Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-10-20
A LOST
HAT
It Was Knocked Out Of q
Car Window

z Car Window !
: By DWIGHT NORWOOD +
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
When was attached to detective
bureau In Albany, N. Y, there was
ring at the telephone one morning, and
the chief. being busy. asked me to re-
ply to It.
my name is Ormsby," came over
the wire. u. L. Ormsby Of No. -
Walnut street. A man called here this
morning ostensibly from the city wa
ter department to examine the plumb
ng for leakage. Last night my wife
was ut function and wore valuable
,earl necklace. She laid 1t on her
iresser when she came in. and 1t had
rot been put back into the safe when
the man came. He was in the bath
room adjoining her room, and when he
left the necklace was gone. What can
you do for me?"
I repeated what he had said to my
chief. who took up the phone and ask
ed for a description Of the man. II
was given as about FIVE feet six inches
high. weight about 40 pounds, hair a
sort of sorrel, no beard, red mustache,
we'll dressed in check suit. negligee
shirt with blue stripe, white collar and
derby hat. Asked how long the man
| had been gone from the house, the re-
| ply was "about fifteen minutes.
We Immediately sent out word to all
the police stations to watch for a man
Of the description given. My expert
ence had taught me that thief with
such q valuable haul would be likely
| to try to get out Of the city with It.
and I was not surprised when reply
came from the Union station that d
man who tailed with the description
given was there and had bought
ticket for Utica. asked how long be-
fore the next train left. The reply was
that no train would leave for twenty
minutes. jumped into an automobile
and ordered the chauffeur to take me,
regardless Of the speed law. to the sta
ton. We were chased by n policeman
on a motorcycle, who called to me to
stop. could not make him hear me
and ordered the chauffeur to slow up
for moment. The cop came up. and
I displayed my badge, told him what !
was after and pushed on. reaching the
station Just as the train was pulling
out.
GOT ON the rear car, but went
through to the smoker. then turned
land walked back apparently careless,
but really taking in every man pass.
ed. had gone through two cars and
come to the third when l espied
man sitting by himself. his head rest
ing ON the back Of the seat and his
derby hat pulled down over his eyes.
In couldn't see the color Of his hair. but
his mustache had a reddish hue. and
he wore a shirt with blue stripe and
white collar. l passed on to see If
there was any one else on the train
that tailed with the description; but.
finding no one, I went back and took
vacant seat behind the man l had
observed.
OF course l didn't pounce upon him.
Why should I? was not sure he was
my man, and 1 had ample time to
watch him. If he left the train
would leave 1t. waited for the con-
ductor to come along in order to dis
cover to what point my quarry held
ticket. The conductor made progress
very slowly. ind We were we'll out OF
the city before he reached our car.
At this time my man was apparent
ly asleep. his head up against the open
window. The conductor occasionally
called Tickets" but the fellow did
not move. When the conductor reach.
ed him he gave him one Of those pokes
with which conductors arouse sleepers
or pretended sleepers. and the man
started up so suddenly that hts hat
struck the window sash and fell out
side. The owner looked up at the con-
ductor dazed, then put his head out
through the window to look for his hat.
then withdrew it and said:
"What did you do that for"
"Do whatY
wake me up so sudden"
/ "Eor YOUR ticket"
"Its gone out the window. It was
In my hat"
"That won't do" said the conductor.
IF It had been in your hatband l
would have seen It. I've had that
racket played on me before. I want
your ticket"
81 tell you 1t was In my hat. I've
lot only lost the ticket. but three dol
lar hat"
"Pay your fare or I'll put you off,"
"Well. you'll have to put me of. for
] have no money"
BY this time I hnd seen through the
mans game ind had placed an inter
probation on 1t to which the conduc-
tor was oblivious. 1t was shrewd
plan. desperate plan. but l confess
admired 1t. An idea flashed through
my brain. ! did not wish the conduc-
tor to put the fellow off between sta
lions. for intended to get of with
him. and II did so in open country
he would know was after him. l
leckoned to the conductor. who came
| II to where was sitting.
"I'll pay the mans fare to the next