Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 May 1880 — WHY I JOINED THE DETECTIVES. [ARTICLE]

WHY I JOINED THE DETECTIVES.

“Can I sit with you?" “Certainly, sir." “Nice weather?” “Splendid, indeed.” •Crops growing finely F» . “Yes—couldn’t do better.” I was sitting in a car m a Wisconsin railroad, one day, years ago, when a guodlooking, pleaaanLapoken man came along, slopped at my seat, and the above conversation took place, the latter part of it after I had given him part of my seat Now, lam regarded u a social man. I like a joke; mon so then than now. On entering a railroad car £ always looked about for a talkative man, and then I EC as clone to him as possible and drained m dry, it the journey was long enough. And I want to state one thing more, left an orphan before I could real ize the sad event which made me one, I got kicked here and cuffed there, aad grew up between folks, as they say. I ought to have had, at the time of which I write, a pretty thorough knowledge of human natuse, and have been able to read evil in a m&n'B ii he intended me evil. I did not pride myself on being over sharp, but the knocking around among strangers ought to have given any one a good experience. Well, the stranger and I fell into an easy train of conversation as we rode together, and in ten minutes I began to enjoy his company. He was a well-made fellow, finely dressed, and wore a fine watch and a simon-pure diamond ring. I never saw a man who could talk so easy and so pleasantly. It seemed that he had" but to open his mouth and the words fell

right out I had traveled In the south: so had he. I- had heard the roar of the Pacific; he knw all about it. I had been up in a balloon, down in a mine, been blown up smashed up, and repaired again anc again: my new friend had experienced all these things, and was wishing for something of a more startling nature. Weagreeed on politics, neither had any religion, and I had never met such a railroad companion. Did you ever meet a man who, though a stranger to you ten minutes before, could wrest from you your secrets which you had sworn to yourself not to reveal ? Well, he was such a man. It was not lung before he commenced asking me questions. He did not seem to try to quiz or draw me out, but he asked me questions in such a sly, round-about way, that before I knew it I was giving him' my history. i was at that time just on the point of being admitted to the bar of Wisconsin as a student of Law A Law, of Briefville. The firm Were old lawyers with a lucrative practice, and it had been talked over that in about a month I should be the “Co.” of the firm. A year before, a farmer named Preston, down about four miles from Grafton, died, and his matters had been put into the hands of Law A Law for settlement. Preston had died ricb. He had money in bank, railroad stock, and mortgages, etc., and everything was settled uj> to the satisfaction of the relict and

About a year before his death, being pinched for money, and not wishing to sell anything at a sacrifice, Preston had given a mortgage on his farm for SB,OOO. While the papers read “for one year from date,” there was a verbal agreement that it should be lifted any day that Preston desired. A month after, when, having the funds to clear off the paper, the “old money bags” holding it refused to discharge, wishing to secure his interest for for a year. I was on my way to learn the date of expiration. A fire among my office papers had destroyed the memoranda, ana I must go down and get the date from old Grip, who lived south of Grafton, about five miles. The stranger pumped all this out ot me in about ten minutes, and yet I never once suspected he was receiving any information.

“I am not positive,” he added, “but I am pretty sure the time is the 13th, which would be Tuesday next.” “And then vour folks will send down the money ana discharge the mortgage, of course,” he queried. “Oh, yea, I shall most likely bring it down,” t replied, and it never occurred to ma how imprudent I was. . He turned the conversation into other Channels and did not once attempt to pump me further. We got to Grafton at 10:50, and to my great surprise, be announced that he was to stop in town on business for a few days. 1 had not asked his name or avocation, while he knew everything about me. We went to the hotel, had dinner, and then I secured a livery team and drove out, getting through with business so that I was back to take the 8:90 express east My fnend was On the porch of the hotel aa I drove tip, carrying the same honest, dignified face. "Well, did you find out !” he inquired, in his pleasant wav. “Yea.-it was oo the 18th, as I expected,” I replied.

We had lunch together, and when we shook hands and parted I had no more idea of ever meeting him again than I had of knowing you. In fact, he told me that he should sail for England within a week or ten days, and should not return to America. At parting he gave me his card. It was a modest piece of pasteboard, and bore the name of “George Raleigh.” in old English script 8

Everything at the office went on aa usual, and the 18th came at length. Law & Law had arranged with me to go down with the money, and I looked upon it aa a business of no special importance. “We know you are all right,” remarked the senior partner, aa I waa about to go; “but I want to give you a word of warning, neverthelets. Don’t take any strangers into your confidence until you have passed out the money, and look out who aits next to you.** It was something new for him to caution me, aad I could not but wonder at it: but in the bustle of getting on board the train I forgot what was said. Ordinary prudence had induced me to place the money, which wm all in bank bills aad divided into three packages, under my shirt and next to my akin, where the deft hand of a pickpocket could not reach it Interested in a newspaper, time flew by aa the train flew fast, and at length the hoarse voice of the brakeman warned me that I had reached Grafton. I had leaped

*^W?ro3^aS^taS we were discussing it Mr. Haleigh discovered thstthe fam be was going to see was ust beyond that of old Grip’sHow fortuate! I could ride out with him, see the fare, return in his company, and he was greatly pleased. I was also pleased. If any one had told me as we got into the buggy that George Raleigh meant to return with my money in hie pocket and my blood upon his heads I should have believed him a lunatic: and yet George Raleigh had planned to do that very thing. It was a lovely day in June, and the cool breeu aad the sight of the meadown and green groves made my heart grow larger. My companion waa very talkative, but he didn’t even hint at my errand. He talked as fsr away as be eould. “Oh! excuse me!” he exclaimed, after we had passed a mile beyond the village, and were among the farm-houses. “I should have offered you thia before.” He drew from his pocket a small flask of wine and handed it to me. Now, I was temperate in regard to drinka. In fact, I detested the sight aad smell of anything intoxicating. But I had not the moral courage to tell him so, and hand back the flask undisturbed. I feared to offend him, and so I drank perhaps three good swallows. He called my attention to the woods on the left as he received beck the flask, and when I looked around again he waa just removing it from his mouth, ss if he had drank hearty.

In about five minutes I began to feel queer. The fence along the road seemed io grow higher and the trees grow larger; something came to my ears that the rattle of the buggy sounded a long way off. “How strange! Why, I believe lam going to be sick!” I exclaimed, holding on to the seat with all my might. *You do look strange,” he replied, with a snaky smile stealing over his face; “I shouldn’t wonder if it was apoplexy.” I did not suspect the game he had played. His words were like an echo, and his face seemed twice as large as it was. My head began to spin and my brain began to snap and crack, and I was greatly frightened. “You are badly off,” he continued, looking into my face. “1 will drive as fast as possible and get a doctor." My tongue was so heavy that I could not reply. I clutched the seat, shut my eyes, and he put his MBse at his best pace. We met a farmer’s team, and I can remember that one of the occupants of the wagon called out to know what ailed that man. Raleigh did not reply, but urged his horse forward. About three miles from Grafton was a long stretch of forest, and this was soon reached. The pain in my head was not so violent, and I was not so badly affected when opening my eyes. I had settled into a sort of dumb stupor, with a brain so benumbed that I had to say to myself: This is a tree, that is a stump, etc., before I could make sure I was not wrong. Haifa mile down the road after we struck the forest, and then Raleigh turned the horse into a blind road leading back into the woods. I could not understand what he intended. I tried to grapple with the question, but could not solve it “Well, here we are I” exclaimed Raieigli, when we had reached a point forty rods from the main road. He stopped the horse, got out and hitched him, and then came round to the wheel. “You don’t feel just right but I guess you will be better soon,” he remarked. “Come, let me help you down." He reached up his arms, and I let go the seal and fell into them. It seemed to me as if I weighed a ton, but he carried me along without an effort, and laid me down within about a rod of a fence which ran along on one side of an old pasture. Just now I began io get a little better. The effects of the drug were wearing off, and I got a fair suspicion that something unusual had happened. But I was powerless to move a limb; the sensation was like that when your foot goes to sleep. “Can you speak F’ inquired Raleigh bending over me; “because if you can it will save me some trouble. I want to know just where you have stored away that money.” Now I began to realise my situation. His face looked natural again, and the load was off my tongue. I also felt that I could move my fingers a little. “George Raleigh! are you going to rob me?” I asked, finding my voice at last “Well, some folks might call it’robbing,’ but we dress up the term a little by calling it the only correct financial way of equalizing the floating currency, sb that each one is provided for and no one left out.” “You shan’t have the money. I will die first!”l yelled, rising a little. “Ah, I see—didn’t take quite enough,” he coolly remarked. “Well, I have provided for this.”

He went to the buggy, procured ropes and a gag, and kneeled down beside me. I had but little strength yet, and he conquered ms in a moment Lying on my right side, looking toward the fence, he tied my hands behind me, and then forced the gag into my mouth. “There, now ? You see you are nicely fixed up, and all because you acted like a fool, instead of a sensible young lawyer, soon to be admitted to the bar." While he was speaking, indeed while he was tying me, I had caught sight of the white face of a little gill looking at us from between the rails of the fence. I could see her great blue eyes, and knew that She was frightened. There were red stains around her mouth and on the little hand resting on the rail, and I knew that she was some farmer’s child searching for strawberries. I could not warn her other danger, and I feared that she would be seen or heard. While Raleigh was tying the last knot, I winked at the little girl as hard as I could, hoping that she would move away. But she did not go. “Well, now for the money," said Raleigh, and he began searching my pockets. He went from one to the other, removing all the articles; felt down my boot-leg, and then finally passed his hand over my bosom, and found the money.

“Ha! here it is!” he exclaimed, drawing out the package. I don’t hardly believe that old Grip will see any of this to-day.” He sat down near my head, undid the package, and was cool enough to go at it to count the money. As he commenced the little girl waved her hand at me. My heart went thumping, for I expected that she would utter a word or shout; but she sank down from sight, aad I caught a gleam of her frock aa she passed through my young friend,” remarked Raleigh, as he drew off one of his boots and deposited some of the bills in it, “there’s nothing like transacting business as it should be transacted. Borne men would have shot or stabbed you, but it’s only the apprentices who do such work. All the real gentlemen of our calling do business as gentlemen should.” He drew off the other boot, and placed some “fifties” and “twenties” in it, and then continued:

“I have it all planned out how to deal with you aa soon aa I get thia money disposed of around my person. I anil lay you on your back and pour the balance of the wine down your throat There’s enough of it to make you sleep until to-morrow night, and by that time I shall be hundreds of miles away. As soon as I see the drug take effect, I shall untie your hands and remove the gag. When you come out of your sleep—if you ever do—you had better crawl out to the road, where you will most likely meet some traveler soon. I want to use the hone and buggy, otherwise I would leave them for you.” How coolly he talked. He treated the “ Jf ft >ere a regular transaction in which 1 fully acquiesced. He had me a fast prisoner, and! felt that he could do Just aa he pleased. While I was thinking, .u MW : ’; he x c white face B PP ear between the rails again, but in a moment it faded away and it. place was taken by the sun burned phis of a fanner. He looked from me to Raleigh and back again, and I winked at him in a way which he readily understood. His face disappeared, and 1 felt that I should be saved.

Isaw nothing of the fereser, Raleigh abSlttaMbTfiumDCT *m sere, and had run away. My heart want down m Raleigh got up, fori saw that he SS^tSSiiJbSJ sat down astride of me, and then pulled “Now, in Jus* about a minute wall to through with thia business,” he remaiked, trying to put the mouth of ths flask between my jaws. I roDed my head to one side, auLhe did not succeed. He waa jamming the flask against my teeth, when I canglit the sound of a soft step, the crash of a club, and Raleigh roiled off my body. He tried to leap up, but three or four farmers struck him down, and one of the blows rendered Mm senseless. Before be cease to I waa free of ropes and gag, and wo bed him securely bound. Oveifbeyond the psstnre a farmer and his hands were raking hay, “Little Blue Eyes,” only eight years old, had, fortunately for me, witnessed a part <ff Raleigh’s proceedings. She bad hurried back to her father and told him that “a man was all tied up out there." Understanding the situation, he and his men had moved around so as to secure an advantage, and Raleigh’s capture was the result. When the rascal found his senses he was terribly taken back, and cursed enough for a whole Flanders army. We took him back to Grafton, and when I saw him again he was on his way to the penitentiary to serve a sentence of fifteen years. liie mortgage was duly lifted, and the gilt which Law A Law sent to Katy Grey lent her in dresses for many a year. For myself, I felt so humiliated a* having fallen into the rascal’s trap, and so wrathy at the treatment, that I determined to devote myself to a thorough warfare on rogues. 1 therefore Joined the detective force, aad. after due study, took my place as a full fledged detective.