davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-26
| STOLEN SCUE 80 80

We know that sometimes they just stole
tn credit, and saved tn ten"
Where did McKeever come in?" the
chief asked, cynically.>. did he sell or
was he robbed?"
He didn't SELL" said Mickey. He
didn't care. They offered to buy one
act of his. a beaut; but he smiled and
walked off Snake Shocks sold tn
rescue to- Brady, an waited. They're
little afraid o. McKeever down there.
But he never peeped, so they watched
him an every time he fished out 4
drunk Snake was by and some friend
of yours was promoted for tn good o.
| tn service"
\ The chief threw away the cigar half
smoked as it was. Don't like tn
story" he said. But how did YOU get
onto tn deal?"
when tn horse was rescued.
What! The chief was astonisEed.
Yep" said Mickey, who saw that at
last he was telling the chief something
he didn't know. Eyes, sir, they turned
that. horse into lady an yoI made
Donegan sergeant of police for TIE
saving Of her life"
The chief had been growing redder
and redder in the face-with mirth-as
Mickey told this, and now he burst into
a roar of laughter. That's one OF me"'
he said. That's one on met" Then
he spit and frowned. I'm wiring Don
egan's neck" he said, ''or was ii
Snake?
f" SNAKE" said Mickey, vindictively.
.'WeI, what of it?" the chief said,
serious at last, and sharp, too. What
of it, eh?''
This" said Mickey sliding down off
the rail, to accept the challenge.
happened to witness that horse rescue,
by accident, as / said, and after
heard what came of ii / saw / had a
scandal to beat tn band"
$50 We rubbered?" the chief sneere1.
so | rubbered," said Mickey, stead
lily. Il went down TO see if 1 couldn't
get McKeever to give me an interview
that would expose tn whole business.
And he give up?'
There was a threat in the way Sulli-
van said this. Mickey paid no heed.
81 had a deuce of a time findin' him.
I looked all sover for him. 1t was his
tour, but he wasn't on post. Oh
found him. Where dye think 1 found
him."
IN a liquor store" suggested the
chief.
That's right" said Mickey. That's
where / found him. -"
The chief looked surprised; he ladn';
expected that. and he was curious
But he waited, and Mickey waited. Ii
was the chief who surrendered.
well, go on" he said at last; what
was your reform cop dom off post II
there?"
He was lickin' tn stuffin' out Q
Snake Shocks"
What" The chief looked as if hf
were watching a prize fight, and, more
over, he looked as if he had bet on tho
winning man. But doubt crossed nj
mind. "Ah git out What We gIvin
me?" he said, backing off.
That's right" said Mickey Nol
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-26
BY SCOTT CAMPBELL.
Copyright, 1905, by the AuthOrD

woman. I was to give it to nobody
but her, and then return for my pay"
Have you got it?'
"Sureu'
And the lad dove into his pocket and
displayed a silver dollar. Donald took
his name, and ordered him to go home
Next, he picked his way into an alley
back of the miserable house. and sur
veyed the rear windows. That OF only
one room on the second floor was
lighted, with a torn and sOiled cur
tain drawn down.
Returning to the narrow size street.
Donald then entered the house and
stole quietly upstairs. A smoky oil
lamp burned dimly in the second hall,
and the door of the back room was
| closed. An attempt to peer through
the keyhole proved vain, nor could the
subdued voices Of the men in the room
be overheard.
From below there rose the noise OF
thrOng in the saloon connected with
! the house. but the floors above were
silent. Mounting to the room directly
| OveH-Ap. II, Donald found il open and
vacant. He quietly raised the window,
! TO peer out, and in so doing he touched
| a coil of rope attached to a ring in
/ the bedroom wall.
| "A fire ESCAPED" he grimly muttered.
! circumstances. 1t certainly is up TO
me to use it."
Quietly dropping the line from the
/ window, he brushed the snow from the
| capstone outside To most men, the
| feat he had in mind would not be an
| inviting one. For it now was showing
hard, and only a sallow glow from the
! window below relieved the intense
gloom.
| Vet nonaId brt+oped I,iS raafar o1oso
about him, then firmly gripped the
rope. and glided over the sill. Letting
! himself slowly down the face Of the
brick wall, he quietly found a footing
/ in the fresh snow on the capstone Ct
the window below.
The upper sash was lowered several
inches. through which he could plain
ly hear, while a rent in the curtain en-
abled him to peer into the room.
/ An Oil-lamp burned I'm a bracket on
the wall Two men were seated near
the door, one short and dark, the other
so tall and slight as to appear almost
grotesque of figure. A third was seat
ed on the edge Of a bed, much the
younger Of the three, and Donald was
Immediately struck by the mingled dis
tress and resentment pictured in his
rather attractive face.
There's no use TO keep denying il.
I
| threatening tones. I'VE know you've
got the sparks, for we saw the pawn
: broker turn them over to you. You've
got them hidden here, and here we
stay till you whack up with us. Wen
have a share of them. or blow the whole
business, whatever 1t proves to be-"
You cannot do that, = Solomon
Wayne, for you know nothing of the
circumstances involving mel" cried
Sanger, with bitter satisfaction.
I'VE can get next to them, all
bright" Wayne maliciOusly retOrted
How can ycu?"
Because the sparks We lifted were
bogus, and we know you've got the
real goods. We saw you in the pawn
shop two hours back, and the darby
you planked down to redeem them.
| Where'd you get it. Ell? Big Doodle for
a chap out of limbo less'n a month"
But maybe they were pawned for
another you cursed meddleri''
Continued on Page e
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-26

the docks at tn end of this street,
noted for savin' lives. He's wonder.
He's q pretty good swimmer, but II
amt that; he's done some mighty nne
work at fires, too. The trouble with
him is he's all tn time sawin' wood.
so, of course, he gets lots o chances
L distinguish himself"
whats his manner" the chief asked.
''McKeever, down here from the
woods, "a"
Roosevelt cop" the chief said, and
he hung himself by the elbows over
the railing comfortably.
"a Roosevelt cop" Mickey assented-
Believes what tn commissioner use
ter tell him, that if he does his little
trick like a little man he'll rise. And
tn commissioner KEEP his word till tn
people got sick of reform an sent fer
you an that sort"
saw wood, Mickey, of me cigar
over his shoulder into the area.
well, McKeever, he saws wood and
nobody knows it. Can't leave him on
a good post because he'll report gam
bin, saloons open an all that. Obeys
orders that amt meant to fbe Obeyed.
You know tn sort
Saw wood, Mickey, or me cogar
won't last"
That's tn spirit" said Mickey, SOL
EMMY. well, anyhow, along the river
front and round the station houses he
gets quite a name for tn real thing;
none of yer nerve but genuine cour-
age, see. Why, once 1 seen him les-
| delivery wagon. McKeever jumped rigt
| into the tangie with knife an he cut
tn horse loose but not till they d
| drifted way out in tn stream Then he
swan back leadin' tin horse 70 where
some fellows with derrick could
heave i'm out. An ye see, chief il
wasn't just tn rescue 1 liked. Nc
| Keever was good to tn horse. The
poor beast was winda1, so AIcKeever
swan slow back with him; didn't urge
| him; and it was cold; whew, Then
when tn derrick fellows got mad ana
/ in hurry, McKeever- called up TO 'em
| to take it easy er he'd make EN-. Be
sides that, when they got tn horse
out, tn driver kicked about tn wa
| gOn bein' more valua Bile. AMI tn cop
| saws to him, Mister he says quiet
and straight Il wet me clOthin' for
the horse, not for yer property, see?'
Just like that"
That's the stuff the chief ex-
claimed. "Stranght goods delivered
| free McKeeVer, eh?"
| Mickey's face beamed, and he
paused; he was glad
Go wan" the chief commanded,
/ chewing his cigar.
Yes" Mickey said, that's tn sort
of a copper McKeeTer is all alone over
| there on tn water frOnG i'm tn dark.
with no friends but kids an horses an
drunken lOngshOresmen an women an
| citizens. Now, then, in the same pre-
cinct with him IS a ward man.
! Snake SnooOks, an you know him.
| He was fired out by tn reform board,
/ kept his mouth shut, took his medi-
| cine an came back with YOU. Had TO
| be rewarded, so yOu made him ward
man and he makes tn graft. SnoooKs
| is a snake. all right, all right.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-26
EXPLOITS OF A PRIVATE DETECTIVE

Not for an instant while he stood
there did the gaze of Mrs. Jethro Car
lyle leave his strong, clean-cUt profile.
The light in her lovely eyes was that
of secret dread, that of a frenZied eff
fort to read his hidden thoughts; yet
her lips remained - mute as his, with
her splendid white face still wearing
the same strained, cold composure that
had marked it from the moment of his
arrival.
Viewed in the subdued amber of the
room, amid surroundings that served
only to accentuate her matchless beau
ty, Donald felt thrill not easily ig-
nored when he finally turned to address
her.
II did not find it profitable to dis
cuss this matter with your husband"
he slowly remarked, with grave bow.
Now that we are alone, Mrs. Carlyle,
1 will hear what you know of the case. "
The covert subtlety sent a sweeping
wave of crimson over the woman's
neck and cheeks.
81 hope you don't imply that 1 know
anything / have not impaired p" sshe
quickly answered, with a flash of re-
sentiment.
1t took a man as keen as Morris DON
aid to detect the rigid attitude she had
assumed, and one as shrewd to see the
vanity of opposing it openly. With ex-
quisite politenessy he fastened to re-
ply:
"Oh, by no means, Mrs. Carlylei ]
could not be guilty of such rude in
justice"
you said-you said" she faltered
with eyes still searching his, that you
concurred in the opinion expressed by
my husband"
True" admitted Donald, bowling
gravely. 'Yet I know he is wrong"
why, then, did you deceive him?"
Because, Mrs. Carlyle, his impa-
thence and intolerance were not agree
able to me, and 1 preferred to consider
the matter with you alone. Further
more, as the case now presents itself
to me, 1 am not much inclined to alter
your husbands opinion
A feeting expression, -indescribablS
pathetic, appeared for an instant il
| her lovely eyes. 1t vanished at once
however, as she answered inquiringiy
yet you know his opinion to b'
wrong"
st do
For what reasons, Detective Don
ald?''
Several, Mrs. Carlyle" he replied
still sedately standing beside the table
my Investigations in the basement
convince me that Detective Gibson ha!
overlooked one quite significant fact
! Though the burglars departed by
breaking one of the windows, they die
not enter the house in that way. Non,
i of the windows was forced. or Their,
would have been some evidence of it
On the contrary. however! there are OBJ
vious indications that the entrance wa
made through an air-box leading int,
your cellar. The small size of the box
moreover, and the location of an inne
/ trap, which was dexterously opened
! plainly shows that the burglar mus
have been an exceedingly tall and slen
der man. Does that correspond witt
! either of your assailants. Mrs. Car
i lyle?"
Though he spoke with invaffabI.
grave politeness, he had succeeded ad
| mira bly,, if he aimed to impress her witt
an apprehension that he was on tn
right track. BY slow degrees. the col
or again had left her cheeks. while tn
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-26

laces about her throat and breast, tren-
bling visibly, betrayed the agitation she
'strove hard to subdue.
Yes, l think so" she slowly an
SEVERED THE man with whom l Crap
pied was very TALL am quite sure"
There can be no reasonable doubt
of it, and a man of that build should be
quite easily located" said Donald, with
rarely a change of coUntenance. Now,
if you will follow me a step farther,
Mrs. Carlyle, l will tell you why your
husbands opinion is erroneous,
Il am listening. Mr.. Donald.
ITO begin with. this insolent letter is
entirely trustworthy, Mrs. Carlyle, and
the paste stones lying here are those
found by the thieves in your rings,
necklace. and the two brooches, which
were the pieces stolen"
How did you learn the last? You
said that you-you wanted description
of the pieces"
81 said that only to hasten your hus
bands departure, Mrs. Carlyle, and /
feel sure that you will pardon me for
so doing when I add that my only mo-
tive was to discuss this matter with
you alone"
Again a crimson glow swept over the
woman's cheeks. Again that fleeing
n.
showed in her splendid eyes. She rose
TO her feet. laying one tremulous hand
on the back of Der chair, yet not for
a moment did her gaze leave the fine,
earnest face of the man gravely con-
fronting her.
At hope, Mr.. Donald" she said slow
", with a voice that fairly wounded him
with its pathos, that you have nothing
to say to me that my husband should
not hear"
His answer evinced both the exquisite
art of the detective and the superior
breeding and consideration OF the man.
Far from it, Mrs. Carlyle" he said.
with grave fervor. cit is not for me
TO say more at present than these things
say for themselves"
yet they hardly warrant that you
should-shouId twice imply"
Absolutely nothing, Mrs. Carlyle"
Donald gently interposed. Il merely
am presenting the case to you as l see
it, That these spurious stones were
taken from your jewelry l have not
doubt. Crooks do not trouble them
selves to send such parcels and letters
for idle sport, nor would the two who
entered this house have been likely to
have on hand a lot of paste stones cor
diamonds said to have been in your
jewelry 1t lay in your bureau drawer
for nearly, a week, Mrs. Carlyle. AL
low me to suggest that it possibly may
have been removed for a time, entirely
without your knowledge, and the paste
stones substituted for genuine. Can
one of your servants, say your maid, OF
possibly a dishonest butler, have done
/ this?"
She heard him i'm silence, with the
last vestige of color gone again from
her cheeks. Yet with bis question she
drew up her superb figure little, to
reply, with noticeable firmness:
'sOur servants are perfectly honest
Mr.. Donald. l distrust none of them.
Donald's voice fell just the fraction
of a degree, yet still retasEed>its grave
and delicate consideration
Il infer that you know of no person
who could secretly have effected the
substitution mentioned.
81 think that your-your Inference
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-26

ence. Z never have known one like
it. This letter plainly indicates that
the burglars. Disguised with having
secured only paste diamonds"
But that's impossible. l say"
Please, Jethro, let Detective Donald
have his say pleaded Mrs. Carlyle
plaintively. Il feel sure that he will
accomplish something for u.s.
LAS l was saying, this letter indi-
Gates that the thieves found only paste
stones in the stolen jewelry. and have
retained only the settings. You are
sure these jewel cases are yours, Mrs.
Carlyle?'
Though her searching scrutiny did not
waver for an instant. the tinge of color
i'm her cheeks faded slowly when Dom
aid directly addressed her.
Yes, l am sure she said simply.
What other property was secured
by the burglars?'
Nothing at ALL" cried Carlyle alb
Tuptly. THE rascals were alarmed by
my wife, who awoke and heard them
in her room, and they fed at once"
Evidently having only just begun
their work. How did they happen to
locate your jewelry so readily, Mrs
Carlyle?"
1.-The several boxes were in my bureau
drawer" she gravely replied. 'Ordi-
narily, they are kept in safe in the
library. 1 have worn my diamonds re-
Gently, however, and expected to do sc
again tomorrow evening, so 1 did not
take the trouble to lock them in the
safe"
How long were the boxes in your
room?"
Nearly a weeR."
OoIxoI IN tho h,,paot1 dy-a xxaT. 81
1.-THE drawer was not locked"
You have questioned your servants? 2
"Oh, my servants are honestn Car
lyle churlishly interrupted. You de-
tectives seem bound TO follow only
beaten track. This case is plain on-th'
face of it. Nothing can convince me
that the stolen diamonds were not gen
uine. The sending of these paste stone:
and this insolent letter is only a blind
Presenting upon the credulity of yol
detectives, the thieves reason that th'
Investigation now will be dropped, leav
ing them free to dispose safely of TIT
genuine plumber That's their game
Detective Donald, and I should thinl
you'd have brains enough to see it.
Mr.. Morris Donald glanced at hi
gloves and cane on the chair on which
he had laid them. Yet his eoldly court
tOQS NOlCC ndu itON Inv ol6 heSoe NiAe'AAc
when he deliberately replied:
Il think you are right, Mr.. Carlyle
l will now note down a description o
the several pieces of jewelry."
But 1 cannot delay for that" crie'
the old man, again whipping out hi
watch. "You must excuse me, and Cla
rissa will give you the information de
sired. Advise me later. Mr.. Donald
| for l must go at once"
The ruse adopted by Donald had prov
en- effective Without waiting reply
the grouty old man FASTENED through
| the hall. and the noisy closing of tn
outer door announced his precipitou
departure from the house.
Tothe two remaining, the silence tina
ensued seemed fairly oppressive Don
aid had risen to bow Carlyle from tn
room, and for moment after moment
already convinced that he was, con
| fronted by most delicate situation, h
remained gazing into the open hal
with his brows knit and his lips ON
inously mute.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-26

Mickey Sweeney was sitting on the
railing in front of police headquarters
waiting for Chief Sullivan. The other
reporters were loafng in one of their
rooms across the street ard the boy
believed his chance had come TO see
the old man" casually, yet alone. The
only doubt lay in the probability that
the chief would drive up; then the
others would hear the cab. If he
walked
The chief walked slowly into sight
around the corner of Houston stree
into Mulberry. He was pleasant per-
son to see, if you did not know him;
stout, but red and jolly bold rascal
but a good fellow" AS he came along
toward Mickey he said;
10, Mickey"
"Lo, chiefl'' the boy answered
without moving
The chief was passing, but he KEEP;
his face turned to Mickeys and there
was a twinkle in his eye. They knew
each other we'll, these two; for they
were old enemies, so old Ihat they had
a queer sort of Irish affection f. thcii
feud. So now, though Mickey re-
manned perched on the rail and gave
no sign of his wish to speak to the
big fellow" Sullivan understood. He
halted, hesitated, then turned back.
out with it," he commanded, hu-
morously. It's your play! What We
got in yer hand?"
Then Mickey spoke. "say. chief" he
said, ''you know all those recent pro
motions for bravery"
More knockin', EN-? What promo
tions for bravery? Which ones?"
''All of 'em. but especially those
three friends of yOurs-Bradv' Cults
and Donegan."
well, what about 'em?" The chief
was playing; the boy was hard al
work.
Bogus" said Mickey. Fraud
fake!"
What's fake. tn promotions?"
Nope, tn bravery"
"Ah, what We givin' ne? Always
knockin', you are: always a-knocfin'
/ knew it,
AS the chief said this he drew out 4
cigar, and, leaning against the rail, h'
scratched a match and began tt
smoke, while he watched Mickey, eVi
IDENTIFY getting much amusement out O
the boys seriousness.
It's a pretty good story, chief
Want it?" Mickey said.
well, Sweeney" the chief answered.
self-appreciatively, we know Ion
like good stories as we'll as you teller:
do"
Not after they're printed" Mickey
agreed, but how about oefore?"
The chief laughed in his hearty
noisy way.
We'll, I'll take it before / notice
you always make me pay for a story
you give to me instead of to tn paper
But fire ahead. give us yer story"
It'll just about last out that cigar
Eyer smokin'. Got tn tine?"
I'll make tn time if you'll make il
interestin'"
well. chief said Mickey. there's
q certain little old farmer COP over oT
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-26

For Mr.. Morris Donald spent nearly
an hour in studying things in the base
ment before he returned to join the
couple in the elaborate drawing room,
there to consider the extraordinary
feature which had led to his employ
ment on the case.
On a table at which he seated him
self lay about two dozen very perfect
paste diamonds, emptied from several
velvet jewel cases nearby, the same
that had been stolen the previous Tues
day night. They had been received by
express that morning. together with a
rudely scrawled letter, the insolent
vulgarity of which evinced the low
character of the sender. 1t read as fol-
lows:
Carlyle, you're a flimsy old fraud.
Why did you flimflam us with this
bogus stuff? Amt the guys you trot
with wise to paste? We'd not have
cracked your Internal crib to get only
a gold brick. We keep the yellow stuff
to pay for our time and trouble, but
you can have this glassware. Such
phOny sparks may be good enough for
your wife, but not for we cOveys. So
we return them by express, not pre-
paid, you pretentious old cur
mudgeon."
1t would be hard to tell whether Car
lyle was more hurt by the opprobrious
epithets applied to him, or by the loss
of his wife's diamonds. Be that as il
may, the parcel of paste stones and the
significance of the rude letter made the
case, in the secret opinion of Donald,
so extremely delicate that it could be
handled only with gloves.
Il presume. Mr.. Carlyle said he
with habitual blandness, that you
originally purchased genuine stones
! and We're not imposed upon by tricky
dealers?''
Your suggestion is absurd, Mr.. Dom
aid" the old man churlishly protested
The very idea is preposterous!'
Yet have heard Of such cases"
Il don't care if you havel" snapped
Carlyle. 81 know what I'm talking
| about. My wife's jewelry was bought
of merchants entirely above such an
| imposition as you suggest. Clarissa's
diamonds had a local reputation That
they were paste, imposed upon me by
knavish dealers, is absolutely absurd
Then the mystery becomes only the
darker, Mr.. Carlyle" said Donald with
serenity unruffled by the others re-
sentful Vehemence. For these dia.
monds certainly are paste, every one
of them
Then It's equally certain that they
are not the stolen gems, despite thai
| scurrilous letter TO the contrary"
Pardon me If l read it once more. >
Donald blandly observed. Such com.
| munications often have a significance
not detected in a single reading"
browning impatiently, Mr.. Carlyl,
| glanced at his watch, not observing the
steadfast scrutiny with which hi.
wife's grave blue eyes were fixed or
the detectives face.
We'll, well, / hope you will be brief
NJ. Donald" he cried irritably. -
must reach State street before Il
o'clock. It's nearly that now"
! Donald's placid eyes rose anc me
those of the speaker.
Don't let me detain you" said he
Probably Mrs. Carlyle can give m,
all the Information / shall require"
But l wish TO know what you thinl
OF the case, and what you intend do
ing Why, man. If YOU"
think it most extraordinar,
case, Donald interposed, with a sua
witty augmenting the others impati