Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-02-20
HARD LUCK OF
BANNISTER
y
By WALTER A. FROST
tCopyriSht.)

was short. II lasted only from Chi
cage I" Port Huron. and yet IN that
time he told me not only his real
name. his alias" AND his occupation.
but also tho very hard luck eXperi-
ence which shall set before you.
The cause OF our becomin. acquaint-
ed was acci,lcntal-the tlinins-cLr was
crowded and the steward put us at the
same table. As I seated myself no.
ticcd little man at the other side
Of the tnble, but paid no attention
TO him until he looked harrl at me,
and in q low voice asked:
What line do you carry"
II beg your parlon?' asked
What line do you carry"
There WAS I'D escape. Law books"
1 answered. 81 am lawyer"
He smiled and held out fat hand.
1--WE are in about the same profession.
lam detective"
Yes" I replied. for I felt desire
to know more of man who could see
any resemblance between n lawyer and
detective. I'VE are, 1t Nigh, be said.
slightly related"
We'll when you have practiccd
longer YOU will understand what I
mean when Sdy that We arc in about
the same line"
He smiled, and between orders to
the waiter told me his story.
Yes. when YOU have practiced long
CT you will understand what mean.
You lawyers have 10 use us at every
step you tnkc; you can't get on with
out us. \ witness goes back on you
and gets lost, md the first thing you
do is to call one of us in to look up
your man for you. Lawyers. doctors,
business men and bankers, you all
give us lot of work
speaking of bankers, I'm down on
all OF 'em. for 1t was while doing some
work for banker that I had the hard
est piece of luck I ever struck. and
just when everything was going love
~, too.
ut was this way! The chief called
me in one afternoon. and said he:
Jim. I want you to 20 down TO FL
lertoIt and sec Stevens. the banker.
there. and he's afraid some OF it may
come his way.
Hell give you the facts, and then
20 TO work. The gang that's suspect
ed is something like the FiSkc outfit
you gathered in ut Oshkosh last fall
'"Thr next morning I was in Stcv-
ems private office. and it was dandy.
But never mind that.
THE next morning. after seeing old
Stevens, dropped into q saloon where
I'd seen some young fellows ~. and
found six or eight boys having Il quiet
and went out.
Next morning I cropped I'm again.
The bar-keep recognized me and snid.
Good morning. Good morning. says
!. and got my drink and cigar and
went out without saying anything
more. kept Oh dropping in and some
of the chaps began 10 notice me, but
might be somewhere or the right
track. so I "ent In steady.
"Aftcr I'd been in town for about
week one OF the young fellows asked
me at the saloon one evening wial |
was selling.
"'I'm buying said L
"'Buying WHAT
Land And then he introduced
me to the rest OF the bunch who were
ut the table playing. They asked Inc
TO come in, and I did. They couldn't
play much. I saw. but lot them win n
couple of dollars, and then ! cleared
ont.
"a few days after that when / went
init was one afternoon, about half
past four--I found some Of the gang
there. Then knew they wasn't work
ing, for if they had been they couldn't
hive hecn there then.
"Well. was pretty sure they WAS
the boys l was looking for, and so.
wanting to see What they'd rise TO.
managed 10 drop a set Of skeleton
keys on the floor when l was inst go.
ing to pay for the drinks. | bent down
quick and picked en- up and showed
'em into my pocket, but l saw they
was on. for IN n few minutes one Of
the bunch came over TO me and says
,"'Scc here. Mr.. jerks trd told EN-
my name was Jrnks), you might as
well tell us little more about your.
self. We know you're not down here
TO look up land, and It's our opinion
YOU may he after something that be
gins with ~
dough was what bc meant. T;nt