A Practical
Experience
In Obtaining a Plan For a
Detective Story
By MATS AN JERNEGAN
1 am ? literary man? that Is, If detec
tive stories may be called literature.
Of coarse my work involves the inven
tive faculty, and Invention Involve?
mental labor. 1 often thought that If 1
could obtain real cases, auch as the
sharp detective works out, I would be
able to dispense with the hardest part
of my work. X applied to the police
for such cases, but all I got was the
tracking of a thief, a burglar or a
murderer by some slip made by the
perpetrator or some one else. There
was not enough in It to keep a reader
la anxious expectation through several
hundred closely printed pages
One morning I had a real case come
to me without any inquiry- 1 was
ting in my study racking my brain for
material when a maid entered and told
me there waa an expressman at the
doer with a package for me. I went
downstairs, receipted for It and. taking
It to my den. removed the cover, open
ed the box aad aaw some Jewels. Re
moving a tray, there lay twenty or
thirty stone* apparently of great valae.
1 examined the address oo the wrap
per. thinking that I had receipted for
something latauded for another, bat
there were my name and addreaa eor
ractly written in every particular.
What did It mean? Instead of speod
Ue the rent at the morning trying to
invent a detecUve story. I was occu
pied la mdesvorlng to explain why
and from whom these Jewels had been
aeot me X found the Job more difficult
thaa producing a plot At last I made
up my mind that I must go about It
methodically, Just aa a detective begins
work la a criminal case.
First I went to the express office to
see if I could learn there who sent the j
package, but no one knew anything
about it. The expressmen don't keep j
records of the senders of miscellaneous j
?packages. The next question was. |
??Are the Jewels real or imitation?' >
This 1 might learn by submitting them j
to an expert. But until the mystery
was explained I did not care to have 1
any one but myself know that they
were in my possession. They might ,
be stolen property, and I bad no mind ?
to go to Jail as the thief. However, 1
selected one of a few small stones I j
found In, the tray and took it to a j
dealer -,-ln' gems for inspection. He
pronounced it genuine.
I returned to my study, threw myself j
into an easy chair and began to ,
ponder. The Jewelry had been sent
me by anme one whom I did, not know. ^
for I had never before seen the band- !
writing. There could have been no
mistake as to the intention. But what .
was back of the Intention?
Suddenly an explanation Hashed on
my brain like the flame of a gun at
night. The Jewels had been stolen, snd
whoever had stolen them, fearing to
he caught with them In his possession,
had sent them away. After all. was
not that a good scheme? Infernal
machines and poisoned food had been
sent by express and the shipper was ^
never discovered. The thief would
doubtless opeti communication with
trm after the danger their pusuiiiaimi i
would bring him had passed.
Then there was soother flash In my |
brain, and aaether Idea was bom. I ,
had a detective esse before me that I ,
might work sat myself and make It
the theme of t' thrilling tale. H*w
absald I becta? Attempt to discover
the owaer of the gems? No; It would
he better to mr purpose that I
make that a separata problem. Should
I take the poDce Into my co ufldeu??
Bf aa raeana? at least MB the dawoe
meot. whoa the guilty party ha* been
traced through the labyriath of etocom
atsace and the hero detective, psiat
lng his finger at him. cries. "Thou art
the man!" My plan wonld be to show
up the Ingenuity of my hero ia con
trast wltV the stupidity of the police.
? Should 1 advertise the Jewels In such
a way that the thief would recognize
that they were the property to which
he wss Interested? Not till he had
time to feel asaured that those hunting
the jewels were not on his track. But
this would involve delay, snd 1 was
anxious to pull the thread of my inves
tigations at once. So 1 advertised that
if the' party who bad misdirected ?me
property sent by express would ad
dress me at the office of the newspaper
tsutaining the ad. he would learn som?
Ihlng to his advantage.
I received no reply to this, bot very
soon a note came through the mall
stating that certain property bad been
addressed to me by mistake and If I
would return it, asking no questions,
half the ralue would be deducted. It
was plain from this that my theory
was correct The jewels hsd been
?tolen, and the thief was inclined to
bribe me to return them to him with
out giving him away. To ease my con
?dence be said the matter rested on a
family affair that he was not at liberty
to reveal.
I replied that it was true 1 had re
ceived by express a package that was
vaupected, and 1 pretended to be de
ceived by the "family affair," writing
KI was not In tt? habit of poking
other persons' business and con id
kaadlly understand why It should be
?9t team ate. I waa ready to accept
o^ered. A reply cane to
I were disposed to
be MM l<MX? In
currency for the Jewqlj, but If I at
tempted to lead my correspondent into
a trap I would falllntu one myself.
My plot was rapidly working to a
head, ODd I saw possibilities of ex
panding It luto a novel that would send
my name up unions the great writers
j of detective stories. But 1 resolved to
j trait till the denouement before begln
i nine, fur experience Dad taught me
that the easiest way to write a detec
tive story is to begiu ut the end idfctead
of the beginning.
After a lengthy correspondence It
was arranged between me and the
pary attempting to recover the Jewels
that I should meet him In a bouse
which was one of a row of stone fronts.
At o certain hour on a certain day I
was to ring the bell of an apartment
'on the third floor of the building. If I
wece alone It would be known; If 1
were followed It would be known. In
deed, unless I came by myself there
would be no use of my coming at alL
(should I throw up the agreement 1
would be denounced as having stolen
the property.
I began to raaliae that 1 was getting
Into the business of practical datactlve
story writing with a vengeance. It was
time I should take some precautions
against arrest for having ?'"' ? prop
erty In my possession. My latter* to
my correspondent alone would Incrimi
nate me. I determined to consult the
police. Indeed, they were now neces
sary to me. I must deviae soma plan
with them by which I should be pro
tected and they should make the arrest.
But. desiring to keep the matter <? my
own hands, I told them only that I was
tracking a criminal and wished them t*
be on hand wbea the trap was sprang.
The Inspector was not well satisfied to
take np a matter under some one else's
lead, but when he found that I was ob
durate he consented, and I was turned
over to s sergeant to make the neces
sary arrangements. '<
Upon showing him the building where
I was to meet my party he noticed that
the roofs of all the bouses In tbe block
were of the same height, ranking
that If any one should wish to getaway
be would ntount to the roof and go
down through the scuttle of another
house, the sergeant concluded to part
men on the roofs to watch that mean*
of egress. TMs would obviate th*
necessity of keeping on my trail In the
stTeet. which would be known to the
criminal.
On the day and hour appointed I re
paired with the Jewels to the building,
rang the bell of the third dat in the
vestibule, the latch was drawn, and I
went upstairs. A door stood ajar, and
I passed through it into a room. A man
advanced to meet me. He did not look
at all Mke a Jailbird or indeed, a crim
inal of*any kind.
"Ah," he said cordially. see you i
have brought the box. Permit me tc |
explain verbally t ha' t these Jewels are j
a legacy to my daughter. The will by
which she inherited them was not prop- 1
erly drawn, and in law, though not in i
equity, they belong to another. To sav#
them I captured them, though if what
I have done were known it would sut
Ject me to a criminal prosecution. That
is the reason I sent them to you and
why I am willing to secure your silencr
by paying you so large an amount."
Here waa a subcompllcation for my
work. I was very ' much Interested
and listened eagerly to the man's
story of how he had saved his daugh
ter's Inheritance. I declined to accept
any reward -for the return of the Jew
els. but he declared that a bargain was
a bargain and we must both stand by
the one we had made. Since the police
were behind me I thought It perfectly
safe to accept temporarily anything b?*
might offer.
He counted out fifty $100 bill*,
which I rolled in a wad and put in
my pocket. It had been agreed be
tween me and my supports that when
on my return 1 reached the street
door several policemen who had come
after I had made my entrance ibnskl
go u petal rs, while 1 feose ea tfee reef
were stopping egress in that dicectte*.
I therefore said goodby to the man
who had saved his daaghter*s fortrae.
resolving that I would attempt te per
suade the policemen below to let the
case drop. But they refused to be
persuaded and went up. They rang
the doorbell ef the third floor flat, but.
not receiving a response, were obliged |
to force an entrance. This took some
time, as every door and window was
barred. When it was effected th+ flat |
was found to be empty. A door had
been cut into the adjoining bsilding,
through which any one mi^ht have
passed out and away. At any rate, the
man who had saved his daughter's
fortune I never saw again. Ner did
the police.
I went to the station and turned the
)>lUa 1 had received over to the ser
geant. He sent them to a bank for
inspection, and they were proaounced
tronterfett.
1 asked tbe. Inapector for ? theory
as to the meaning of the wbete busi
ness. After some thought b? said:
"There waa a robbery of Jewels re
cently of which we were notified and
were hot on the robber's tracks. That
the gems might not be foand on him
he sent them away by espreee. How
be came to select yon for tbe recipient
I don't know. When be wanted tbe
Jewels be opened correspondence wMh
yon, though It Is also poaalble that
some on* seeing your ad. did so. The
result yon know. Whoever be la. be
haa tbe Jewels and yon have 15,000
Is worthless money. Next time yon
meet with each a esse yoo'd better re
port It to ns at core."
t had written detective atortea based
on the stupidity of the police and tbe
Ingenuity of my hero. I now felt that
the former wars revenged.
I west to my acribbllng den and In
stead of writing ? long detective story
1 wrote a short one. The above tale la
I *lt I gat oat of my practical expert
I !"c!u ? -v, t ...
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
I Lesson VII.? Fourth Quarter, For
Nov. 17, 1912.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Toxt of tho LMion, Mark viii, 27, to ix,
1 ? Mamory Vorooa, 36, 37 ? Goldon
Toxt, Matt. xvi, tC? Commentary Pro- j
parod by Rov. D. M. 8taarna.
, J U also In Matt
It with m J*' *Q(1 "? wm consider
" ,wlth ,b* "?rmon, 0f .be gospel,
before us. Mlmprlaa In bin barmonv
,l,te te 0rat Particular
prediction concerning the refection
the death and the J. ? J -
nL.. , , "? f??urre>tloa of tbe
SasSsitrrf
^"p ? tbe "?"?? w towns of Caeaa.
*** pW"PPl. and Luke adds that Be
""*'0,ne HI. JbK-lplea being
."** Hla- ?W* aee In tbe ne?
wapon that He wma praying alio at tbe
i/m !i? records other Instances
?< HI* praying In cbbpter. 111. 21; vl.
*2, xl, 1, ixfi, 41; xxill, 34 He p?Pr
talked with HI. Father hi heaveo wT?
tha same reallaaOon of Hfc rmnrm
?f "" WNVI# ,bou' Him.
Paopl? talked about Him and bad
p^r.?^lonf ? bay today.
Pharisees who beUmd in a -
r?sr"S5^^
-^^SBSVSS1 -
dkf not believe ha rewarrscfloe or anlrtt
xxmflJ,PTlbTertCOOf"~><I b?th UC*
that sfcoold la,
"Whom aay ye tUI I amr
" ,DotWr ??*?
^42., 79 * Chrt,tr mmtt
_it.,h?,'1<r "?t ?? math concer. n?
wbat ? er?aay. bw what doee ?y
"**rt aay. wbat I. Ha I* ma ?,,,
*?y? Simon Peter, gently tbe
"?Wered' "rao? art tt?
fhrl t- i|?e So? of th. lJvtng God
<^er*e 29: Matt- xtU hl.
testltaony |D john (l gg
hat of Martha In John xl. ? c.n ?
look upon Him wtth His eye. a " a
and'fljnn fafrt,DK through
to mi^ I and ? Lord- ?o? nrt
to me tbe risen living Christ m-r r*..
jon.1 Saviour. If ??
mi' ? ?^,Katber 1" heaven has tougbt
J?y splrit (Matt. xvl. 17) xhe
ZT t7BS,a?ed Pel*r and rock In
Matt xvf. 18. are not ?nite tbe same
? ?? '^"ylng a Piece of rock
easily mored and the- othor n
KSESTKra-f^i
The church bnllt on thlb and on nit I
5?daloE r?^* God ?
moved The company or all true be
nd" a. ? V'"0 ?"? churchj
? a" elae- must com. to nstnrht
Peter was g|T?, th. key. fbe kfug
dom. not th. church, and th. church Is
ter or9
Peatedly H. tw*a. to Mi
at tbe bands mt *. *Un. cbWf prta.t'.
? ?crlbM a. Bat iiftr mttov
??^b' aa4 klUM and aft
er three days Mm mc%iu (votm 31- 1*
M, x. S3. M>: bat. although ??'
^^e*0^'- Hl* ^Id
Peter a>d i > aot .ven
S'tt STm.con,
nia actual r??T*tloa fro. tb. d??^
?fW ?artptna. that Br
?x ? "* ^ (jBb"
1 ?- 8) V'tT. W ?Ot narelved tbe
of ^PWlHw* M?
alah mnat aaffer. 4W. b. barM -- -
rlae again, ttMagk w. cam ? n It
?y to aucb rTiii ii *
,"":^t^^. xm ie: xui.T
Lf "W H. ahortd)
TheTTL? "^l!T1,,C: far
TW - ?o* b. nnto
^Tm ^T f> <*??. rvi. 22.
and margin*. Mark .or Lord'. cwl7
and note that what la Mt of Ged afof
rJ?|6T and ta ,n off*"** to Go?
Belie vera are either a. sweet
of CbrUt or aalt that b-^ ^
"??room for a?lf la-& 49acln|?
of wlf'tan" mD,t b*",Wa^ ? denial
taking np tb? otom dally aodi
d^th^18 ?Im: ahri?? d.Mveredi noto,
JeBOM tZr Z"'' ^ th? "e
Jesus mar be manifest In tin; reckotv
Ing ourselves dead onto sin and alive
nnt? ood Cor. mXTo^
?r l? J2T * no CTO" of gold or Jek
?r Jewels or flower* Keen to Bcrlrttw*
bnt only . cruel cross of <Ctb '
It means croc?ed to tbe world and
the world to us. seeing Jesns ^,y. ^
nmf^m^T* hU"n,~- to ?"other hla
^r?fT"!"n' to another pleaanre. to
"* th"' K?*1 scheme phil
anthropic perhaps. * W
?ma^eT-C??r,',W!rJ' rt,rM wMb
aaya. "To me to bve Is ChHat" He
wltho^^f," U!A? *"?> "Ira
witbontjetting before Da the glory of
HT^r H# h" *?n*d
V lo, Tn . ; 2-' " Tbe~- It: I Pet
88 of' on, . WhlCb H* rerw,
ZL ^-?n- ??d ?Web we shall
^Tthe^?^ DMt W"k'" "tndy
the tn,^ ?n. ,ml t0 whlcb
?, IuLhv XS, ?f ,-~>n fx.
0"* " W" *'?? Ood of
glory who appeared to Abraham (Acta
r"- *>? ?Dd ?e can only be aoatalned
tatbe Patient waiting a. He ^
. , ?re- ""t the church ag s
wb^e I. blln<J v u,, ?lnrJ
SrTnd"Uh' 'ltoC,p,M, wer" "I
to nf-.T""*^00- not It
o?b^ nr**,*a t?'t becnfiae
. tnou^hta and wajn Imt* nr
Hii?.
- , -
The Only Wsy.
Aa eider while baptising convert* at
? revival meeting advanced with a
wiry, sharp evi-d old chap loto the wh
tar. He asked the usual question,
whether there was any reason why the
ordluance of baptlam should not he
administered. " After a pause a tall,
powerful linking man who was look
lug quietly on remarked. "Elder. I
doDt waut to Interfere Id yer business,
but I want to aa.v that this la an old
?Inner you have got bold of and that
one dip won't do hlra any good; you'l
have to anchor him out Id deep watei
overnight"? Life.
Happy Days.
Oh. happy was the childhood hour
When father paid the bill.
And left us free to grasp the flower
That bloaomad on the hills!
Thoee were the days In which we took
Mo thought of uses high
Nor reared the grsfur or the crook
Who might be drawing nigh.
Three meals per dsy were always there
So was the dwelling place.
We thought that father's greatest care
Wea simply to say graoa.
And ao we wandered light and free.
Without a trace of woe.
Kach had no thoughts sere thoee of glee
Unleae he etubbed his toe.
Now greater wisdom bids us pause. '
And grateful memory thrills.
We were so happy then because
Dear father paid the bills.
?Washington Star.
Too Much Said.
It wa? a beautiful evening, and Ole,
who bad errewed op courage to take
Mary for 9 rid*, vraa carried away by
the macie of tbe night.
"Mary." he asked, -will you marry
nef
MYw. Ole.'* ifee answered aoftly.
Ole lapsed Into silence that at lasti
became painful te his fiancee. ^
?*Ole." the said desperately. "why
don't yea aay so met* ng 7"
"Aj tank/* Oto replied. "they bane
toe mocb aald already."? Brery body's
Magazine.
The Oyatsr,
Who'i (rartlad from Ma iHf at shore.
Arriving la ?ir midst no nortT
Tbo aan oM frteod we tanr o C yore?
TW eystvr.
Who's mtvM ia all t he swell cafes.
Cooked 10 a multitude sf wajf.
For which old U Cousuaies pays?
* The oyster.
"Who bat the patience of a> saint?
Who never apeak* or m&keo com pie lot
Or utter* protest mild or fatett
The oyster. #
Who plays the star part In the stew
At socials all the season through
Alone, with no comrade In view?
The oyster.
^ ?Richmond Tiroes-Dispatch.
Short and to ths Point.
A certain man was invited to speak
at a political meeting and was placed
last on the list of speakers. More
over, tbe chairman Introduced Severn 1
speakers whose names were not oa tbf
program, and the audience was tired
out wbeo be eventually introduced tbe
last speaker: "Mr. Bones will now glvr [
oa hte address."
"My address," said Mr. Bones, rising. I
"is 5&) Park villa, and 1 wish you nil'
good night **? Llpplncott's Magazine.
What He Got Out of It*
Be sever took a day of rest;
Bo couldn't afford It.
He never had bis trousers pressed;
Be couldn't afford it.
He never wsnt away care free
To visit distant landa to see 1
How fair a place this world might fee:
Be couldn't afford It.
He aever weat to aee a play;
He couldn't afford It.
His love fer art he put away;
Be couldn't afford IL
Be (Med and left his heirs a lot.
But ao tall shaft proclaims the spot
- la w hi oto he lies. His ehlldrea thought
They eeutdn't afford It ,
?Chicago Reeerd*Hevald.
Their Move.
"Stttf at Billaon's lodging bonne. are
yea not?'*
?t Ibt Cholmoadeley *a part
did yon rnova?"'
n iD*vi. They just changed the
and pot up tbe rent"? Boston]
The Man Who Carries. tfee Mail.
The postman's package Is- a thing
Hs carr>*fl eareleaslv.
What >oy or woe be may. bestow
Be doesn't know-not hs!
Some postcards for the loNers*.
And for the rest *ome ntlln?
And very scads or rooltshi xls
Of soup wnO soup unOitiilis:
But In the mall m>ina. gsipsacfc.
Well hid from vulvar ey??H.
Beneath thS heap, and* kurt*?l A ep.
A mighty mixwiv*
Brlnga It a wattlim nwi?l?n
Her lover's mt^wuio'V Ak.
Better than thai: 11. urlr?K? a fat
Check from her ciwnr papa!
?Cleveland rialn Dealer.
One on Father. ,
Father? Tom. gi* and fetch the old ,
lone.
Tom? Why the old one. father? " ,
Father? Wear oih the old one first
that* a my motto.
Tom? WelL father, then ynu. fefcck
the horse.? Pane h.
Stage Storms.
The sandstorm on the stags
Is very, very good.
I understand they don't use sand.
But brsakfast food.
Ths snowstorm on the stage
Oft makes the hit of bits.
I understand the dramatists
Tear plays to bits.
?Louisville Courier-Journal.
Hs Had a Cinch.
"Solomon, you know, was considered
the wisest roan on earth.**
' "Tea. His wives probably kept bloc
Informed concerning all that waa go
tog on."? Chicago Record* Herald.
. ? * ?? ? ? ? ?
Yeu Knew Him.
Tbe man who makss me weary
And whom 1 view with sOom
Has a ninety dollar auto
BIG LINE SCHOOL BOOKS
W? hare in this Kne about all the necessities for jour child rep
?ad win be glad to furnish you what you may n?id,
Toilet Articles
We have the most complete line of toilet artieUs ever
carried in a town no larger than Louisburg and are
easily in position to furnieh the ladies almost anything
thej want in this line. Call in and look it ovw.
Prescriptions
Although good attention is given all other branches
of our business our prescription department is given
the most prompt and careful. In this we um only
the newest and freshest chemicals' and thin only
those that are thoroughly reliable and endoroed by
the leading physicians. When you have a prescrip
tion to be filled send it to the old reliable and it will
- be given immediate and careful attention.
AYGOGK DRUG COMPANY
NOTICE
All accousts due the fir? of A. W, Perry Jr. & Co.
wiM fee due *Q October la*. Tsbaco? is higlwr than
ever beieru, oottoa is a. good price, bring k m and
pay as. We bmm afi.
se?*. $4-12 ^ w. Pwrry, Jr. , & Company
Don't Your Horse
Suit You?
Then come to seeus and let us trade you one that will,' Our
Mr, Fuliec is now in markets purchasing a nice lot of good
horsa* and hie long experience and fair dealing will guarantee
you satisfaction. Come to see us and Wts talk it orer anyway
FULLER & PERRY
Perfect lines for the woman of stout
figure arc most easily se
cured by wearing a Kabo
form-reducing corset.
This new idea known as
KABO
"THE I.rV'K model COMST"
applies especially to the corsets
for women of full figure- The
model used for fashioning
these corsets has quite a full
figure.
These corsets are fashioned
in such a way as to giyc a
duction in hip measurement
of from three to four inches
and at the same time are won
derfully graceful and comfort
able. The material ?
*rong and the boning ? guar
anteed unbreakable and it will
aevcrrmt. ? ~
? ?if Mft
**VU 701*. Tfc. _g, .. ,
^ u 2* v* *? l*?Woc tor. to
?&5g?ej?
4B?
c*a W h?d wKh ?ltb? antal
?r*Hh Um I on? oord ?T'""v
ro r b, CtudUr-Cftwrti Cb.