Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1922-03-22
True
Detective Stories.
ALL EVIDENCE

I/V -. "10As ue0U VI Tic V1O6SCU@
1VlA ton department Of the National
Association Of Credit Men,
leaned back in his chair and placed
the tips of the fingers of his left hand
precisely against the tips Of the fin
gers Of his right, habit that was sec
ond-nature to him during the consid-
GRAFTON Of difficult problem.
"Why on earth, Edwards, didn't you
come to me with this story before?
It's too late to help you now. Your
stocks gone, your credit ruined, and
they've MIXED you dry. A word to
the association in time would have
saved you money and us time.''
Il didn't dare to come out In the
open," groaned the man on the 9TH
er side Of the desk. "They had the
goods on me, too, remember. did
hire a private detective agency,
| but =,
private detectives ~ snorted West.
Detectives of any kind are practical
ly useless in cases connected with COM
mercial crimes. 'There's nothing that
can be done in this case, but there is
a way In which you can assist the law,
land the men who fleeced you, and pos
sibly make grubstake for yourself.
Listen ~.
| Less than six months later, Abe Elm.
stein, who called himself a 'credit
manager" wandered into the Office Of
Henry w. Easton, lawyer, and after
| $ha% oil t1,n
fully closed, inquired If Easton re-
membered Edwards, the shoe dealer,
whom they had nicked some time be-
fore. -
"The names familiar" replied the
lawyer, "but I don't recall the de-
tails" d.;
"Oh, It was the same old game -
grunted Einstein. II got him to come
up and talk to you-you suggested
that he ship the bulk of his stock out
Of town to me-Td sell it. and we'd
split with him after the usual fees
had been deducted"
II remember now. Then, when he
came back here and timidly asked fol
his part of the rake-Off, told him he
was lucky not to be in Jail for VIC:
lating six or eight different. statutes
Our fees as I carefully explained :td
him. more than ate up the proceeds
of his stock at forced sale, and he
really owed us money! You should
have seen his face then. But what's
the trouble? Has he made peep ia
the police? J.
mo, nothing like that Einstein re-
piled. "But happened to be pass
Ing through Wilkesbarre the other day
and who should run into but Ed
wards. Prosperous, too. I knew him
In minute, and wondered where he'd
gotten his money. Followed him dowr
the street Always, and found that .he'd
opened another store. Flashy, but
good-looking. Somebody's evidently
staked him.. and he's trying his luck
but-and here's the part that concerns
us-he's nearly on the rocks again =
''What? On the verge Of bank
ruptcy?" =: :
Exactly; only this time he evident
" intends to work the game all hil
own. You can't blame him for that
after he's been burned once"
But. protested Easton, "he can,
handle it by himself! -
"That's what figured" said Elm
stein. ".But, naturally, didn't put tn.
matter up to him. Things have beer
pretty dull around here for q while
Why don't you run up and see Ed
wards? Admit that we didn't do a.
we'll for him the first time as we Nigh
have, and make him guarantee o.
s., 500 on 1890 split.
"Right!" snapped the lawyer. I'll
take run up there tomorrow"
The following afternoon, in the pri
vate office of his store, Edwards ant
Easton thrashed out the details O
their former arrangement the lawyel
stating that he had come to pay owe
5000, (which had been unexpectedl,
saved from the wreck
incidentally" he added. II under
, stand that you won't be here mucl
longer: Going to try the same game
,yourself?' . ..- ..s .
Possibly" replied the shoe dealer
J "Why not?'' 81.
''You can't do it without an organi
zation," insisted the lawyer. "YQ,
need US, and we need you.
Then, while Edwards nervousl.
played with some papers on his desk
Easton outlined his plan-how tn,
goods were to be shipped, how Elm
stein would handle them, and the s.,
500 guarantee which would be PAL,
the shoe dealer for his part in til,
fraudulent bankruptcy proceedings! :.
: Terms were finally agreed up, ant
the whole court proceedings went for
ward without hitch.
The day after he had been declared
bankrupt, Edwards accompanied East
on to the bank, and there received th,
/ $500 which had been promised him
AS the lawyer minded him over tn,
money, he heard 4 voice behind hin
say:
Nab him, boys y
. Turning. he came face to face with /
rather small, pleasant-faced man %
, about dfty--the man who was tn,
| | terror Of commercial criminals