Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-16

InluS NTOuS dDOuI the U1aD OppOSlle
that I concluded to investigate. The
best way to do this was to transfer
my quarters to the house she lived in
1T was an apartment house-and set
up a watch. One Of the fats was va
cant. and l rented a front room In 1t.
81 had observed the man opposite
but few times before could under
stand the girls suspicious. But l
could give no more reason for mine
than she could for hers. She was
quite attractive, and l made the case
a pretext to call upon her often. I
talked to her about II a good deal, but
did not confne myself to it exclusive
ly. She was much pleased to be con-
suited by q detective. and l encour-
aged her to help me. She said that
about once in two weeks the man OPP
posite sailed forth as though he was
intending to accomplish something.
She had noticed this, because at other
times when he went out he did 50 list
lessly and as though time hung heavily
on his hands, l asked her to let me
know the next time she saw him 60
out In an energetic mood and try to
notify me in time TO enable ma b fol-
low him.
mot long after this she knocked at
my door and told me our quarry had
just gone out. appearing to have pur-
pose. 1 ran downstairs and caught
sight Of him turning q corner. he
soon entered a stationery store. where
he bought some articles. did not fol-
low him into the store. for l knew
- ~ Hx,
suspicious Of every one he met. My
purpose was to note the stores he went
into and If he passed counterfeit mon
ey. II he did his game was up. for I
could arrest him where he lodged.
He visited various stores, buying
something in each, then, instead OF 60
ing to his lodging, entered house
where several families were CHARTERED.
I concluded to wait for him to come
out. but he never did come out-that
is, so far as could see. While I was
waiting for him several persons en-
tered and came out OF the house, but
not my man. After waiting for some
time telephoned for a person to re-
lieve me and visited the stores at which
the man had made purchases. In ev-
| cry store he had passed a counterfeit
bill.
Il resumed my watch on his lodg-
ings: but, although l continued it for
! a week. l never saw the fellow again.
by this time the young lady who
had given me the clew had become
much interested in the case. Moreover.
she sympathized with me in my defeat
| 10 60
help me. | couldn't afford to spend any
more time watching the house where
the counterfeiter lived. l learned that
he had simply lodged there. and the
occupants knew nothing about him.
The young woman volunteered that IL
she saw him there again she would at
! tempt to shadow him and If possible
communicate with me while she was
doing So 1t was evident that he was
! one OF several persons who were shov
ing the counterfeit money. but had
no clew TO his whereabouts and was
therefore no better off than before.
The fellow went back just once to
the house in which be had lodged to
get some clothes he had left there. and
the young woman happened to see him.
She followed him and caught him on
one of his rounds getting rid of spu-
rious bills. After visiting divers stores
he went to house where he disap-
peared as before. His shadower wait
ed from 10 o'clock in the morning till
4 in the afternoon for him to come out.
Then woman emerged. carrying a
| paraSol and reticule. The shadower,
who had for weeks seen the man op-
posite go and come, had no sooner seen
the woman walk than she recognized
in the peculiar gait him whom she was
looking for She followed, looking
about her for a policeman. but these
gentleman have Il convenient way cf
not appearing when they are wanted.
and the party turned into a building
before she could get u cop.
There was a store opposite and.
luckily, telephone in the store. The
young woman called the police and
explained why she wanted them. They
came In sufficient numbers to surround
the house. then went upstairs to the
top story, where they found not only
the man in woman's clothes. but the
whole gang OF counterfeiters and their
genuine money he bad brought for d.
vision among them.
He had been the only one engaged
In passing the queer. After doing a
bit Of this work be would enter house
and come out as some one else. Had
IT, not been for the feminine intuition
of my volunteer assistant and her keen
perception In recognizing his gait he
might have continued his work. no one
knows how long.
81 was so pleased with the young
woman's detective instincts that in
vited her to go into partnership with
me. We worked so successfully to-
gether that we finally concluded to
make a life arrangement OF 1t.
in all my experience I have never
met with better scheme for cover
Ing tracks after passing counterfeit
DIoney than the one have described"