Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-06
The Argus Daily Story
A Practical Experience-By Nathan Jernegan.
Copyrighted. by Associated Literary Bureau

were alone it would be known; II I
were followed 1t would be known. In
deed. unless came by myself there
would be no use of my coming Mt all.
Should | throw up the agreement I
would be denounced as having stolen
the property.
| began TO realize that was getting
into the business of practical detective
story writing with a vengeance. 1t was
time | should take some precautions
against arrest for having stolen prop
erty In my possession. My letters to
my correspondent alone would incrimi-
nate me. | determined TO consult the
police. Indeed, they were now neces-
sary 10 me. | must devise some plan
with them by which l should be pro-
tected and they should'make the arrest.
But. desiring TO keep the matter in my
own hands, told them only that was
tracking a criminal and wished them to
be on hand when the trap was sprung.
The inspector was not we'll satisfied to
take up matter under some one else's
lead, hut when he found that | was Oh
durate he consented. and l was turned
over to q sergeant to make the neces-
sary arrangements.
Upon showing him the building where
/ was to meet my party he noticed that
the roofs OF all the houses in the block
were of the same height. Thinking
that II any one should wish to get away
he would mount to the roof and GO
down through the scuttle of another
house. the sergeant concluded to put
men on the roofs to watch that means
of egress. This would obviate the
necessity OF keeping on my trail in the
street, which would be known to the
criminal.
On the day and hour appointed l re-
paired with the jewels TO the building,
rang the bell of the third fiat in the
vestibule, the latch was drawn, and
] went upstairs. A door stood ajar, and
passed through 1t into room. A man
advanced TO meet me. He did not look
at all like jailblrd or, indeed, a GRIM
| inal of any kind.
"Ah." he said cordially. 'T see you
| have brought the box. Permit me to
/ explain verbally that these jewels are
! a legacy to my daughter. The will by
which she inherited them was not prop
! erly drawn, and in law, though not in
equity. they belong TO another. To save
them l captured them. though If what
! / have done were known 1t would sub
/ ject me to a criminal prosecution. That
is the reason l sent them to you and
why l am willing to secure your silence
by paying you so large an amount"
Here was q subcomplication for my
work. l was very much interested
and listened eagerly TO the mans
story of how he had saved his daugh-
ter's inheritance. / declined to accept
any reward for the return of the jew
els but he declared that a bargain was
a bargain and we must both stand lay
the one we had made. Since the police
were behind me l thought it perfectly
safe to accept temporarily anything he
might offer.
He counted out fifty 500 bills,
which l rolled in wad and put In
my pocket. 1t had been agreed be-
tween me and my supports that when
on my return | reached the street
door several policemen who had come
after l had made my entrance should
go upstairs. while those on the roof
were stopping egreSs in that direction.
l therefore said goodby to the man
who had saved his daughters fortune,
resolving that l would attempt to per-
suade the policemen below to let the
case drop. But they refused to be
persuaded and went up. They rang
the dOorbell of the third floor fat, but,
not receiving n response, were obliged
to force an entrance. This took some
time, as every door and window was
barred. When 1t was effected the nat
was found to be empty. A door had
been cut into the adjoining building,
through which any one might have
passed out and away. At any rate, the
man who had saved his daughters
fortune l never saw again. Nor did
the police.
went to the station and turned the
bills | had received over to the ser
geant He sent them to bank for
inspection. and they were pronounced
counterfeit.
asked the inspector for theory
us to the meaning OF the whole bust
ness. After some thought he said:
There was robbery OF jewels re-
Gently of which we were notified and
were hot Oh the robbers tracks That
the gems might not he found on him
he sent them away by express. How
he came TO select you for the recipient
| don't know When he wanted the
jewels he opened correspondence with
you, though it is also possible that
some one seeing your ad. did 80 The
result you know. Whoever he Is. he
has the jewels and you have 5000
In worthless money. Next time you
meet with such Il case you'd better re-
port IL to us at once"
had written detective stories based
on the stupidity OF the police and the
Ingenuity Of my hero | now felt that
the former We're revenged.
l went to my scribbling den and in
stead Of writing a long detective story
, wrote a short one The above tale IL
all I got ont of my practical expert
ence.
g Il Nov q a. a r,oo~io,1