Smyrna times., 1907-01-02

when we get to Glendale shall call
an officer to arrest you. If you try to
leave the car before that l shall de-
nounce you and call for help"
Il see. 1t appears that you are a
very determined young lady May l |
ask how long you have followed the |
detective business and whether you |
are a private officer or attached to
some regular force?'
IL just saw your description in
the paper, and then 1 saw you," she
faltered, wondering when his desper-
ate resistance would begin.
"And you wanted the reward, of
course. If this is your first detective
work, let me compliment you on your
perspcacity. The plumber is, of course,
in this satchel'
''It is, sir. Don't talk to me in this
honeyed way, as L am on my guard
The paper says you are slick, but you
are fairly caught this time"
The benevolent robber chuckled in
his throat He did more. He laughed
outright and seemed real pleased. 1t
W do llISG VI lOQI DlluulcS DSlOEG lie
said:
"As you are the only one who has
the least suspicion of me, and as
do not care about a term in state
prison, suppose we make a compro-
mise. Let me hand you $4,000 and
slip quietly off the car
'You needn't try anything of that
sort with me-" answered the girl 81
want the money badly enough, but 1
don't propose to become your acces-
sorry"
Il was in hope you might see the
thing in a different light. Are we
quite certain to find an officer at Glen
dale?'
"Quite, SIR
"Then suppose 1 shall have to sub
nit quietly, but it does seem hard for
a man who has gone through what
have to be arrested by girl just as
was clear of all entanglements. 1 shall
not seek to get away. 1t seems to be
my fate"
He seemed to speak in honest tones,
but Bessie did not relax her vigilance,
and as soon as the car stopped at the
terminus she clutched the robbers
sleeve while she looked for a police
man.
There was one present He came
forward, and, to her astonishment, he
smiled at the robber and said:
81 see he was on the car. have got
a man to follow him all right
"This-this man is the robber~ ex-
claimed Bessie as she tightened her
hold.
The policeman laughed, the other
smiled, and it was minute before the
officer said:
"That's a pretty good one. Miss
Clifton, let me introduce you to De
tective Banker"
"But, if you aren't the robber, who
Isl" she asked of the man whom she
had terrified for ten miles of the trip.
"He was on the same car with us
my dear girl. The description giveI
out to the newspapers was a blind
He came out here and hid the plundel
and is now here to get hold of 1t again
and clear out. 1 didn't want to arres
him until he had the goods on him
You simply made a little mistake, bu
shall not hold it against you."
, Poor Bessie went home with tear:
, in her eyes. She had felt that th'
money was as good as in her hand
and to lose it and be humiliated be
+ sides hurt her feelings dreadfully. 1
was a fortnight before anything els'
happened Then the man holding th'
I mortgage on the home announced tina
: it had been satisfied, and a messenge
boy left a letter at the house contain
ing $500 bill. In substance the let
: ter said:
!. 81 am not exactly a detective, bu
r one of the victims of the robbery.
t like you, was doing little detectiv
;, work on my own account. l mad
b more out of it than you did, as l go
the man and the plunder. l am will
S ing to divide the honors with you. A
t it was the first time / ever arrested
i robber or was ever arrested for one
t please excuse the liberty 1 take an
: believe me sincerely yours"
d And the name signed at the bottor
t was that of philanthropist who ha
done hundreds of good deeds befor
d that one.