Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1891 — WORKED THE DETECTIVE. [ARTICLE]

WORKED THE DETECTIVE.

Bupaotor Byrnes’ Pocket Neatly Relieved of a Gold Wateh. Very few people would believe Inspector Byrnes had ever been ‘ *workftd bvpiokpockete,” says the New York wortd, but such is »the oase, and what Is more, he lost his fine gold ehronometer for a little while. It was just after the big street railway tie-up had been successfully ended, and New York’s own Vidocq was enjoying a little recreation with the newspaper reporters who cover police headquarters and chronicle its daily happenings. Pickpockets and the part they had taken in working the big crowds which were congregated tc witness the fights between the strikers and the police were the subject under discussing. “Tell me, inspector, w said one of thf young men, with an innocent, insinuating smile, as he sidled close up to the inspector, * *isn’t it a very easy matter to spot these gentry whenever you meet themP” Lazily flourishing his partly consumed Perfecto In the direotion of so much reportorial ignorance, and transfixing him with a withering glance, the inspector said: “You just bet it ain’t, young fellow. Why, they’re the slickest ducks out •f jail, and there isn’t any way to spot ’em till you catch ’em right in the aot. There’s nobody too slick to be caught napping, either. Take my advice, Sntlemen, and keep a close lookout : your watch and money when you strike a crowd, whether at ohuroh, at theater, on race or elevated platform.”

“Y ou don’t mean to say you would be afraid of losing your watch in a crowd do you!” said the young man, as he edged up a little closer to the inspector. “Well, I wouldn’t be too sure ol that,” he replied. At this the innocent young man seemed satisfied and started to go, but t significant smile passed over the faces of one or two of the other reporters. The inspector suspected that something was up and ran his hand into his vest pocket. His fine gold chronometer was gone, and nothing but ohain and ring was left II had been “rung.” The boys had their laugh on thq inspector, who gave them something more substantial to smile over, and none of them thought It worth while Id jmte the storv, but it is true, every word of it And the ropfter whs picked his pocket is one «f hit best friends.