Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 July 1890 — WORKED THE DETECTIVE. [ARTICLE]

WORKED THE DETECTIVE.

Inspector Byrnes’ Pocket Neatly Believed of a Gold Wajch. Very few people would oelieve Jftspector Byrnes had ’ever been ‘-worked by t pickpockets,” says the New York World, but such is 4he case, and what is more, he lost his fine gold chronometer for a little while. It was just after the big 1 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 poliee headquarters and chronicle its daily happenings. Pickpockets and the part they had taken in working the big crowds which were congregated to witness the fights between the strikers and the police were the subject under discussing. “Tell me, inspector,” said one of the young nien, with an innocent, insinuating smile, as ho sidled close up to the inspector, ‘ ‘isn’t it a very easy matter to spot these gentry whenever you meet them?” Lazily flourishing his partly consumed Perfecto in the direction 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 of jail, and there isn’t any way to spot ’em till you catch ’em right in the act. There’s nobody too slick to be caught napping, either; Take my advice, gentlemen, and keep a close lookout for your watch and money when you strike a crowd, whether at church, at theater, on race courses, 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 of that,” he replied. At this the innocent young man

seemed satisfied and started to go, but a 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 chain and ring- was left. It had been “rung.’ ’ ' r The boys had their laugh on the inspector, who gave them something more substantial to smile over, and none of them thought it worth while to write the story, hut it i 9 true, every word of it. And the reprter who picked his pocket is one of fiis best friends. #