Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-02-04
True
Detective Stories
BY PERSONS
UNKNOWN
Copyright by The Wheeler syndieshe. Inc


KIT is absolutely essential" said
the secretary of treasury. glanc-
ing across his desk al the short,
uddy-compleXioned. rather stout man
who sat opposite him. that the per-
sons responsible for these lynchings
nj Versailles be arrested. tried and
convicted | don't think II Is over
stating the matter TO say that this
case is more important than any
counterfelting plot or smuggling
scheme which the department has ever
worked on. for the governor Of In
diana has applied 10 the federal gov
eminent for troops 10 handle the up
rising which threatens TO sweep over
that part Of the country and the en-
tire state is taking sides In the mat
ter.
Naturally we do not wish to send
troops to Versailles unless II Is ab-
solutely necessary II would only
lead to additional bloodshed and dis
order. What we need Is someone
investigate the case from every pos
sible angle and make report as TO
the persons responsible for the lynch
ings. That's why sent for you"
: The man on the other side Of the
desk smiled and tapped thoughtfully
with the forefinger Of n hand which
indicated strength and determination
OF character.
"Of course" continued the score
tary. 81 must warn you that the case
is one that is apt 10 prove dangerous.
More so, in fact. than anything you
have ever attempted. Compared TO
II. the roundup of gang of moon
sinners Is childs play-for here you
will have to work entirely in the dark,
one man against practically an entire
state A single slip would mean your
death. and would force the govern
ment TO take steps which might lead
to protracted bloodshed."
an which case" replied the other,
1T would be well for me 10 get out
TO Versailles as soon as I can. The
longer we wait the less chance there
Is of success. Don't make any at
tempt 10 hear from me or TO locate me
for AZ least q month. II. al the end
Of that time. you haven't received
some kind Of report. you will know
that they've got me. But somehow,
I've got hunch that they won't"
II was two days later that the train
which stopped at Versailles, Ind,
halted just long enough 10 permit n
single passenger to alieht--a man
who was short and rather plump and
with n r1lddy complexion. n man who
registered nj the local hotel as James
VI. Beck" and who allowed II 10 be-
come known that he was an insur-
ance agent. representing one Of the
beSf-known companies In the country.
But Versailles a. Beck soon discov-
cred. was poor field for life insur-
ance nj that time There was only
one topic of conversation in which
Tho natives were Interested the lynch
ing Of the FIVE prisoners who had
been taken from jail and murdered by
an Infatuated mob This coupled with
open threats of defiance against the
governors edict that the guilty men
must be punished kept the town In a
continual state Of Slmmering. Seethlng
unreSi-punciuated by frequent state
ments that any state or government
official who tried 10 find out the names
Of the men implicated in the lynchinv
would he shot on sight
Beck apparently wasn't In the least
interested IN the local turmoil. He
had been sent TO Versailles 10 sell In
surance. and he was determined 10
sell II. no matter how many people
he had 10 interview. The fact that
he was stranger led. Of course. 10
immediate suspicion of his motives.
and some two weeks passed before he
was able ~ allay this.
About the end Of the third week
matters were brought 10 head by
reason of wire which Beck sent 10
New York dispatch which was In
code and which caused the operator
"a spread the report that the "life
insurance agent" was n detective In
disguise. Getting wind Of this and
realizing thar he must TAKE some rad
ical step 10 offsei suspicion Beck ap-
preached the man who appeared To he
the leader 81 the irouhle-faction. The
agent explained 10 him that he was
getting tired Of the quarters NJ the
hotel. and wondered II II would he
possible 10 secure lodgings in some
private house where he would he a
little more comfortable
Certainly" said the native. 81
reckon we can put you M all right"
And he smiled az The thought ~ this
man whom he suspected placing him
self entirely In his power That how
ever. was precisely what Beck wished
and IL only took n couple Of days of
clever acting 10 convince the local
leader that he was only what he APP
peared 10 he-a slow. Flooding and
conscientious insurance agent. II was
in tn. house NJ the mes; dangerous