1914-05-30 — Page 5

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH

SHORT STORY.

اینو

A DETECTIVE BURNS CASE,

"BY HARVEY J. O. HIGGINS

This is not the first of Do- tective Burne cases we have given from Maclure's. The names, of course have been changed, and the charactors cannot be recognised, but the story is trae in the main and fine example of a great de- tective's methods.]

a

who was suspected of the theft. Burns had asked embarrassing questions about the sale of blue stone to the Cooley Company by the suspected official. He had

EXTRA

HONGKONG, SATURDAY MAY, 30 1914

"Where are the samples that you tested?

"Barns replied gravely, "I'm not in a position to divulge.".

Callaghan cloured his throat I've forgotten to ask you what is your charge for your work on

is ase."

"

Ste telephoned Mrs. Champion tit à Nick Carter detective had born in the office, getting a war- runt for Champion for stealing precipitate of silver. And when the dotectives got to the house, they found Champion sick in bed

The business credit of the com- sion of the notorious theft of gold give him whatever advance le "Yes," Durns answered; "that be saw Callingham, the dis pany had been impaired. The bars from the Cooley Company, asks on it.

natter is confidential with the tracted president explained: president's reputation as an ere- and he remarked admiringly "Yes, Mr. Burns."

yovernment."

"After you left, that idiot. cutive officer had been blown upon the fact that an official of Barna did not use any finesse

"Oh!" Callingham thought it didn't wait to do anything you upon. The name of H. C. F. the company had obtained a with the pawnbroker or

thever. "Then," he asked, toll had advised. He wou straight Callingham-no matter with what confession from the thief after the metal dealer, and ho did my who told you that those to the District Attorney's office to a flourish it might be signed-| Nick Corter Company's sleuths not

take any

precautions samples were still at the worke, Kota search warrant for Champion. would be the name of an absurd had failed to get a jot of evidence to prevent either one from I was certainly given to under-The District Attorney & aleno gull if it was found that his against him. This sort of talk betraying him-though they did stand, that they had been regrapher knows the Champions, company had now been receiving did not make Callingham look not know that. He was aware turned."

and amelting cheerfally any happier. It was not design that both had a wholesome re- That, too,' silver precipitate that had beened to

spect for the governmen detec stolen from its own works. And They were interrupted by the tives, and he was confident that they had handled several thou-arrival of a messenger from the both would be eager to nesial_the sand dollars' worth of the sloff. works, with bis leather bag over investigation in order to clear

"Mr. Baras," he said, "I can't his shoulder. He said, "There's themselves of suspicion. believe it, bt-What is it you the samples you wanted, as he He spent the remainder of the

with fright—and not a trace of want to know ?".

tok them out and laid them on week in the pawnshop, waiting "You can's pay me a cont, the stolen silver to be found any the table-desk. Barna nodded, patiently, talking the gossip of Burns answered "I'm paid by where. They haven't a speck of When the messenger had with local politics, and acquiring ox- the government."

ovidence but what you got your drawn, he explained casually to pert information of the "inside" "Thon," Callingham plunged, self. What are we to do?" Callingham, without looking at variety about the personnel and what do you think we ought to

detective," Employ some him: "They had these samples the methods of the gang_that] do next?' of silver precipitate out at the governed the community. Some "Well," Burns cautioned him, Barne advised, "to go over the works still; they seat them in." of that information subsequently" you want to be oareful. If you ground that I went over. Have this evidence to Oh, did they? Callingham's assisted him in putting their arrest that mia nn insufficient i show voice was flat, and there was the leader in the Statos penitentiary. evidence, and his lawyer learns Champion's lawyer. Then tell sound of an awkward blush in it.

On Saturday night the expect that your own chemiet originally him that you want to save the ex- The samples contained about fifty ed customer arrived with a valise reported that the silver came pense of a trial, and, if Champion.

in which he bad six hundred and from the mint, Champion will will plead guilty, he'll be given do," busily, in response to Barne "If you'll just come in and Barne put them in his pocket. Gifty dollara' worth of silver pre-stand a good ebanos in a suit for only a jail sentence." greeting, without looking up from talk to Mr. Cheney Callingham Mr. Fleischman wants to have oipitate. He did not notice Burns, damages against you."

"And that's what was done," "That's true," bie papers and without asking said meekly, "he'll tell you all them tested again. I'll let you who went outside--as soon as be

Callingham Bara suncludes. Champion the detective to sit down.

about it,"

was sure what was in the valise greed." There was a case like got thirty days in jail for stealing know when I get your man." Burne seated himself. "Mr. They went in. They talked to "Thanke," Callingham stam--and joined the operative who hat in Ilsho!"

three thousand dollars, and they Callingham," he began, "Mr. Cheney. And Barna learned mered dubtfully; "I wish you had boon shadowing the shop. The superintendent of the recovered the six hundred and Freischman, the superintendent what he wished to know-which would. I-I've telephoned to our Together they followed their Cooley works arrived-followed, fifty dollare' worth of stuff that I of the mint, has been telling me was the name of the metal dealer saperintendent. He doesn't "aubject" when he came out in a moment, by the local had traced to the pawnshop." of a silver precipitate that has who had brought in the silver, the believe it can be our material, and trailed him to a dry-goods auperintendent of the Nick Carter been brought tɔ you-'

amount that he had brought, and I'd like you to have a talk with shop, where he was joined by a sleuths. The latter was a large, the dates on whick he had brought him."

woman; and went with the pair impressive, dark man. He greet-

with to a vaudeville theatre; and then fed Burns professional THE CHINESE SALT TAX. watched all night outside a reserve and heard the story of the rooming-house where the couple theft with placidity. When he

Services of Sir Richard Dane spent the night-

was asked, at last, what he pro-

Recognized. posed to do in the case, he replied? We'll take it up at once. We'll as bother Mr. Barns any

insisted upon seeing the details Callingham reddened to the of an account between the Jooley roots of his grey hair. He had Company and the mint in the no right to take samples of a matter of an exchange of lead for silver precipitate that had been lead that was impregnated with brought to him for smelting, and The superintendent of the precious metal. He had made if he had kept the samples it was mint whose name was Fleisch-himself "unpopular" with Pre-

theft. Be said: "Of course we man, let us sзy-had come to the rident Richard U. F. Calling-gave them back to the man." Secret Service office, in the Feder- ham

"When did he bring them al Building, in a pale perepiration Callingham said, "How d'yon here ?" of heat and worry. Billy," he aaid to the operative in charge, whose name was William J. Barns, some one's been steal- ing our precipitate of silver and selling it to the Cooley Smelting and Reduction Company. And there's not a man in that room I don't trust. Not one. Not one that I haven't had absolute con- fidence.id."

"

"We're given all the facts to "Oh, well,"

said, Mr. Fleischman," Callingham cut it. Buros absolute confidence is all right, him short. bat

"No; I moan it," Ffeischman protested. "I'd trust those boye further if they're stealing, I cin't trust any one. I can't trust my own wife.

"Perhaps the stuff doesn't come from the mint, then,"

There are only three places in the country that it could come from: one is in Red Bank, Now Jersey; another is the Cooley Company's own worke; and the laat is our mint. The Cooles people have had it analyzed. They're sent me word that it's ours: the chemical analysis showa it. And it makes ms sick to think of it. If I can't trust those boys"

Baras put on his hat. "Where did the Cooley Company get

it?"

"From a metal dealer here.

13

"It would be no trouble, I sup- poad, to repeat them to me."

"I don't see the use of it."

Mr. Fleischman has asked me to investigate. He doesn't re member all the details, and there may be something that you've overlooked. Who received this precipitate when it was brought here ?"

"Mr. Cheney." "I'd like to see him."

There's no use bothering him. We've told you all we know."

dollars' worth of silver.

17

"There isn't any talking that It was Burne business, of I can do get.' Burns replied, course, to know all the metal" But I know it's your staff dealera in the district, for pro-Good-by."

At ten o'clock next morning, sunday, they were all out on the street again. They dined in the

1+

is

1

"Just what will you do?"| Buras ingaired.

"Why, we're going to finish up the investigation, We'll take care of it."

"But what. action are you going to take?" Burns prodded him.

What's your next move?

(

་་

A

Peking, April 30.-

fessional reasons, as a man whose He went to turn the samples chief concern, in the world was over to the superintendent of the the protection of the currency. mint for analysis, and then he He had an intimate acquaintance posted off to see the metal dealer same restaurant, and walked further. There's no necessity-

The Salt Administration has with the dealer who had been from whom they had come. That around till two, and enjoyed as necessity at all. We'll take handling the stolen silver, and he oanoy gentleman did not attempt another vaudeville entertainment care of it."

handed over 2,700,000 tsels to the did not doubt that the dealer to put Burns with any atorg till five. The five-fifteen train

Chinese Government out of collec would tell where he had obtained of shipments from Idaho. He ad- took them to Cooley, where the

tions accumulated by the foreign it-When the "government Secret milled that the silver had been man and the woman sepwoloud.

banks. A sum of $10,000,000 Service aske questions, the wise brought to him by a pawnbroker, Burns trailed the man home.

has been retained as being sulfi citizen tries to be franki

hose.name and address he gave. aselatant followed the woman,

cient to meet all charges upon Barne left the offices of the And in fifteen minutes Burns That night Burns reported to

revenues of the Gabelle for a "I have been asked to in-Cooley Company and crossed the was in the pawnshop.

the superintendent of the mint

considerable period ahead, Pro- vided that collections continue to vestigate," Burns explained, street to the entrance of the The community in which he that he had located the employee "and this is the only way I know Mining Exchange Building; he was making this investigation of the Cooley Company who had To arrest Champion."

be maintained at the present of doing it. If I can't get my waited there until he saw Pre was notorious, at the time, for been stealing precipitate of silver. "Right away?"

figuro further surpluses will soon- "Yaa. There's the evidence be available for the Government.. information, I'll have to drop sident R. C. F. Callingham come ite political corruption. There Well Fleischman said, “I'm the case,"

out to get luncheon and then he was then in control of the city satisfied from the chemical against him. Plenty of it. Per Upon the existence of such sur- Callingham blotted bie sig-returned composedly to the smelta political boss who sold the analysis that the staff's not ours. foot."

plaser, of course, will depend the Barna looked at Callingham, prospects of the loan now under nature. I can't help that," he ing company's offices. He had privilege of lawlessness to the But I'm free to say that it's hard anid, taking up another letter. decided that if the samples of oriminal, to the vicious, to the to tell. They were probably "Mr. Burne," Callingham broke consideration by the Five Power

And here Burns began his stolen silver were still preserved, predatory franchisegrabber, to satisfied that it was ours, and out," I'm responsible for what Group, He's supposed to have had it sleight-of-hand. (le calls it, they would be at the company's the malefactor of wealth, and to acted in good faith."

over is done in this investigation, The Chinese are to be con- shipped to him from Idaho, where professionally, "finesaing.") works in the neighbouring town every other enemy of society who No doubt," Burns replied; and our company will have to the people that made it couldn't Perhaps," he said, "it would in- of Cooley. He went to the young could pay for protection. Burns" but let me have the pleasure of pay the damages if we arrest gratulated on the satisfactory get their price for it. That's 's torest you to know that the pre-man who had been left in charge pawnbroker was related, by mar breaking the glad news to Cal-Uhampion and fail to convict revenue proceeding from the Salt Administration. Although pres stall of some sort. There's no cipitate was not stolen from the of the office, and asked him riage, to this political boss. The lingbam. I owe him some return him. Never mind this man.

"Did those samples come yet? such precipitate produced in mint."

small thieves, paying tribute to for the eager way he didn't help Fell us what we ought to do." sure by the foreign Legations Idaho. And the firm in Red. Callingham shook his head.

"What samples?

the police, dealt with the pawn-me when he thought it was silver "Well, in the first place," and the valuable work of Bir Richard Dano, the Administrator. Bank has investigated, and they "That's for Mr. Fleischman to "Me. Callingham sent out to broker as with a sort of official from the mint.

Barna said, "Ohampion steals report that it isn't theire; it must decide,

the works for some, samples of fence"; and if Burns had been When he appeared, next morn- this stuff when you have your of the Gabelle, are mainly res "No," Burns said; "it's for silver precipitate." be ours."

a local detective, inquiring there ing, in Callingham's office, the clean-up. He takes it uus of the ponsible, it is recognized that the Now, in a previous investig-you. It was stolen from you.' "They haven't come."

for the trail of loot, the pawn-president rose to shake hands works either in his pail or in his loyal cooperation of the Chinese ation DE

Callingham looked up, over robbery

Would you mind telephoning broker would probably have with him cordially. "I've got pocket. Lot him go ahead. themselves, at many points, has Burns had had some deal his glasses. "That's impossible. again ? "

laughed at him.

your man," Borns said. "His Let him 'cone back to it. Don't largely contributed to the result, The payment of the present Sare thing," the clerk said. But the Secret Service repre-name is William Champion." ings with the Cooley Company; We've had four detectives guard-

do anything different from what and he had not found all the ing our works." Burns tells this He called up the company's works sented the federal power, an alien Callingham pressed a button, you have been doing right surplus, which is the first fruit of the reorganization under expert company's officials so scrupulous story privately, as a good joke on on the telephone and asked:--almost an imperial-authority"Bring me the payroll," he along. Immediately after in their business morality that the operatives of this particular llave you sent in those samples beyond the reach of native cor-ordered the clerk, and his voice next clean-up, search his bucket foreign advice, should encourage they had remained above. sas detective agency-which may be of silver precipitate for Mr. ruption. The pawnbroker had was thick. He took the sheets without us knowing it. If the Uhinese to give the failsst picion in bia thought of them. kaown here as the Nick Carter Callingham?" He turned. tu no wish to involve himself in a with an agitated hand and the stuff isn't there, have two trial to the reforms proposed by Sir Richard Dane. Nothing will More than that, the Cooley Sleuthing Company.

Burns, with the receiver at his federal prosecution. He received glanced over them in apprehen men lying in wait for him under go further to rehabilitate Chinese Company had been robbed of "I don't know anything ab ut ear, to inquire; "What samples Burns with a fawning cordiality,sion. "He's here," he said; the railroad bridge on his way credit than evidence that the some hundred thousand dollars' your detectives," he replied con were they?"

amiling, pop-eyed," and eager "and in that room, too!" worth of gold bara by an em-fidently; "bat I. know it's your Samples of a silver precipi- ployee, a few years earlier: and precipitate of silver. And I'm tate that was stolen from the Barna had watched with interest not interested in the fact-except mint." the discovery and prosecution of the thief. These things had marked the Cooley Company's works and offices, for him, with a scent of malefaction.

B

mint

He found the president of the salting company in his office, busy at his table-deek. Imagine him a solid, double-chinned, grey man with an important manner, Suppose his nams to be Richard O.E. Callingham. Picture him reading typewritten lettere and signing them with a big, ebony handled stub-pon, writing his dashing and robustious signature with ponderous care.

17

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13.

131

any information that" Mr. Barns" might have need of,

the

susceptible to expansion under efficient direction.

home. They can secuse him of to assist Mr. Burna" in getting "He has sold about three stealing a pocket-book, and search revenues of the country are thousand dollars worth of silver him for it. If he hasn't anything precipitate to date," Barns report an him, he'll not know what ed cheerfully, and he has six you're after. If you find any on hundred and fifty dollars worth him, search his house--"** more in the pawnshop."

*** Without. u warrant !] detective cut in. tame

the

revenue as

While noting the improvement in the salt situation it is neces- sary to remember that the most sanguine estimates of the collec tions for the present year are still far short of the originally stated by the Chinese, fue full revenue can only be available when the Government "All right," Barns said; has complete mustery throughout the country and when the pro- ahead your own way

Barne left town, for a week, on vinoia fiaundial system has been another case. While bo was revolutionized. Nor must i, be away, he read in the newspapers forgotten that the flow of revenue

"What pawnshop?" Burns told the whole story," If you find stolen goods on from the time bo bad left the him you don't need a search president's office with the samples warrant. Go get a constable.". until he had trailed Champion to "The government may do that

sort of thing- his home,

"Let me call our superintend- ant," Callingham said, "and the local superintendent of the deco tive agonoy. I want you to talk to them."

go

that I've got to prove it to the The clerk repeated that ex- He had been receiving the government in order to prove that planation to the min at the works. silver precipitate, he said, from it didn't come from the mint." All right." He hung up the a stranger who usually brought Callingbem laid down his pen. receiver."They'll start them in it to the pawnshop on a Saturday Would you mind telling me right away, Mr. Barns," he night, socspted a small advanos how you know it?"

promised.

on its value, and returned on the "Yes," Baras said, “I do mind.

"How long will it take them following Saturday to get the rest That's a confidential matter to get here?

of his money-after the pawo- which I'm not in a position to About an hour."

broker had disposed of the metal Barns said, "Thanks," with a to the dealer who had been divulge yet."

"Well, Mr. Burns, Callingham matter-of-fact indifference, and having it smelted by the Cooley satened to say, "I know you're went out to his luncheon, easy.in Company. not a man to claim that you know his mind.

Barne naked When is he a thing acless you're sure of it He was back on his post, at dus here again?"

don't like to contradict you, the entrance of the Mining Er The pawnbroker consulted his I don't mind talking to them; of the arrest of William Champion, a most entirely depends upon the but-O

change, in time to see Callingham recorda. It appeared, from them, but I can tell you now," Burns of Gooley, for Foaling silver from con inuance of tranquillity. It doesn't mattor to me return; and after a auoient that the man ought to arrive on predicted that the detective the smelting company; and the 1. It is understood that the Gov- whether soucontradict me or not," interval he rejoined Callingham the following Saturday, won't take any advice from me." despatches spoke admiringly of liam J. Barna, Beoret Service Burns assured him. It's your in his office, on pretence of asking "All right, Burns said: "I'll He sent out his summons for the clever work operative. In the inportigation silver, and I'll prove it him about the inquiries that had be here, from now on, to watch the two men, of the previous mint robbery, Callingham took off his glasses, been made in Red Bank, New for him. I have a man outside Mr. Burns," Callingham in- ony's eleuths. But when Burns Sir Richard Dane and that his Barns had been impertinently shaken and rather tremulously Jersey, concerning the precipitate shadowing the place, I'll eit quired, "would you mind telling returned to town he found that services will be recognized in s curious about the business rela alarmed. The previous theft of of silver. Callingham was wor inside and have a look your me, now, how now that it Callingham had been sending presidential order to be publish Hons between the Cooley Com-gold bars had made a scandal ried, but polite. Burns led the customer when he comse. You was our précipite when you frantic messages to the Secreted forthwith-Times: Correspon

Service office for him, and when dent. pany and an offoial of the mint they had not yet been forgotton. conversation around to a didend go ahead and buy the stuff, and first came to here?

He had no affection, for Wil-

"done on the ernment is making a substantial oase by the Nick Carter Com- addition to the emoluments of

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