detective agency.
Il know I'm just made for a detec-
tive" he said frequently. "All my in
clinatiOns lie in that direction. and !
revei In mystery"
II will be seen from this that Horatio
spoke reasonably correct English In
deed. he had had fair education, the
only trouble being that II had not
worked in" However as Policeman
Flynn once remarked. "a ma-an can
get booklarnin' amy time iv his life.
but I Is not with sinse. f'r sinse do
be a nach'ral gift" HoratiO had the
book-learning, but he lacked the
sense, and this II was that made him
so annoying TO the policeman. He
could not be persuaded that the life
Of a detective was not one long ro-
nance. filled with DISCUSSES. thrilling
adventures and fabulous rewards He
would make himself up In the most
wonderful and outlandish way, and
then drop In on Flynn to ask II that
would not fool the cleverest crook"
Later he amused himself by shadow
ing people In the neighborhood. and
writing out reports OF his work"
which he submitted to Flynn for ap-
proval or criticism.
"Ye wa-ant me f'r TO help We to be a
daytictive" said Policeman Flynn to
him one day "M-m-m. well''-draw-
/ ing his hand over his chin in the old
familiar way-"I'll tell We what III do
fr We. III give ye tn polls ixamina-
tion an see how ye come out. IT is not
Iye-er pla-an fr to star-art In as
Ipathrolman. iv coorse?"
"Oh, no." answered the youth. II
feel that my talents are above that"
"'T is what supposed" said Po-
liceman Flynn. 9TH woods is full iv
la-ads like you. Some iv thin wa-ants
to be prisidiut iv a r-railroad, some iv
thin wa-ants to be editor iv news
pa-aper, some iv Thin wa-ants to be
gin raj manager iv amy Of business
that's big enough. but most iv them
wa-ants to lie day-tictives, Amy way
ye put it, they can do betther than tn
fellies that's doin' tn work. now.
But I Is a shtrange thing to me that
tn min that's maxim na-ames f'r Thin
silves at tn top Is niver tn vans that
sta-arted in up there. Did ye liver
think iv that?"
Moo. can't say that did," replied
the youth.
"Iv coorse not" said Policeman
Flynn, ''an' We w'u'd MT think tn
r-rule was fr ye If We did. T is not
nicissary in ye-er ca-ase. Ye're too
sma-art. Well, mebbe so. Well thry
it on. livery la-ad that wants to be a
day-tictive has to be Examined, an I'll
put few Qnistions to ye. Suppose We
was in cha-arge iv tn day-tictive
work. an big burglary was COM
United. what w'u'd ye do?"
'I'd look for clue" answered
Horatio. promptly and confidently.
81 can see We doin it," asserted Po-
|liceman Flynn with chuckle. Il can
see ye goin' through tn pla-ace, an
lookin' wise, an gettin' down ON ye-er
knees f'r to Examine bit iv mud
Through magnifyin' glass. an thin
|goin' out an measurin' tn thracks in |
tn mud with fut-rule. | can hear |
I'VE saying, This great crime was
|committed be a ma-an with large fut |
AN a nail shtickin' out iv wan shoe
IT is only nicissary now f'r to find tn |
shoe an artist tn ma-an.' Ohio! ye'd |
'ma-ake a gr-reat day-tictive. f'r sure"
"Is not that what you'd do?" asked
Horatio.
I'm not ta-alkin' iv what I'd do,"
returned Policeman Flynn. 'T'm
ta-alkin' iv what tn great day-tic-
tive does. If We was a r-real day-tic-
tive an had this work. f'r to do, ye'd |
60 to tn pla-ace an LUX wise, an thin |
yed d 60 back an ordher tn dhrag-net |
put out livery ma-an that c'u'd ha-ave |
done 1t an lots that c'u'd MT w'u'd be
brought in an"
"Arrested?" interrupted Horatio.
"Fr sure" replied Policeman Flynn.
But what right would you have to
arrest people against whom you had no |
evidence?"
who's ta-alkin' iv rights?" retorted |
Policeman Flynn. "I'm ta-alkin' iv tn |
"a vAA-o9Ee .-------