Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 January 1915 — EASY FOR THE DETECTIVE [ARTICLE]

EASY FOR THE DETECTIVE

Knowledge of Human Nature and a - Little Reasoning Led Him to the Truth. j Conspicuous on the end of the counter In the-little cigar shop was a brand new, highly ornate cigar lighter made of heavy bronze. It was the type which has a wire rod sheathed in a phial of alcohol, from which the rod la drawn to be dipped in a Jet of fire. So proud waa the cigarmaker of the new fixture that he pointed it out to every customer with special courtesy. While thus engaged one evening cently he was’ horrified to discover that the wire rod with its beautiful bronze handle was missing. "It was here a moment since,” h* declared to a man who waa waiting for a light. “Where can it be?*’ "Easy question to answer," smiled the customer. "That little rod is out there on the pavement just outside the door. I have not seen it, hat I know It is there." "Sure enough, It is there,” exclaimed the cigarmaker, rushing to recover his property. "How did you know that?” "In my business, which happens to be that of a professional detective," exclaimed the customer, ‘1 find that a knowledge of the human inclination to do. many trifling things unconsciously la of value. In the present case force of habit caused your last customer to throw away the cigar lighter after using it precisely as if It were a match. He did it without thinking. He threw the rod either to the right or left, after lighting his cigar, according to the hand he had used. "Now, the rod was not on the floor to his left, for I looked carefully when yeu spoke. Consequently it had to be on the pavement, as the cigar lighter stands Just next to the open door. “Here is my card. If ever you need a detective let me know.”