The daily Alaskan., 1907-05-03
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} How Became aDeteCtiYe |:
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one l held a CulSulJaIlOn Wllu AlseL' and decided that l would cast my lot with city people. Having sufficient funds to keep me while hunting for a situation, l packed my traps, took a train for Chicago, found a boarding place and began my hunt
 Que day when l came to my room 10 he evening l found am envelope that had been left for me by the postman- [ had left my address with the post .aaster-coutatujng a simple advertis- ns card. I was about to throw both into the wastcbasket when noticed something written in lead pencil on the card. Taking it to the light read:
 4- % - I0ls x - 3329 eth.
 It seemed to me that some one had geeu figuring on the card and again l started to throw 1t into the wastebas ket. But. having 0n hour before din ucr. with nothing 10 do but brood over any failure to obtain a situation, sat lowu with 1t and amused myself try ing to puzzle out what the writer had been figuring. Having nothing to guide me. l failed Co make even start When l went down to dinner l left the card ou the table. On returning to my room while debating whether ] would put in the evening among the gay crowds on the principal thorough. fares or in my room l took up the ad- vertisiug card and began to puzzle over the writing on 1t.
 After considerable study ] made up my mind that 1t concealed a message. Suddenly a possible Interpretation Of the t - 22 occurred to me. The day was April 20th. April was the fourth month. and the 22d would be the day after tomorrow. The next possible iu- tarDretatlOu [ reached was 342l2 9th, which decided meant S42l2 Sixth street or avenue. With these two inks l WAS not long in deciding that lOIs v meant half past 10 o'clock at night. 1T this was a correct decipher- ing something was to happen on the 22d of April at half past 10 in the evening at S+2'2 Sixth street or ave nue. There was no sixth avenue in the city. so it must Toe Sixth street
 I was so rlrfous iu the matter that I went out at once tD visit 3+2la Sixth street. If there was a half number ] would suspect my interpretation to be correct. was 0sJouuded to find the half u1mber. l could scarcely believe my c-os. The house was only about twelve feet front. a very old brick shaDty. There was no light in it, and lt was locked tight.
 It occurred to me that if the person for whom the card was intended did not get it the scheme-lf 1t was & scheme-would be spoiled. So the next day I returned It to the poStolice. ! was between two horns of g. dilemma The first was. Should 1 go to the DO lice with a story that would almost certainly prove me a fool? and the sec ond was to watch alone to see if any, thing happened. I spent two days of wearing Indcc.sIou, and when the night Of the 22d came on l had come to no conclusion. At 10 o'clock I went to the building in question and walt ed Lt may seem that I should have notified the police, but who except a crack bralned fool would have made case even for suspicion out of such gauzy eyideuceE
 At half past 10 exactly a cart came numbering along the street and stop ped lu front of 342ls. The cartmaD went to the door. looked about h.m-I was concealed behind tree box gave two light raps and after a few seconds a third. the door was opened, and he was admitted. I expected to sae q light in the building, but did not. Presently two men came out carrying a box. One locked the door, and to- gether they carried the box 10 the cart put it lu and drove away,
 Oh why had ! not had the courage of conviction to notify the police:
 I followed al distance for several miles when the men drove into a lane running past the rear of a country house. oa which was a barn. They took the box into rhc barn. l went near and listening, heard them up in the hayloft. Then they came down-I get tins put Of the way, of cOurse-and, humping on rha cart, they drove hack 10 town.
 Marking thc spot SD that l should know 1t again. lost no time In mGk- Ing ny way back ro the city and to po- Ice headquarters. l simply told the in- spector what ] had witnessed, and In ten minutes be. with two policemen and myself. was driving to the barn. Cautiously pryIug open the door, We entered. went up Into the loft and found the lox concealed under the hay Taking it back to headquarters, the In. spector invited me into his private of flee. where 1t was opened. It contained gold. bank notes and bonds to the amount of $243.OOO.
 I was cujoiucI to keep the matter a secret, the barn was watched and tho men arrested. They had robbed bank
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