Year: 1864

| expense OF Tue clty, DuC OF my numDlt
servant. While the chicken was broilinl
we talked over matters, and came to the
conclusion that as | had not been in Buffa
10 before for more than year, somebody
had who looked wonderfully like me anc
a thousand dollars was offered to any one
who would produce him-which reward
Deputy Crane almost felt in his pocket
when be nabbcd me at the station.
| After breakfast we walked down to the
store of Smith, Jones g. Co., and talked
over the affair." Jones apologized, and
said he supposed they "must have made
a mistake in the man, which perhaps was
not strange, seeing our attent5i was not
called to you particularly at the time and
several months had interviewed mistakes
will happen in very good families, how.
eve..."


Having d livcred himself of his doubt.
ful admission of my honesty, and entirely
original joke, Mr.. Jones retired into the
counting room looking very unconvinccd
and the clerks, as if by common instinct,
began to put back all the loose goods on
| the counter, as if they feared | would
grab them on my way cut of the store.
Crane, | think, was thoroughly con.
vincsd, before l hade him goodbye at the
depot, that, SO far as l was concerned, it
was all right; but persisted that it was a
! very natural mistake-begged my pardon,
and hoped would see him on my return.


Eor month or more, while among my
friends in Vermont, thought little OF
the occurrence. 1t is true, the thousand
dollar reward would occasionally come
| into my mind, but as | was not employed
in the case. the prospect of getting it was
exceedingly small. On my return, |
spent few days in New York, visiting
old acquaintanccs and making new ones,
mostly among the detective branch of the
police, as the line of business to which |
was devoted can best be learned by ming
ling with adopts.


One day, while passing down West
street, sou,e person slapped me on the
shoulder in familiar manner. saying at
the same time:


How are you. old fellow =? When
did you get back ? Wasn't going to
speak to fellow, cause you got new
sui. ? Made the thing pay, eh 2"


Quick as thought, the Buffalo adven-
ture came into my mind, and [ resolved
at once to fellow up the advantage.


NUNS the word,' said 1, clapping
my finger to my lips at the same time to
| indicate that mum rss the word, but
also to more effectually to change my
voice.


Come in. joe said my acquaintance
pointing down the stairs into drinking
saloon. Z" Nobody there but Bill and
the boy. We've had some fine pickings
since YOU left. Didn't expect you back
till tomorrow /; but come in and get a
drink, and away"


Clipping my lips again, blurtcd out


3" Business but I'll be round to NOR
row. Have all the boys in at four"


So saying, dashed on as though had
thousand stores to rob and several men
to murder before could stop to talk
My friend in utter amazement was still
standing where l left him when | turned
the corner, thinking no doubt it was very
strange, but apparahtly having no sus
picion of identity.


was certain as l went so my hote
that | had got hold of string which
followed up, might lead to at least ;
thousand dollars, and may be muct
valuable property and still greater re
wards. As the key to the situation wa
evidently my resemblance to some ras
cal, l thought it right as | had all thu
benefit that was to come of it, or at leas
the lions share, so resolved to keep m,
own counsel, and make up the case a
best could in my own room.


] Joe was coming back on the next day
Bill (my new aequaintancc) and the boy
had been having good pickings. and they
would probably be there tomorrow a
four, if the real Joe did not come rount
before and clear up or add to, the myster.
of the day.


Joe evidently must be headed off, or tn
other pigeons Would scatter before the,
could be bagged. 1t was my main in
terest, having no local responsibility il
the matter, to bag the thousand dollar
and Joe. But as the street had two end
to it, the bagging must not be done wher
it would frighten the other game, be
gan to see | must have help even in tn
outset. so sensibly concluded to lay thu
whole affair before tho chief, and hav
men enough detailed to ensure success
The case was plain that there seemed t
be put one plan, and in that we al
agreed, namely to make arrangement
that evening to have me stationed IN
grocery on the first corner OF the stree
from the saloon, with two or three as
sistants, and as many more placed in tn
corner drug store down the street SO
, to arrest Joe before he met his pals, am
by putting him in close carriage "
might take him off so quietly that nobod..
, would hear of it. A few men were Il
be stationed in a private house opposlt
, the saloon, to make descent if they say
. apy unnatural commotion about there be
fore the appointed hour. iiut otherHls'
all were to concentrate, when the hou
arrived and arrest whoever might b
present.


One hour before daylight VIC were i
, our places not to attract attention by goin
there afterwards. 1t was a long, drear.
) forenoon. We tancied VIC saw now an
then suspicious person passing; but NJ