Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1907-01-17

How | Became a Detective
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was born and brought up In the
country. When | came to be twenty
one l held consultation with myself
and decided that would cast my lot
with city people. Having sufficient
funds to keep me while hunting for a
situation, packed my traps, took a
train for Chicago, found n boarding
place and began my hunt
One day when | came to my room in
the evening found an envelope that
had been left for me by the postman-
/ had left my address with the post
master-containing a simple advertis-
ing card. was about to throw both
into the wastebasket when l noticed
something written in lead pencil on the
card. Taking it to the light, read:
A. % - 10Y N - 3i2lt 9Th.
It seemed to me that some one had
been figuring on the card, and again l
started to throw it into the wastebas-
ket. But, having an hour before din
ner, with nothing to do but brood over
my failure to obtain Il situation, l sat
down with it and amused myself try
ing to puzzle out what the writer had
been figuring. Having nothing to guide
me, / failed to make even start.
When l went down to dinner I left
the card on the table. On returning to
my room while debating whether l
would put In the evening among the
gay crowds on the principal thorough
fares or in my room l took up the adj
vertising card and began to puzzle over
the writing ON it.
After considerable study I made up
my mind that it concealed a message.
Suddenly a possible Interpretation of
the 4 - % occurred to me. The day
was April Goth. April was the fourth
month. and the 22d would be the day
after tomorrow. The next possible in.
depreciation l reached was 3421a 9th,
which l decided meant 3421a Sixth
street or avenue. With these two
links I was not long in deciding that
1917 N meant half past 10 o'clock at
night. If this was correct decipher-
ing something was to happen on the
22d of April at half past 10 in the
evening at 34211a Sixth street or ave.
nue.. There was no Sixth avenue in
the city, so it must be Sixth street.
was SO curious In the matter that
I went out ut once to visit 3421a Sixth
street II there was half number
would suspect my Interpretation to be
correct. I was astounded to find the
half number. l could scarcely believe
my eyes. The house was only about
twelve feet front. very old brick
shanty. There was no light in 1t, and
1t was locked tight.
It occurred to me that If the person
for whom the card was intended did
not get 1t the scheme-if it was
scheme-would be spoiled. So the next
day l returned it to the postoffice.
was between two horns of dilemma.
The first was Should go to the pc
lice with a story that would almost
certainly prove me fool? and the see
ond was to watch alone to see If any
thing happened. l spent two days of
wearing INDIGESTION. and when the
night of the 22d came on I had come
to no conclusion. vt 10 o'clock I went
to the building in question and wait
ed. 1t may seem that l should have
notified the police, but who except
crack Drained fool would have made
case even for suspicion out Of such
gauzy evidence?
At half past 10 exactly cart came
numbering along the street and stop
ped in front of 3421a. The cartman
went to the door, looked about him-I
was concealed behind tree box
gave two light raps and after a few
seconds third, the door was opened,
and he was admitted. I expected to
see 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 to the cart,
put it in and drove away.
Oh, why had not had the courage of
conviction to notify the police?
I followed at distance for several
miles, when the men drove into a lane
running past the rear of country
house, on which was barn. They took
the box into the barn. I went near
anu, HSleuluS, ucdTu t1eIu up III Tie
hayloft. Then they came down. get
ting out of the way, of course-and,
jumping on the cart. they drove back
to town.
Marking the spot 50 that I should
know il AGAIN, lost no time in max
Ing my way back to the city and to po
lice headquarters. | simply told the in
spector what | had witnessed, and in
ten minutes he. with two policemen
and myself, was driving to the barn.
Cautiously plying open the door, we
entered went up into the loft and
found the box concealed under the hay
Taking it back to headquarters, the in
spcctor invited me into his private Of
flee, where 1t WIS opened 1t contained
gold. bank notes and bonds to the
amount of $4,000.
l was cnjoined to keep the matter
secret, the barn was watched and the
men arrested. They hnd robbed Il bank
n long while before and had kent the