Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-10


nected to report TO Mr.. Oliver Aims
worth to investigate case for him,
did so. and this was Mr.. Ainsworths
statement:
II live in a suburban town. My fam
lily consists of my wife, my son. Albert,
twenty-five years old, and my daugh-
ter. Edith. aged twenty. Other persons
come in from time to time, remaining
temporarily. There are also the serv
ants. consisting of a cook, housemaid
and butler.
For some time past we have been
missing small articles, principally jew
els. Only yesterday brooch set with
diamonds and worth 500 disappeared.
suppose in all $500 worth of proper
" has been taken. l wish you to come
into my house for a long enough stay
to discover the thief. Your chief has
recommended you as a person who
would not be likely to be taken for
detective, you having been well brought
up. He has told me also that you are
very musical and play on several in
struments. My daughter wishes to learn
to play on the mandolin. and you can
give her lessons. l shall introduce you
as the son of an old and very dear
friend Of mine, giving out that you
. have met with bad luck and that
have taken you in for awhile until you
can get on your feet again"
! There was truth in the latter part of
this statement / had recently come
from England to seek my fortune in
America like others of my countrymen
who are ready to do abroad what they
would be too proud to do at home. 1
/ tried music. for which 1 have consid-
cradle taste. but after starving awhile
in that field fell in with a detective.
who secured me position in the bu
reau with which he was connected. l
think my chief recommendation was
that, being a gentleman. could play
parts that would be impossible with an
unpublished man.
This assignment with Mr. Ainsworth
was my first in my new business. and
] knew nothing about how TO trap q
thief Persons who are ignorant of
an important work they are expected
to do are prone to look very wise and
appear to be thinking very hard. put
on the semblance of the wisdom of
Solomon, and when Mr.. Ainsworth was
about TO tell me of any suspicious that
were entertained | stopped him, say
ing that i always worked by method,
pursuing my investigations step by
step. and wished to avoid any precon-
ceived notions that might lead me
astray. This inspired the gentleman
with great faith in me ! must trust
to luck or my wits to bear out his con-
fidence.
The story Of my supposed impover-
ishment, which, as ! have said, was in
the main true, brought a very sympa-
thetic reception from Miss Edith Aims
worth, and the fact that was to teach
her music foreshadowed that l would
pass a season in clover. Under the in
luence Of her beautiful eyes I felt that
/ could he a thief hunter for the rest
of my days. ] commenced the music
lessons at once and was supposed to
enter upon my investigations at the
same time. Alas, knew not where to
begin! That part Of my work which
consisted in leading the family to think
that | was the unfortunate son of a
dear friend of its head | performed
with great ease since II was natural
10 me. | was first cousin TO an earl
and my father having been born 10
the courtesy title of honorable. had
never done stroke Of work in his life
except garrison work. for he had been
colonel of a regiment in the British
army.
| spent fortnight as a member OF
Mr.. AinswOrth's family, and since
: had not secured the slightest clew tc
. the thief l felt it necessary TO put or
all the appearance of pursuing a deer
. laid plan Of which was capable. Mr.
} Ainsworth refrained from questioning
me, which was lucky Indeed, so en-
crossed was ! with my lovely pupi
that had a dozen clews been under my
, nose l would not have detected one OF
, them. | wondered that he did no
/ notice how matters were going be
p tween me and Edith. but if there i.
one thing / observed in my career o.
detective 1t is the stupidity Of parent.
in failing to notice the incipient love
[ affairs Of their children.
After spending nearly three weeks
, pretending to be following a deep IaiC
plan Of investigation ! began to be no
, only conscience stricken. but fearful
> that the humbug l was practicn,
would be discovered. To add 10 M
worry began to realize that the fare,
could not last forever and / must sooI
be separated from Edith. My cup o
misery was filling up rapidly wher
, luck came 10 me. hit upon clew.
Lying awake at night when all wal
still, ! heard the distant sound Of
chime l wondered that l had neve
heard IT before, but 1t was so fain
that ! would only be likely to detec
4 IL under the most favorable circum
, stances. There were two strokes. fol
lowed at an interval by three more
Then all was still again. Presently
: heard It again. This time it was tire
= strokes. While the chime was strik
ing I lifted my head from the PILLOW
10 hear better and was surprised tina
! could not hear at all.