The Cairo bulletin., 1912-10-22
A MATTER OF INTUITION
How the Brundage Novelty Company
Robbery Was Uncovered

At one time In the history Of detec-
Of the detective was to detect crime
and criminals, This still is the func-
ton for which official detectives,
those employed by city. state or ma
ton, exist, But in this day Of hectic
business competition there has grown
20 startling proportions another use
Tor the private detective agency; and
the ways and means in which the pub
lie is learning to use and misuse the
service Which any detective agency
places at their beck and call for So
Il day, often have little or nothing in
common with the original purposes
of the detectives profession.
Probably one half the business that
comes to the private detective agency
is business, instead Of crime Firms
hire private detectives to spy on a
competitor; employers hire them to
look up the conduct o. cmulovos after
business ours There are private d
iectiye agencies SO INSCRIPTIONS that
you can engage their operatives TO-
almost any service, no ms tier how
low. Then, again, there is the Burns
Agency, Of which was m operative,
which Will not touch a piece of busi-
ness that is not obviously and abso.
lutely square But even pursuing this
policy, without wayering. they are at
times led into wieri audS wonderful
paths Of business mazesS and the
work often is no less thrilling than
the pursuit Of vicious criminals.
The Brundage Novelty Company
case was one of the most interestng
Jobs of any kind that | ever tackled
On the first of September, 1910, our
agency received telephone call from
the knickerbocker Hotel. The cal
was; Please pick out man whom
you know you can trust In every way
and send him up here to room L 9S
The caller refused to give his name
or to mention the purpose for which
he wanted q detective.
IN explain all that satisfactorily tc
you after | have seen whether you
have man whom | consider capable
Of handling my business" was his an
swer to the Office managers request
for more information,
That's a queer one" muttercd the
manager, and he took the call in tc
the chief.
Better send Cornell up there tc
gee what it is" said tho chief "Wc
won't touch it If it doesn't look good "
at once took the subway to Times
Square, and few minutes later
Knocked a room l. % The door was
opened b. an old man OF patriarchal
appearance, onn IN whom the dream III
Fqd the man of efficiency seemed
strangely combined. He peered al
NE for possibly so seconds through
the six inches Of opening he had
, made.
Come in" he said After he had
shut and locked the door he added
You're from the Burns Agency, OF
course Sit down"
sat The old man stood before
me with his hands on his hips Usual
~ 1t is the detective who stands and
| scrutinizes and analyses his client
but in this case the usual order was
reversed.
How old are. your" said the old
man presently.
"Thirtysix," | replied.
"NTarried?"
Yes"
Children"
Three"
Got picture of your wife or aHy
Of the children with you?"
! looked at him and began to smile
Now look here sir" | said, $50 far
as | understand 1t, you sent for de
| tective-"
Young man" said he, holding up
his hand in great dignity, do not be
impatient, please Please answer my
questions Call It humoring IN old
man. IL you will There is reason
Now, again; have you a picture Of
your wife or children with you? Dc
you carry one?'
More out Of curiosity to see what
he WIS driving AT than anything else
| 1 replied that did carry such nic