The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-07-12


have no very high opinion OF our
Wanted detective system" said l, as
we turned into Vavasour's rooms.
81 cannot say 1 have" he answered,
smiling; my life has been PROOF
that their sagacity is not miraculous
did not find the business required any
unusual intelligence when l filled the
role of detective" and his smile
broadened into a hearty laugh.
"You a detective!" exclaimed amaz-
eddy.
81 assure you, yes" he answered,
rightly constituting the question on my
face. "And | ran down my man, TOO.
It was a good days work for me- But
light your cigar; | see you Will not
give me rest until tell my story
There Use an old saying, 'ae corole
There is an old saying, ae corDle
cen but am afraid my life has been
a fight against that axiom. 1t takes
thief to catch thief, and so far as lay
in my power l waged war only with
rogues and thieves. l marked them as
my game, and have never knowingly
robbed an honest man. Oh, yes, some
of the profession have their code OF
ethics, [ assure. you"
Il can well believe that, now, l
said; and meant my words
VaVasour's lips trembled slightly
as he muttered: Thank you
Next moment all trace of emotion
had left him. but l was not deceived.
He felt keenly. His life ruined by q
rogue, as / learned afterwards, ne mad
sworn to be revenged upon him and
his class, and he had kept his VOW, but
at what cost! And yet the excite
ment of those days appealed to him;
his eyes would sparkle, and his features
quicken as he told some tale OF OAR
ing and his words were pregnant with
the enjoyment of it's danger.
Along in my rooms they sound cold
and lifeless, but sometimes as | write
Vavasour seems with me, my pen flies
rapidly, and | know my readers learn
something of the true nature of the
man of whose friendship | am proud
in spite of his profession, and yet |
know if it had not been for Sybil and
her love he would have sunk into some
thing but little removed from a COM
mon criminal.
Vavasour plunged directly into his
story.
81 could not help noticing" he be-
gan. chat two Well-knOwn members
of the Knickerbocker looked anxious
and perturbed as they sat at a little
dining table yard or two away from
mine. Their faces were flushed and
they spoke in whispers. Occasionally
one would forget to restrain his voice,
and the other would respond in sim
liar tones Then, suddenly, remember
ing my presence, both would become
silent and look neryously in my direc-
ton. Hell. he has heard nothing, and
if he had he would not understand
heard one mutter But in both prem
Uses he had erred From what they
said, and knowing that both were di-
rectors of a life insurance company
then prominently before the public it
was AN easy matter to conclude their
conversation had to do with its af-
fairs. From the frequency with which
the words 'decamp' and manager Oc-
CURED, l had no doubt that official
had disappeared with funds; but when
the sum of half million was men
toned, 1 confess paid more attention
to what they said than to the cordial
which lay beside my plate.
The chairman has called meet
ing for tomorrow; nothing can be done
till then
I got the notice. I suppose they
will call in the police.
And keep the matter quiet. II 1t
gets TO the public the society may as
well close it's doors. The press will
be down on us, and who knows wheth-
er we are not responsible; we left
everything to Rogers. If it collapses,
what will the widows and orphans do%
II had heard enough Half a million
was a prize worth scheming for. I did
not wish them to know had been in
terested in their conversation, SO I
left the table and strolled into the
smoking room.
Il had heard enough and it now only
remained for me to lay my plans
Needless to tell you, possessed
thorough knowledge of the actors part
OF making up. At that time ] could