Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1913-12-18
A Detective
Story
By ALBERT KENYON

device.
But 1t is not in such cases that |,
now twenty years a detective. have
found the keenest relish. The muir
derer is not in a condition of mind to
think out a problem coolly. He is in
an abnormal condition. For my part
could never understand how any one
could commit a crime the discovery of
which would bring dreadful punish
ment. Nevertheless criminals often
work out very intricate problems.
1t is when two or three persons above
the average In the social scale and In
education conspire together that the
most ingenious devices develop. Per-
haps this is because each gives the
other courage. That is what makes
hunting down gang of counterfeiters
so interesting. They are usually intelll-
gent men and work together. Yet there
is one thing they all lose sight of or
dtsregard-the fact that they are al
ways caught in the end.
The most interesting surprise ] ever
encountered was in unearthing one of
prise, for 1t was no credit to me that
made the discovery. Indeed, had
not made a criminal of myself should
never have got on to them. ! was put
on the case in this way: Some counter
felt twenty dollar bills were being put
into circulation. They seemed to come
| to the surface in small town in Kan
sas and drift eastward. At any rate,
one of them was traced to this place.
and | was sent out there to investi-
| gate. There Is always difference in
towns, some being inhabited In the
main by good. religious people, others
being VIGOROUSLY bad. ~. the point
where the counterfeit bill came from,
was neither good nor bad but not long
before my arrival party had begun
to assemble every evening to play
poker. The game or series of games
had been started by two or three men
who bad recently come to the town,
and number of citizens had gradu
ally come to take a part in the pre-
ceedings. They were played In the
room sometimes of one, sometimes of
another, member of the party.
| went into the town ostensibly TO
buy cattle. A day or two after my
arrival I was informed by man
whose acquaintance l had made that |
there was poker party in room up
stairs. BE said be was going up to |
look on. and l told him | would go
With him If he would introduce me.
The truth is | have suffered all through /
my life from the gambling passion.
Having a fortune, | lost 1t, and that !
was what threw me into the detective
business. ! should not have gone to
watch this game, for | ran great
risk of being drawn into It,
found party of good fellows, who
received me cordially. and 1t was not
long before called for some chips. !
soon lost what good money i had
about me and to recoup yielded to a
10 use a counterfeit bill
that | had brought with me for a sam
pie. The moment ] laid 1t on the ia
BILE saw two of the players give each
other meaning look; then both
turned their eyes on me. A cold chill /
IAN down my back. for 1t looked as II
were detected on the start But my
business had schooled me in conceal {
ng my feelings. and ! returned the i
mems glances with a blank stare
Doubtless 1t was this that caused one
# them to make a mistake. He gave
ne a crafty look returned it with !
ne equally crafty
| had no idea what this meant.
to win the bill had put up
nd something besides Then caution &
OF the better of my passion. and
layed only so long as ] could play on u
hat ! had won. | saw the men who
nd noticed the bill go on the table
atchlng me. Evidently | didn't fill
lie bill of what they had expected of
e. for l got no more confidential
ances, One thing noticed-several
venty dollar bills came out from
lose men on the same bank as the
lie | had used for stake and pass
into the hands of other players
ne of them fell to me. The man who
ID given me the meaning glance at
zee asked me for 1t, Offering four -
ves'' for 1t. But | told him would -
Their keep It. However, knowing
me game was going on other than
e open one on the table, gave 1t to
N. This seemed to allay slight
spicien Of me that had come to him Ea
t was the producing OF these twenty 10:
liar bills, all on the same bank, and ia
cir passing into the hands of others a
1t gave me an explanation Of the 7
-stery. Counterfeiters were using
, game to shove the spurious money -
to such citizens Of the place as ~.
re drawn into their poker game az
mediately I put out all the bills ] o:2
brought with mo as samples, and
$ won me the confidence OF the g
nterfeiters. Nevertheless they seem a t
puzzled, and determined to act ct ern
e. always go about armed. and ana
wing a brace Of pistols. I covered -
fu,o man I cuopootad ot,d sold. pm