Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-04-05
floor in addressing you? What are you,

HtOt~ -
floor in addressing you? What are you,
anyway"
what I told you, an expert in the
service OF the department Of Justice"
ION the scientific side?"
"Why-yes, generally speaking. |
like to flatter. myself that my pursuit
is scientific"
Pursuit? What do you pursue?"
MEN and motives"
Sedgwick's, intelligent eyes widened.
Wait" he said, something occurs to
me, an article in French journal
about wonderful new American ex-
pert in criminology, who knows all
there Is to know, and takes only the
most obstruse cases. recall now
that the article called him 'le Profess
seur, Chetre Kennat.' That would be
about as near as they would come to
your name" a,
''It's good deal nearer than that
Internal French journalist whom Wiley
brought to my table at the Idlers' club
got to the facts, stated Kent.
Then you are the Professor Kent!
But look here!, The Frenchman made
you out most superior species of
'highfalutin detective, working along
lines peculiarly your own"
Rot" interjected Kent. "The only
lines a detective. can work along sue
cessfully are the lines laid down for
him by the man he Is AFTER
: Sounds more reasonable than
romantic" admitted the artist. Come
now, Kent, open up and tell me some
thing about yourself"
"Only last month magazine put
that request in writing, and accom-
panied it with an offer OF twenty-five
hundred dollars-which didn't accept.
However. as I may wish to ask you a
number of leading questions later, I'll
answer yours now. You remember l
got into trouble my senior year with
the college authorities, by proving the
typhoid epidemic direct against for
gotten defect in the sewer system. 1t
nearly cost me my diploma; but 1t
helped me too, later. for a scientist
in the department OF agriculture at
Washington learned of It,, and sent for
me after graduation. He talked to me
about the work that a man with the
true Investigation instinct which he
thought had-could do, by employ
ing his abilities along strictly
scientific lines; and he mapped out
for me a three years postgraduate
course, which had just about enough
money to take While specialized on
botany, entomology and bacteriology.
picked up working knowledge OF
other branches: chemistry, toxicology.
geology. mineralogy, physiology, and
most OF the natural sciences, having
been blessed with an eager and
catholic curiosity about the world we
live In.
Once in the department, found my
self with sort of rowing commission.
] worked under such men as Wiley,
Howard, and Merriam, and learned
from them something Of the Infinite
and scrupulous patience that truly
original scientific achievement de-
mands. At first my duties were large
ly those of minor research, Then, by
accident largely, I CHANGED upon the
plot to bull the cotton market by IN
PRODUCING the boil weevil into the I'M
infested cotton area. and checked
that Soon afterward I was put on the
deodorized meat enterprise, and sue
ceeded in discovering the scheme
whereby 1t was hoped to sell spoiled
meat for good. You might have heard
of those cases; but you would hardly
have learned OF the success In which
I really take pride. the cultivation
of running wild grape to destroy
Rhus Toxicodendron, the common
poison ivy. What spare time 1 had |
devoted to experimenting along me-
chanical lines, and patented an inven-
ton that has been profitable. Some
time. ago the department OF justice
borrowed me on a few cases with
scientific bearing, and more recently
offered me incidental work with them
on such favorable terms that l re-
signed my/other position. The terms
include liberal vacations. one OF which
am now taking. And here am! Is
that sufficient"
Hardly. All this suggests the arts
of peace. What about your forty-horse.
power kick? You don't practise that
for drawing-room exhibitions, take
it,"
Sometimes, confessed the scientist.
81 have found myself at close quarters
with persons of dubious character. The
fact is, that an ingenious plot to get
rid Of a very old friend, Doctor Lucius
Carter, the botanist, drew me into the
criminal line, and since then, that
phase Of investigation has seemed
fairly to obtrude itself on me. Off
cially and unofficially. Even up here,
where hoped to enjoy months rest
DO you know" he said, breaking OH,
"that you have most interesting
inset of ocean currents hereabouts?'
"Of course. Lonesome Cove. But
kindly finish that even up here. !
,recollect your saying that you were
waiting for me. Haven't traced any
scientific crime to my door, have
you?' 80,
"Let me forget my work for little
while" pleaded his visitor, land look
at yours"
said and led the way to the big, bare,
bright studio.
From the threshold Chester Kent
delivered an opinion. after one approx.
ing survey. "You really work, see"
.Is really do. Where do you see It.