The Springfield herald., 1912-07-05

A MATTER OF INTUITION
How the erundaee Novelty Company
Robbery Was Uncovered

Robbery Was Uncovered
At one time in the history of detec-
tive work, possibly. the sole function
of the detective YVES to detect crime
and criminals. This still is the func-
tion for which official detectives,
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 $S
u 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 detective1 to spy on a
competitor; employers hire them to
look up the conduct Oh employees after
business lours. There are private d.
tective agencies SO unscrupulous that
you can engage their operatives TO-
almost any service. no IN, tier how
low Then, again. there Is the Burns
Agency, of which I was an operative.
which will not touch piece of busi-
ness that is not obviously and abso-
Iutely square. But even pursuing this
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 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 / have seen whether you
of handling my business" was his an
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 tho chief. I'VE
won't touch 1t II it doesn't look good
at once took the subway to Times
Square, and a few minutes later
knocked at room L 50. 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
You're from the Burns Agency. OF
course. Sit down"
sat The old man stood before
me with his hands on his hips. Usual
ly it is the detective who stands and
scrutinizes and analyses his client
but in this case the usual order was
reversed.
How old are you?" said the ole
man presently.
"Thirty-six." replied.
"Married?"
"Yes."
"Children?"
Three"
Got picture of your wife or any
of the children with you?"
looked at him and began to smile
Nov look here, sir" said; 80 fal
as understand 1t, you sent for q de
tective-"
Young man." said he, holding uI
his hand in great dignity, 'do not be
impatient, please. Please answer my
questions. Call it humoring an ole
man, If you will There is reason
Now. again; have you picture Of
your wife or children with you? Dc
you carry one?"
More out of curiosity to see what
he was driving at than anything else
I replied that I-did carry such pic
ture. and opening my watch showed
him the tiny picture of my little fam
lily that was pasted on the inside o.
the case.
Good" said he. DO you carry any
life insurance."
"You old shark" / said. laughing
$50 that's what you got me up hert
for? Well, that's certainly a new
dodge for an insurance agent"
Young man. young man-don't
please" said he. Answer my ques
ton. if you please"
yes" said. 'I do"
"Good!" Then he drew a chair VI
before me. and sat down, rubbing hi
hands.
Il 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 is NOR
dependable than single one; maj
who thinks lot of his family is mos
dependable of all--for my purpose
And man who thinks a lot of hi
family will often carry a pictur
around with him, and carry life ii
surance for their benefit. Now d
you understand me? That is my wa
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