Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1914-11-18
A LOST
HAT
1T Was knocked Out of a
Car Window
By DWIGHT NORWOOD


When 1 was attached to a detective
bureau in Albany, N. Y, there was a
ring at the telephone one morning, and
: the chief, being busy. asked me to re-
ply to it.
'sMy name is Ormsby," came over
the wire, 81. L. Ormsby of No. -
Walnut street A man called here this
morning ostensibly from the city wa
ter department to examine the plumb,
ing for leakage. Last night my wife
was at a function and wore a valuable
pearl necklace. She laid it on her
dresser when she came in, and it had
not 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?"
1 repeated what he had said to my
chief, who took up the phone and ask
ed for a description of the man. It
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 a thief with
such a valuable haul would be likely
to try to get out Of the city with it.
and | was not surprised when reply
came from the Union station that a
man who tailed with the description
given was there and had bought
ticket for Utica. l asked how long be-
fore the next train left. The reply was
that no train would leave for twenty
minutes. l jumped into an automobil~
and ordered the chauffeur to take me,
regardless of the speed law, to the sta
ftion We were chased by policeman
on motorcycle; who called to me to
stop. ! cc c;..,. not make him hear me
and ordered the chauffeur to slow up
Tor m me-. The cop came up, and
/ 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
and walked back apparently careless,
but really taking in every man pass
ed I had gone through two cars and
come to the third when I espied a
man sitting by himself, his head rest
ing on the back of the seat and his
derby hat pulled down over. his eyes.
I couldn't see the color of his hair but
his mustache had 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, [ went back and took
q vacant scot behind the man l had
observed.
- course 1 didn't pOunce upon him.
Why should I? I was not sure he was
my man. and I had ample time to
watch him. If he left the train
would leave it. l waited for the con
ductor to come along in order to dis
cover to what point my quarry held d
ticket ticket The conductor made progress
very slowly, and we were well out Of
the city before he reached our car.
At this time my man was apparent
~ 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 his 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 what?'
wake me up so sudden"
For your ticket"
'Tt's gone out the window. 1t wa
in my hat"
''That won't do said the conductor
eff it had been in your hatband
would have seen it. I've had tina
racket played on me before. I wan
your ticket"
II tell you it was in my hat. Pv
not only lost the ticket. but three do
lar hat"
"Pay your fare or I'll put you off,
"Well. you'll have to put me off, fc
have no money"
By this time had seen through th
mans game and had placed an int
probation on it to which the condu
tor was obivious. 1t was a shrew
plan, desperate plan, but l confess
admired it. An idea flashed throug
my BRAIN / did not wish the cohdu
tor to put the fellow off between st
tons, for / intended to get off wit
him, and if I did so in open countl
he would know | was after him.
beckoned to the conductor, who can
Z