The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-12-27
A Detective
Episode
By ANDREW CUMMINGS

OF q CctecLlFo bureau, L pcfSudueu llllu
to give me trial lie said lie would
as soon as ne had IL simple case, for
since was not experienced he would
not trust me with difficult one.
In due time he called me to his Office
and said to me:
Il have a letter from woman this
morning TO say that Jim Harker, a
crook we have been looking for, is to
leave the city by certain train to-
morrow. We have him corraled, but
he is going to make an attempt to
break through. The reason given by
the informer is that he is going In COM
pany with another woman, who is her
rival. Such communications may be
sincere or they may be tricks to cover
retreat. l can give you man to as
sist you If you like"
1t occurred to me that if were sue.
cessful my assistant would claim the
credit, and if l failed he would point
out wherein had been mistaken. /
preferred to choose my own helper and
took with me Frank Walker, chum of
remarkable for its ingenuity. He
would have been glad of an opportu-
nifty to show that he could do as well
in real detective work as in fiction had
he not considered the case beneath his
ability. e.
I had been shown a photograph Of
Harker on file in the rogues' gallery
and noted his features carefully, fixing
them in my mind. Consequently had
no difficulty in recognizing him when
saw him in the station in company
with a fashily dressed woman, who
betrayed her anxiety for him constant
ly, despite her efforts to conceal it.
Walker from the start manifested a
disposition to take the most important
part of the work into his keeping, leav
ing the unimportant part to me.
II think we had better divide the
watch between U.s." he said. "They
are liable to separate, and we should
have it arranged which one you will
shadow. I'll take the man. if you like.
and you take the woman"
I suggested that we had better ar
rest them both at once, but Walker
seemed DESTROYS to make something
dramatic Of it and demonstrated, urg-
ing that we must first get them where
they could not get away. / yielded to
him, and when the fugitives entered
the car we got in too.
II don't understand, Frank" said.
why the crook Is leaving town with
out Disgusting himself. He is an ex
act duplicate of his picture"
That's what spoils the job" was
Walkers reply; 'it's altogether too
dead easy"
A woman sat in seat on the other
side of the aisle from US who seemed
to be interested in us. I whispered to
Frank caution not to appear to be
watching our quarry, for I suspected
this person Of having noticed us doing
so. Presently Frank went to the end
of the car for drink of water. and
while he was gone the woman OPP
posite came to me and said in a low
tone:
Reckon you're on to Jim Harker
I'm the party that gave the informa
ton on the bloke. Don't try to take
him unless you're armed and get him
where he can't shoot. He's a desper.
ate man. The woman with him i;
wanted, too, but if you get him you'll
do well. Don't try to do too much"
By the time Walker returned to his
seat the women had returned to hers.
AS we approached a town Of impor-
tahce just before we pulled into the
station the woman with Harker got
up and went to the saloon, which was
at the rear of the car. A moment later
Harker bolted to the front car door.
Frank dashed after him, and 1 started
to 60 in the other direction to the sa-
loon when the woman who had given
us the information got in my way.
where are you going?" she cried
excitedly. "Don't you see that your
man has gone out by the forward
door,"
LET me pass" I said angrily. "My
friend is going after him. I'm to get
the woman"
"See here" she retorted, bristling.
i've put you on to this thing, and /
don't propose to have it spoiled by
your stupidity. I tell you Jim Harker
has gone in the other direction"
She kept me as long as she could,
then let me go by. When l got to the
saloon found it empty. The woman
had gone out by the rear door. I went
on to the platform, but there were so
many persons moving hither and filth,
er that could not distinguish her
among them.
There seemed nothing for me to do
but wait for Walkers return. Within
half an hour he came In with his
quarry. Frank had armed himself with
a revolver, deputy sheriff's badge and
a pair of bracelets, the latter articles
being now on his prisoners wrists.
Il got him." said Frank. evidently
very proud of himself.
I'm glad you didn't get killed on the
job" replied. milne was too smart
for me-"
We took the crook back with IS 10 a
police station.
What are you givin' us?" exclaimed
the sergeant. '"That fellow is made
up"
He was not only made up. but he
turned out to be woman. Harker, in I
female togs, had escaped through the
rear door of the car.
hereafter you had better stick to writ