The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-07-28

| of the ordinary recourses of the
w-abiding citizen. If your reput-
able merchant is robbed, he can
complain to the nearest authority,
and Immediately all Of socicty's
complicated legal machinery is set
to work in his behalf. But if
the thief is robbed, where may he
look for redress?
To prey upon thieves; that should
be my career. To wait until the
vulturc rose from the carrion and
then to take from him his tidbits;
that was my plan. l would work
alone, having neither confederates
nor confidants. a.
And now the sight of all this
wealth paradcd before me spurrcd
me to action. Crooks were fatten-
ing upon these parvcnus. Every day
the Paris papers told Of robberics.
The New York papers which re-
ceivcd regularly told Of the continu-
ance of the crime wave there. Every
where in the world thieves were ply
ing their trade. l had mapped out
my course Of action; good living
had restored by muscles and nerves
to their former vigcr; it was time
for me to go to work.
| walked across the Place de
POrera and entered steamship
agency. BY great fortune a room
and bath had been surrendered halt
an hour ago, and it was possible for
me to obtain it. SO | left there in
twenty minutes, the posscsscr OF
ticket which entitled me to sail
three days later for Chcrbourg on
the Altaria.
For of course it was necessary for
me to ply my trade in my own coun-
try. 1t is true that had smat-
tering of French, but l did not con-
verse easily in that language.
would be handicapped at the outset,
if | dealt with French criminals.
There was, it is true, certain
risk in returning to New York. My
first venture into theft had been at
the expense Of Daragon, the Fifth
Avenue jcwelcr. But it was not 4
certainty that paragon knew who
had robbed him. Moreover, looking
at myself in the gilt -bordered mirror
in my bedroom on the Rue Daunou.
seriously doubted if Daragon
would be able to recognize me. On
the evening that l had distracted
from his pocket the ring which had
brought me funds wherewith once
again to live like gentleman, my
hair had been long and unkept, my
cheeks sunkcn and CHASTITY white.
Now there were no hollows under
my eyes; my flesh was firm, and
nv skin was red with health. Then
had looked like a consumptlve;
now | looked like an athlete, l could
discount any fears of recognition
by the jeweler.
And there were just as many per
sons of ill-gotten wealth III New
York as there were in Paris. was
not narrowing my opportunities by
returning to Il country with when l
was familiar. Indeed, as l contem-
plated nv return. l wished that l
had never left New York. For now
that l planned activity, it did not
seem as feasible, as simple as II had
seemed when | was merely studying
the careers of masters OF crime.
suddenly wondered, as | sat in my
window, just when, where and how
would begin my operations.
For it is easy enough to speculate
idly, to ascertain the weaknesses
whereby others have failed, to sur
vey the future, to state that one Will
do this and avoid that but actuallty
differs from speculation. After all,
client must come to a lawyer before
the attorney can demonstrate that
other lawyers err in their handling
of cases, the patient must come to
the doctor before the physician can
prove his new theory of diagnosis;
and opportunity must come to me
before l could begin the practice OF
my new profession.
Up to now, living comfortably and
lazily, had not given much thought
to practice; l had devoted myself to
theory. But the sight of all the
wealth exhibited in the Place de
POpera this spring afternoon had
given a FLIP to ambition. ] had act
ed Immediately. But having acted
to the extent of purchasing trans
portation to New York, began to
wonder to what purpose.
Copyright, 1924, NEA Service, lnc.)