The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-09-13
An Amateur
Detective
He Found No Clew, but
Had Good Luck.
By AMBROSE HALL

Being directed by the chief Of the de-
tective bureau with which | was con.
nected TO report TO Oliver Ainsworth "a
investigate a case for him, did so,
and this was Mr.. Ainsworth's state.
ment
Il 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 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 100 worth of proper
ty has been taken wish you TO come
into my house for long enough stay
TO discover the thief Your chief has
recommended you as person who
would not be likely to be taken for a
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 Oh the mandolin. and yOu can
give her lessons. ] 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
IN 4 on your feet again,
'rc l... nth in the latter part OF
his sat pcn.. had recently come
ffo.A EH"md to seek my fortune in
America Ike others of my countrymen
who are ready to do abroad what they
would be too proud to do at home. !
tried music, for which ! 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. !
think my chief recommendation was
that, being a gentleman. ] could play
parts that would be impossible for an
unpublished man,
This assignment with Mr. Ainsworth
was my first in my new business, and
l knew nothing about how to trap a
thief Persons who are ignorant OIL
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 l stopped him, say
ing that l 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-
which, as l have said, was in
The main true, brought very sympa-
hectic reception from Miss Edith Aims
worth, and the fact that l was to teach
her music foreshadowed that ! would
pass season In clover. Under the In
1nence Of her beautiful eyes | felt that
could be thief hunter for the rest
If my days. commenced the music
essons at once and was supposed to
inter upon my Investigations at the
anne time. Alas, l knew not where to
,egin! That part Of my work which
consisted in leading the family to think
hat | was the unfortunate son OF a
lear friend Of its head l performed
With great ease since it was natural
O me. I was first cousin to an earl,
nd my father, having been born to
he courtesy title Of honorable, had
ever done n stroke of work in his life
xcept garrison work, for he had been
olonel Of a regiment in the British
rmy.
| spent q fortnight as a member OF
1r. Ainsworth's family. and since ]
ad not secured the slightest elew to
he thief ! felt it necessary to put on
II the appearance Of pursuing deep
aid plan of which | was capable. Mr.
.insworth refrained from questioning ,
re. which was lucky. Indeed, so en-
rossed was | with my lovely pupil
nat had dozen clews been under 1ly
ose would not have detected one OF !
hem. wondered that he did not .
office how matters were going be !
ween me and Edith, but II there is }
ne thing | observed in my career of
elective ii is the stupidity Of parents
failing TO notice the incipient love :
fairs of their children. !,
After spending nearly three weeks :
retending to be following deep laid :
an Of investigation began to be not ="
lily conscience stricken, but fearful
lat the humbug ! was practicing =
ould be discovered To add to my y
orry began to realize that the farce =
,uld not last forever and must soon
, separated from Edith. MY cup Of
isery was filing up rapidly when luck y
me TO me. hit upon clew u
Lying awake at night when all was IL
III, Ncard the distant sound Of ;,
lime wondered that | had never "
.ard II before, but II was so faint -"
at | would be likely 10 detect IL II
Nv under the most favorable circTm-