The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1913-07-04
He Left aClew
Behind Him
3, GROVER ]. GRIFFIN

gether discouraged. i! had come to the
city six months before with $500 In
my pocket to look for a position. All
but 81 was gone, and l had not found
the position. Besides, owed a board
bill which couldn't pay. I decided
to so home. but didn't like 70 remove
my baggage without paying my in.
debtedness, SO left my trunk and all
my clothes except what I absolutely
needed. These I rolled in a bundle
and carried out under my arm. I
would write my landlady from home
that l had left and was not coming
back.
On my way to the station, passing a
trunk store, thought i would 20 in
and buy a cheap bag in which to car
~ my belongings. My ticket to my
home would be $3.50, SO I hadn't much
to spare for the luxury of a satchel.
| found man in the store looking at
some suit cases. He bought one and
transferred some clothing and pack
age to 1t from suit case that thought
as good as the one he purchased and
asked the storekeeper to throw the
latter away. As soon as he was gone
asked the storekeeper what he would
take for the case that had been left,
and when he said 80 cents I bought 1t.
l did not notice till l was boarding
the train that 1t was marked on one
end with the letters "E. r. NJ" and
then my attention was called to them
by man standing near the car steps
looking at them with conside vable at
tention. He followed me in, took a
seat directly behind me and. pulling
out a newspaper. began to read. It
was not till we had left the city limits
that he leaned forward and said:
How are you. NaylerY'
my name is not Nayler," / said.
"You are mistaken in your man"
you are Edward Nayler. alias Bill
Shanks. alias Pete Devon, and you
don't want to deny it with your Initials
on the end of your suit case. The only
thing that puzzles me is that you
should attempt to get away with the
swag with such dead give away about
you.'
l told the man how I had come to
buy the suit case and, opening II. show
ed him that 1t contained nothing but
clothes. He believed my story and at
once asked me II would know the
man to whom the case had belonged.
| told him l would. Then he said that
the fellow had been a valet In an Inn
mensely wealthy family and had walk
ed OF with some $4,000 worth Of Jew
els. A maid in the same service who
was implicated in the theft had con-
fessed to my informant that Nayler
was to leave the city on that train, but
he would doubtless be disguised. HE
will probably wear the same clothes
and make up as when you saw him in
the trunk store" added the man behind
me. "for he wouldn't have had time to
make change. wish you would 60
through the train and spot him."
what is there in 1t for me?'' asked.
The man who was working for a re-
ward Of $4,000 offered for the recov.
cry of the jewels dickered with me for
some time, Offering me amounts rang. ,
Ing between tenth and a half Of all
he was to get out of It. I closed with
him on a half. and. going rapidly
through the train to the baggage car. I
turned and walked back slowly, look.
ing carefully at every one. l recog.
nized my man in the next car ahead Of
the one l had been riding in.
MY frlend-Dawson was his name !
was delighted. and. taking some paper
and a fountain pen from his pocket, he
wrote an agreement to pay me what
he had verbally agreed to pay in case |
of success. Then we changed our seats |
into the next car forward. where we |
could keep an eye on Mr.. Nayler.
Dawson wrote telegram to the chief
OF police ut the first large place on our
route to have force at the station to
arrest man. and at our first stop
got out and sent it, having first arrang-
ed with the conductor to hold the train
for me.
On approaching the place where the
arrest was to be made stood at the
front door and Dawson at the rear. so
that from whichever door he went out
we could keep track Of him. That he
would leave the train at that point we
felt confident. for the conductor had
Informed Us that his ticket would car.
~ him no farther. Il be did not we
were to hail policeman from the plat.
form.
Our man left the cur by the front
1oor. I followed him and saw several
men In police uniform, looking up at
The train. | beckoned one Of them and
pointed out Mr.. Nayler. He was the
most surprised man ever saw He
turned as white as a sheet, and when
,ne Of the policemen took his suit case
rom his hand thought he would drop.
We took him to a police station. where
lis suit case was op1hed, and saw {
he package he had transferred In the
runk store. The outside wrapper be-
ng taken OF disclosed box and inside
he box display of jewelry worthy
Il the window of high grade jewell :
RS shop.