The Democratic advocate., 1907-06-28
" Il know it, | said, handing him my
card which read
JACOB HOPKINS,

card which read
JACOB HOPKINS,
Detective. No. 800 Mulberry St.
Shall I tell them you are here p he
asked meekly, as he glanced at it.
Yes, you might send it in at once, ,
[ answered.
LAS he turned about the phone on his
desk rang and he paused and took the re
ceiver in his hand. 1t was call from the
Board room. The words came clearly q;
Gail Police Headquarters and tell them to
send detective here at once
"My nerves tingled as he answered,
Yes, sir
{" Was that call for me-? | asked
carelessly as he hung up the receiver
''He looked at me, and from me to the
others in his office, then glancing at my
card again, he beckoned to young man
sitting at far desk who came at once.
g Take this gentleman to the Board
room at once, he said, handing the young
man my card He bowed and led the way
and in few minutes we were before the
door which he opened after knocking, and
with some Importance said:
"'Mr. Jacob Hopkins, from Police
Headquarters, and silently closed the door
behind me as he withdrew.
II bowed gravely to the Chairman as
entered.
"sBe seated, Mr.. Hopkins, he said,
courteously. Mr.. Parker will explain the
situation to you-a very serious situation
Mr.. Hopkins; we look to you to help us.
s'The tale was soon told. | was in
structed to follow Rogers and get the money
back They were sure he had it with
him. He had taken it from the bank
the day before.
"'Don't spare expense, Mr.. Hopkins,
said the chairman after Mr.. Parker had
ended 'only get the money We are
| not so particular about the man, as we wish
the matter kept from the public ear. From
this moment, gentlemen, and we looked
warningly around the table-'he will con-
slider the matter dead until we hear from
Mr.. Hopkins. -,
you will hear within week; will
report myself direct to you. You need
make no inquiries at Headquarters. Be
lieve me, gentlemen, [ will do my best to
get the money! and | bowed myself out.
Mr.. Parker accompanied me downstairs.
'sThis will be sufficient for the moment,
perhaps" he said, handing me check for
one thousand dollars payable to self or
bearer.
$50 far all was well; my Commission
and expenses were secured, but where was
Rogers? He had more than twenty-four
hours start of me. He might be tar
enough away by now. l had to act at once
any chance inquiry at Headquarters would
| send them after me. In my turn L must
have the start of them.
"Going straight to his house, | found
to nv relief he was bachelor. The ser
want was disposed to be communicative.
He knew nothing of the robbery but he
supposed that Mr.. Rogers had gone away
for a trip on business or pleasure. Before
he went this man had gone out and bought
some books for him at nearby book store.
He could not remember what any of them
were by their titles, but after questioning
he seemed to think that one of them was
French book, kind of guide.
This was an important clue. In such
matters one has to act good deal by in
tuition. He evidently intended to hide
himself in some French community and
wished to pick up enough to get along with
the natives. 1t might be either France
or Canada. I decided in favor Of the last
place as the first to be considered and an
hour later found me in conversation with
the conductor of the Montreal train that
left New York in the afternoon and from
him 7 obtained the information desired
as to at what point | could soonest inter:
cent the conductor of the train that had
left on the previous day, when he was on
his return trip. The upshot of it all was
that took the same train northward and
this conductor put me of at Bellville juno
tion where [ could intercept the other con-
ductor on his return This all worked
smoothly and when I finally interviewed
the conductor I sought and showed him
the photograph l carried, he recognized
the man instantly as one who had been on
his train from New York on his previous
trip, and who had been presumably bound
for Montreal, but who had got oft at a
small junction where he could catch a train
for St. GATHERINGS.
"It is surprising how rapidly scheme
will unfold itself sometimes; all my thought
as to probabilities had evidently run in the
same channels as those of the fugitive.
To me it seemed simplicity itself.
ssThe ordinary detective who muddles
through case, would have spent hours,
perhaps days, watching steamboats, and
telegraphing to other ports of embarkation,
and in sending out copies of the photograph.
He would probably have jumped to the
conclusion that such distant points as Aus
tralia, or South America, or Europe,
would be the first place for man to fly who
sought to hide himself with such sum OF
money.
81 was half day in St. Catherine S
before found my man, and even then l
had sat beside him for over an hour with
out recognizing him, for he had taken of
his mustache and his whole attire had been
.hoor.oJ Gro,, tba dooor;nf;on which had