The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-11-20
A PRACTICAL
EXPERIENCE
In Obtaining a Plan For a
Detective Story
By NATHAN JERNEGAN

ttot StViitt may bt 'b''N'
or course my work involves the inven-
tive faculty. and invention involves
riental labor. | often thought that II !
could obtain real cases, such "a the
sharp detective works out. | would he
BILE TO dispense with the hardest part
Of my work. | applied To the police
for such cases, but all got was the
tracking of thief. a burglar or a
murderer by some slip made by the
perpetrator or some one else. There
was not enough in ii 10 keep reader
in anxious expectation through several
hundred closely printed pages
One morning | had real ease come
to me without any inquiry. ! was sit
ting i'm my study racking my brain for
material when maid entered and told
me there was an expressmau at the
door with a package for me. went
downstairs, receipted for il and taking
il TO my den. removed the cover, open
ed the box and saw some jewels. Re
moving tray, there lay twenty or
thirty stones apparently of great value.
I examined the address on the wrap
per. thinking that I had recelpted for
something intended for another, but
there were my name and address cor
rcctly written in every particular.
What did il mean? Instead of spend
ing the rest OF the morning trying TO
invent q detective story. was occu-
pied in endeavoring TO explain why
and from whom these jewels had been
sent me | found the job more difficult
than producing n plot. At last Z made
mp my mind that | must go about it
methodically. Just as n detective begins
work in n criminal ease.
First ! went TO the express office to
see If | could learn there who sent the
package. but no one knew anything
about il. The expressmen don't keep
records OF the Senders of miscellaneous
packages. The next question was.
Are the jewels real or imitationT
This might learn 10y submitting them
to an expert But until the mystery
was explained ! did not care 10 have
any one but myself know that they
were IN my possession. They might
be stolen property. and | bad no mind
to 20 TO jail as the thief. However. !
selected one Of few small stones |
found in the tray and took IL 10 a
dealer in gems for inspection. He
pronounced II genuine.
returned TO my study, threw myself
into an easy chair and began to
ponder. The jewclry had been sent
me by some Que whom ! did not know.
for had never before seen the hand
writing There could have been no
mistake rs 10 the intention. But what
was back of the intention?
Suddenly an explanation flashed on
my brain like the flame Of gun at
night The jewels had been stolen. and
whoever had stolen them. fearing to
be caught with them in his possession.
had sent them away. After all. was
not that good scheme? Internal
machines and poisoned food had been
sent by express and the shipper was
never discovered. The thief would
doubtless open communication with
me after the danger their possession
would bring him had passed
Then there was another flash in my
brain. and another idea was born. |
had a detective case before me that |
might work out myself and make it
the theme Of n thrilling tale. How
should ! begin? Attempt to discover
the owner Of the gems? No: ID would
be better to my purpose that ] should
make that separate problem. Should
take the police into my confidence?
BY no means-at least Till the denoue-
ment, when the guilty party had been
traced through the labyrinth Of circum-
stance and the hero detective. point.
ing his finger at him. cries, Thou art
the man" My plan would be to show
up the ingenuity of my hero in con-
trast with the stupidity OF the police.
Should ] advertise the jewels in such
a way that the thief would recognize
that they were the property in which
he was Interested? Not till he had
time TO feel assured that those hunting
the jewels were not on his track But
this would involve delay, and | was
anxious 10 pull the thread Of my inves
legations at once. SO advertised that
If the party who bad misdirected some
property sent 10y express would adj
dress me al the Office OF the newspaper
containing the ad. he would learn some
thing to his advantage.
j received no reply TO this, but very
soon note came through the mail
stating that certain property had been
addressed To me by mistake and il
would return il. asking no questions.
half the value would be deducted. II
was plain from this that my theor,
was correct The jewels had beee
stolen, and the thief was inclined TO
ibribe me TO return them TO him with.
out giving him away. 70 ease my con.
science he said the matter rested on n |
family affair that he was not at liberty
to reveal
! replied that it was true | had W.
ceiyed by express u package that was
unexpected. and | pretended TO be de. |
ceived by the family affair" writing
that was not in the habit Of poking
into other persons business and could |
readily understand why it should be |
kept from me ! was ready to accent !