The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-03-29
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. l

singular coincidence had no moro
idea Of being detective than being
president Of the United States, ! new
er developed any fancy for such work.
never read detective stories or took
any interest In the methods Of how
real cases were managed. What /
did hear Of such matters they filled
me with a belief that this business OF
noticing how far a match was burn
ed or which end OF a cigarette was
light first to gain clew had nothing
10 do with tracing criminals. n
One day | was In u street car going
home from a bank where ] was EN-
ployed on fairly good salary when
I saw a man tumble in his pocket for
change to pay his fare. A few min
utes later woman picked up n fold
ed bill off the floor and handed II to
him. asking him II he hadn't dropped
1t. He unfolded 1t, cast a glance at
II, paled slightly and handed 1t hack
to her in a hurry. denying the own
ership. The woman asked one or two
people sitting near II they had drop
ped II. but they all said they thought
they had not. | asked the woman to
let me see II. 1t didn't take me long,
backed by my banking experience, to
decide that 1t was counterfeit.
This was the first time ever show
ed a faculty for detective work. |
noticed that no one showed any IN
Usual emotion In looking at the bill
except the man who was supposed to
have dropped 1t; therefore there was
a probability that he was counter
feiter. But | said nothing, simply
handing II back TO the woman.
But my curiosity had been aroused.
Curious 10 follow up the matter, when
the man who had paled got out ! got
out, too. and followed him at dis
lance. He entered hardware store,
where he purchased several articles.
| didn't know what they we're. but
one of them was a hammer with q
big end suitable for beatng anything
fiat. Another was a cruclble for melt
Ing metals. When he went out |
snatched the bill he had paid the
salesman. expecting 10 see n counter
felt, but in this | was disappointed.
It WIS good money,
Well, | tracked the fellow TO
room at the top Of business build
Ing, where he had a shop. | knock
ed at the door. lie opened II, but did
not bid me enter. told hin, had
something TO say to him and wished
TO so inside. He said he was making
certain contrivance that was not
yet patented and no one was allowed
10 enter the premises where the work
was done.
Mind you was no detective. I
was merely INDUCING my curiosity.
A detective would have gone away
and conc again prepared 10 nc, us IN
officer OF the law. | simply accused
the man Of counterfeItng, stating
what | had seen on the Cur.
He stood looking ut me few mo-
mcnls appalled,, then said. WHAT'S
Mol Brown going to give you for
helping herr"
II don't Know Moll Brown ! re-
piled, ''and I'm In no ones employ
in this matter. I'm only doing II for
fun"
Come in here and satisfy your
SELF" he said.
went in and found M article for
sweeping floors manufactured and in
process Of making. Then he explain
ed:
"Moll Grown was the woman who
tried 10 fix the counterfeit bill on me.
Resolved to follow the matter up,
I took Nloll Browns address. felt
sire she had gol The counterfeit bill
from some one interested IN making
or passing 1t, or both. and con!dn't
refrain from getting at the bottom
of The matter. ! cooked uD reason
Tor making her acquaintance and
went to see her. Al this point | be-
gan sone real detective work. got
her confidence aud told her that |
was looking for some easy why OF
making money. After good deal or
bealing about the bush she agreed to
tell ME where | could get some
queer" TO put out and gave me- the
address of The man had siadowcd.
didn't want any better proof of his
story. She was bent on his ruin and
would have included me If II suited
her convenience. delayed about
going to the man she named and con-
tinued 10 watch her.
Accident helped ME. Que evening
when | visited her man called on
her whom | spotted at once. | went
away. leaving him with her. and
when he came Out Swallowed him. He
went to 4 place that l fancied. put
ting this and that together. might be
den Of counterfeiters. ! put the
police on to the matter. They sur
rounded the building where the sup
posed den was. then closed in and.
sure enough, trapped 4 party at work
making spurious bills.