The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-06-02
~ His First ~
Detective Case.

met my old friend Billy Sweetzer
the other day, whom hadn't seen for
several years. Hello, Billy 1 said.
"The last time l saw you you were
just going into the detective business.
suppose by this time you can tell
by the kind of nat man wears
whether he is innocent or guilty"
Billy smiled-a rather sickly smile,
thought-and told me the following
story:
"Yes, went into the detective bust
ness and got position with leading
agency. reported at the office every
day for week before l was given a
case. Then a man whom the police
We're looking for had been captured
and in the hope of light treatment had
volunteered some information. He had
a pal who was to rob country place
near the city where there was a lot of
fine jewelry. The name of the family
to be robbed was Wetmore. The rob-
bling was to be perpetrated on a GER
tain night nj certain hour. The chief
told me that this was simple case
buitdDie lOT u DtSiuller ana directed
me to trap the burglars.
talking man in plain clothes with
me, went to the house designated and
lay In waiting behind hedge. The
hour given me was IL p. m, but that
hour came and passed without any de-
velopments. 1t was nearly IL. when
was about to give up the job that
carriage turned in from the road, drove
up the entrance way and stopped I'M
der the porte-cochere. | couldn't see
how this could have anything to do
with robbery, but determined, of
course. to wait and see. Tom Green,
the man had with me, who had been
long connected with the agency for
subordinate work, seemed to think that
the carriage had great deal to do
with 1t. but didn't pay much atten-
ton to his opinion.
"The carriage had hardly got into po-
sttion when a man and woman, the
man carrying suit case. came out of
the house, went to the carriage, got in
and were driven away. They passed
by where we were crcuching, and both
of us caught on behind. | had consult
ed time table and, knowing that
train was due at the station in few
minutes. felt sure they would go there.
And so they did. At the station sur
pTised the man by handing him out of
the carriage and surprised him still
more by clapping pair of bracelets on
his wrist. Green took care of the wo-
man, putting another pair on her.
There were protestations usual in such
cases, but was rather surprised when
the girl turned upon the man angrily
and said:
"'You have led me into some trap
shall be disgraced for life. You know
protested against this elopement.
Father, mother, everybody, warned me
against you
"'Never fear, sweetheart the man
replied. These gentlemen have made
some kind of a mistake. But when
they are convinced they will not trou-
BILE u.s.
''Then, turning to me. he told me that
If their elopement were discovered it
would lead to disastrous results; that
he hadn't time to explain and implored
me not to detain them. Just then a
man, who said he was the station mas
ter. came up to us and asked what was
the matter. When Informed he asked
me what place had been told would
be robbed. told him the name was
Wetmore. 4 reckon you're mixed, my
good man. he said 4 know this young
lady to be Miss Ditmar. | don't know
the gentleman's name. but he's been
going back and forth to the city with
her for long while
"'Where is the Wetmore placer
asked.
"'Over there pointing in a different
direction from the place had watched.
"Just then there was locomotive
whistle that indicated the approach of
the train the two had come to the sta
ton to take. The girl fell on her knees
before me, took my hands, covered
them with tears and kisses and i'm
plored me not TO bring on complica-
ton that would ruin her whole life. 1T
will go hard enough with me for the
elopement,' she said, but If l am ar
rested father will kill me-
meanwhile the train rolled up to the
station. 1t was a trying time for me.
l whispered to Green, asking him what
he thought about the matter. He re-
piled that he thought it was game.
Just then the conductor Of the train
cried All aboardr and the girl went
into Mysteries. Her means were too
| much for me. unclasped her nippers
and those of the man. They rushed,
with the suit case, to the train and
were helped on as it moved out
"Green deserted me, jumping on the
train. l didn't want to do that be-
cause it was going from the city, and
l wanted to go to the city. felt very
uncomfortable, can assure you. How
ever, took the next train back and re-
ported what | had done. The chief