The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-08-29
How the Brundsss Novelty Company
Robbery Was Uncovered

tive work. possibly, the sole function
Of the detective was to detect crime
and criminals. This still In the func-
those employed By city. state or ma
ton. exist But In this day Of hectic
business competition there has grown
to startling proportions another use
for 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 50
a~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
10 business, instead Of crime Firms
hire private detectives to gpy on q
competitor; employers hire them to
look up the conduct OIL employees after
business lours. There are private do
tective agencies so INSCRIPTIONS that
you can engage their operatives for
almost any service, no mttter how
low. Then. again, there is the Burns
"a
which will not touch a piece Of bust
ness that Ii not obviously and abso-
lutely square. But even pursuing this
policy, without wavering, they are at
times led into wierd and wonderful
paths of business maZes; and the
work often is no less thrilling than
the pursuit of vicious criminals.
The Brundage Novelty Company
case was one Of the most interesting
Jobs Of any kind that l ever tackled.
On the first of September. 1910, our
agency received a telephone call from
the Knickerbocker Hotel. The call
was: please pick out a man whom
you know you can trust in every way
and send him up here to room l. 98."
The caller refused to give his name
or to mention the purpose for which
he wanted a detective.
I'll explain all that satisfactorily to
you after l have seen whether you
have a 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" muttered the
manager, and he took the call in to
the chief
Better send Cornell up there to
see what 1t is" said the chief. 1--WE
won't touch 1t If it doesn't aook good"
at once took the subway to Times
Square, and a few minutes later
knocked at room l. 9S. The door was
opened by an old man of patriarchal
appearance, one in whom the dreamer
and the man of efficiency seemed
strangely combined. He peered at
me for possibly 80 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"
l 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.
"Thirty-six." ] replied.
Married."
Eyes"
"Children?"
Three"
Got picture of your wife or any
Of the children with your"
I looked at him and began to smile
Nov look here, sir" said; $50 far
as I understand it, you sent for a de-
tective-"
Young man." said he. holding up
his hand In great dignity, do not be
impatient, please. Please answer my
questions. Call 1t humoring an old
man, If you will. There is a reason.
Now. again; have you a picture OF
your wife or children with your Do
you carry one?"
More out Of curiosity to see what
he was driving at than anything else
replied that did carry such a pic
ture, and opening my watch showed
him the tiny picture Of my little fam
lily that was pasted On the inside oil
the case.
Good" said he. do you carry any
Life insurance."
you old shark" said, laughing
20 that's what you got me up here
for? Well, that's certainly new
dodge for an insurance agent"
young man, young man-don't
please" said he. Answer my ques
ton, If you please"
Eyes," said, 81 do"
"Good!" Then he drew a chair VI
before me, and sat down, rubbing hi
hands.
81 must have a decent man. fairl,
good man, a man can believe in t,
handle this business" said he. ''Tha
Is why asked those apparently aim
less questions. A married man Ia NOR
dependable than a single one; a MAJ
who thinks lot of his family is mos
dependable Of all-for my purpose
And a man who thinks lot Of hi
family will often carry q pictur