Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1914-07-10
SKELETON-CLAWB BOB
10 His Sorrow Burglar Thought
He Was Dealing With an
Amateur Detective
ey EDGAR WHITE

buddy" Dan Hughes. the young man
who helped me drill holes and load
coal, began cycling me coyertly and
seemed to be taking my measure. |
laughed and made light Of It, but II
was not long till l was on to what
was ailing him.
| slipped into his room at the board
ing house one night without taking
the trouble to knock. He was I'M
doubtedly startled, as he hastily began
gathering up some papers and things.
which he crowded into the drawer
of the little table beside him. Quick
as had been his movement, | was en-
abled to see the heading of one OF
the papers, American Detective
Journal" and when the boy observed
that had noticed it he blushed Ike
a girl and hung his head After that
ii didn't require very discerning
mind to guess that Dan had fallen a
victim to the widely circulated adyer-
tisement of Detectives wanted In
every locality: send five dollars for
description of parties wanted IN your
locality, for whom big rewards are Of
fered. and complete outfit, including
start. credentials, system of idenufea-
ton. etc. Write at once to Nick Car
ter Agency"
It wasn't very polite, but couldn't
help laughing uproariously, which
made Dams embarrassment all the
greater. After awhile he decided to
make a clean breast of II, but pledged
me on my solemn word of honor not
to tell what an easy fish he had been
He showed me his great tin star, bear
ing In prominent letters the legend:
Special Detective Officer North
American Private Police Association;
a slung shot, brightlooking but
unservieeable revolver. a fierce set OF
false whiskers, brass knuckles and
dark lantern.
And this callow youth expected to
trap professional burglars and high
waymen with an outfit like that!
AS he went on showing the ludi-
crous things he became more conf
dental and finally pulled out his de-
tective Journal and pointed to the pic
ture of man who was wanted in
Montreal for unloading jewelry safe
of something like $4,000 worth of dia-
monds and trinkets. Felix Canover,
alias Skeleton Claw Bob" was given
the honor of dark suspicion, but
the advertisement candidly admitted
the authorities we're in doubt.
And at first | was fool enough TO
think it was you. Jack the duped
boy said, IN apologetic tones; Il don't
know why, unless it was because your
fingers are long and slender like a
woman's.'
! smiled at the compliment and pat
ted him friendly on the shoulder.
MY boy" | said. even If you did
locate Felix, OF 'Skeleton-Claw Bob.
as they picturesquely describe him. 1t
wouldn't be worth cent to you. They
only have suspicion that he's the
man; you would have to prove he did
the job to get your reward. which, |
fancy, would be somewhat difficult.
because, If he had sense enough TO
break into that safe. he would know
too much to carry discriminating evil
dence about with him.
Dan mournfully admitted the truth
of the observation, and then sud
denly rising. he grabbed UP his detec-
tive papers and paraphernalia, and be-
fore could stay him, thrust the
whole mass into the stove.
That ends my career as a detec-
tive he said. decidedly; please
don't tell the boys. Jack"
OF course | promised and we light
ed our pipes and sat down to a game
of California Jack"
After the little episode Dan seemed
to trust me more than ever, and we
became even better chums than be-
fore.
Dan was very much enamored of
the blonde young woman who served
us at meal time. and was her dutiful
cavalier whenever she wanted to go
anywhere after the dishes were
washed. One evening in the early
summer | involuntarily heard con-
versation between her and Dan on
the veranda- Dan seemed to be beg
ging her to make date with him to
the theater the next evening. when
this came to my startled ears:
You know | would go, Dannie," she
said in gentlest tones, but | have
promised Mr.. Richards"
AS Richards was no one but my
self, you can't blame me for being
a little interested. And hadn't
spoken a word to the girl, But now
common gallantry would force me to
do something walked over to the
glass, stroked my mustache a little
and smoothed my hair.
All right. Katie the boy was
saying. IF It's old Jack. don't care,
but I'd hate to be thrown down for
anyone else"
heard Dams footsteps as he moved
out OF the yard on the way to town.
and surmised that Katie must be
alone. The girl looked charming out
there in the moonlight, with the ssl-
yer rays glinting on her fluffy golden