Rock Island Argus., 1913-10-27

matter to those met. confining my at
tention to meeting a policeman who
by some bit of nervousness would give
himself away.
Not meeting any suspicious person on
my way to the station. walked back
by the other thoroughfare. which was
much less frequented than the first.
Meeting a cop. 7 asked him what was
the hour for change Of the force on
duty. He told me that he was the,,
expecting every moment to be relieved,
l continued my way back toward the
trolley stables and was walking slowly
along when saw n policeman coming.
Some OF us fellows Of the police
have way when walking along. espe-
cially when entering upon our term OF
routine duty. of throwing our sticks
outward. drawing them back by the
throng that attaches them to the wrist
and catching them The man coming
toward me was doing this. That fel-
low. l remarked to myself. whatever
else he is. is a cop. He is throwing
his stick like policeman and catching
1t as IL he had been doing the trick
all his life.
When we met nodded to him. look
ing him over carefully, as | did every
cop'1 passed, for anything that might
give away the man was after. There
was nothing in his uniform. nothing
in his walk, which had the elasticity OF
man just going on duty, contrasting
with that of one just going off duty.
But there is one telltale feature that
cannot well be covered, though ! have
known many persons TO do so with
marked success. l refer to the eye. 1t
is usually a sure indicator. 1t is the
feature on which one fighting for his
life keeps his own eye fixed without
a moments removal. The man | met
looked me in the eye / looked him In
the eye and saw in it an uneasiness
that was in strong contrast with his
careless walk and otherwise confident
appearance.
While there was not enough in this
to warrant my assuming that he had
an uneasy conscience. it was sufficient
to induce investigation. l stopped for
bit of chat
Just going onE | asked.
Yes" he replied Are you?"
Here was probable giveaway.
knew by sight every person connected
with the police department of Airing.
ton. and this man should have known
those Of Burtonville.
Let me see" said 81 don't ex.
actly place you. Haven't you recently
come on the force?"
He saw danger in the question. and
saw dread in that telltale eye OF his
Not so very recently. I've been
mostly on night duty"
That's the duty I've been on"
said. in order to push him further
''It's singular that l haven't ever seen
you at the station"
1T is queer we haven't met" he halt
stammered. But l must go on. fal
bit behind time 1ld have some dis.
! tance to wax
.'I1r go with you" / said I'm not
satisfied at seeing a man on the force
that / never saw before. I'm going to
| investigate you.'
No will power could keep the blood
III lllt lllil late NDtH ne SHM IuuI
he was in imminent danger of being
exposed as masquerading in the Bur.
! tonville police force to which he did
| not belong. for this would almost sure.
! ly connect him with something worse
/ But he pulled himself together, saying
| that l was welcome to investigate him
| as much as liked.
!
not jump at n conclusion that he was
/ my quarry. but | believed there was
! fair chance of ii. At the same time
| didn't care to place myself in ridicu-
Ious position by making a mistake.
/ How do know" he said presently,
that you are member of the force?
! I've never seen you before"
you'll find that out" replied.
| when we meet policeman"
| Suddenly the man stepped to the
! curb and began to rap on it with his
stick. A cop came hurrying toward
us, and my companion said to him:
I'm an Arlington policeman. after a
man who is wanted for masquerading
as member Of your force. There he
/ is. Help me to run him in"
1t was desperate game to play. bu.
| he had no other. It confirmed my be-
lief that l bad got the man was
after. and did not worry as to the
result. The Burtonvllle man looked us
both over. then said to me:
I've been ordered to look out for
you myself Come along"
Not without my accuser." said
The real criminals eyes were dart
| ing about for some method of escape.
He put his hand to his hip. but took
1t away. / watched him closely in or
| der to he ready TO shoot first If there
| was any shooting to be done.
The Burtonyille cop settled the mat
ter by rapping for assistance. and
when it came we two strangers were
taken to the station and held till Har-
ker came ont in the police buggy and
set the Burtonyille authorities right as
to my identity.
The man had encountered was tax.
en- to Arlington. where he was qups-
toned and cross questioned till con-
fession was wrung from him. He was
tried and suffered for his crime.