Year: 1870

did he come in ?"


ooh yes, he came in had just opened the
door, and was sweeping the floor, 50 ne walk
cd straight up to me, and...."


'Did his friend come in, too I"


''Tm not quite sure ofthat but think they
must have, as it was raining and they
wouldn't stand out in the wet"


s'Should YOU know them again, it you saw
them ?''


II should know two of them-the one who
spoke to me. and another, who had a carpet
bag in his hand lie walked little lame"


"That'll do, porter, you need not say any
thing outside, but Pm afraid we have not
learned much.n


''All right, sir"


As soon as he had gone, the detective turn
ed to Mr.. johnson and said: 'You will soon
get your property back. expect, sir. Those
three men are sneak thieves, and if they are
the same | believe them to be, think know
them. They always pursue the same plan.
First of all they discover from confederate,
generally a female, the place where the best
booty is to be most easily obtained. They
then rise early in the morning, and wait out
side until the porter opens the do0r, taking
great care that no one is observing them.
One then enters, and addresses the porter,
telling him some such tale as this fellow told
yours, and while he is talking the other two
adroitly slip whatever they can into a bag
which they have with them, and decamp as
soon as it is filled. They are always well
dressed, and would appear to be thorough
gentlemen to those conversant with their
tricks, and mention that they have Just come
up from the country, in order to account for
their being about so early in the morning.
You will hardly believe it, perhaps; but
thieves carry about with them external marks
of their profession, which to detective officer
are unmistakable. For instance they have a
peculiar walk and movement of the arms !;
they are generally ungloved, and carry moth
ing in their hands, while they are continually
glancing on one side or the other, to see if
they are being watched. l would guaranty
to pick thief out from among one hundred
honest men, let his general appearance be
what it may.


DEFECTIVE WORK


The detective then took his departure,
promising to communicate again with Mr..
johnson SO soon as he had anything of inn
portance to tell him, and proceeded to head
quarters to report. He had observed three
young men frequently walking about togcth-
er, and from their general appearance had
some sort or other, although he knew moth





sistibly reminded Of the trio by the robbery
in Broadway; and the description given by
the porter of the man who conversed with
him coincided remarkably with one of them
who had attracted his especial notice. He
determined therefore to keep sharp lookout
| and trace them home, shouldhe again run up
against them.


| Mr.. johnson, meanwhile, after attending
| to several matters of business, started to 90
up town, and on the way met young Vaughan,
who seemed strangely excited at the encoun
ter. He turned, however, at Mr.. Johnsons
request, and listened attentively to his ac-
count OF the robbery, expressing the hope
that the perpetrators would soon be brought
| to Justice. He did not seem very well pleas
ed nnvertheless. when he heard that the de-
tective conceived that he already had clue,
and was unable to conceal his agitation when
his companion remarked in q whisper: s'Do
you see that man? he is the officer whom
have engaged; it is singular that we should
meet him.


Vaughan suddenly remembered that he
had forgotten n commission entrusted to him
! by his sister and hastily bidding Mr.. John
son "Good-by' hurried otfin an opposite di-
rcctlon The detective Immediately came up
and asked his employer who the gentleman
was who had Just left him; and, on hearing Q
|
long, low whistle expressive OF the most in
tense surprise.


"Where does he live. Sir? Pm sure have
seen his face somewhere


! ''At No. - Fourth street. Why do you
ask ?"


80, simple curiosity; it's way we have, ~
and he. too, left the puzzled merchant.


The latter slowly continued his journey,
and racked his brain in vain to eucidate the
mystery OF Vaughan's sudden departure, but
it never occurred to him to attribute it to the
coming in sight of the detective AS he was
in good time, and was obliged to pass Fourth
street on his way. he made up his mind to
call upon Mrs. Wilson, and, if he found her
brother there, to ask him the cause, fearing
that he had offended him. The widow was
sitting in her drawing room, and displayed q
great deal of pleasure at seeing her visitor,
and sympathized most heartily with him
when he narrated his loss to her She asked
him great many questions as to the opinion
OF the detective, and was hardly less confused
than her brother had been, when Mr.. John
son alluded to the probability of a speedy
capture of the offenders, and added that his
porter could swear to one at least of the
gang. Mrs. Wilson at this iuncture became 80
alarmingly pale, that he feared she was about
to faint, and sprang upto open the window
and admit the fresh air. AS he rose from his
chair the door was violently opened, and
Vaughan burst iuto the room, his clothes dis
ordered, his face heated, and his whole as
pcct denoting great anxiety. Seeing Mr.
johnson, he hesitated, and a look of intell-
igence and alarm was exchanged between
himself and Mrs. Wilson. He then, by a
great effort, partially recovered his compos-
ure, apologized for the mode of his entrance,
and said that he had expected to see his sis
ter alone, and had something of Importance
to say to her. The merchant Immediately
prepared to leave, and had exchanged fare
wells with the widow, when the door again
opened, and, to his amazement, his ware
house porter entered with letter in his
hand, and gave it to him without saying a
word. After obtaining leave from the lady
Vaughan had moved to the window, and
was looking out, with his back to the rest
broke the seal and read the following in pen
Gil: ''Don't leave the room till I come !"
written upon a card bearing the detectives
name Though he could not for the life of
him guess at the meaning of the above. be
determined to do as he was bidden, if posi-
BILE, and contented himself with nodding to
his porter, and saying, Tell the gentleman
to be quick, then"


The porter vanished and Mr. johnson, al
| though feeling acutely the aWkWardness of