the stolen white elephant-第4章

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dressed　themselves　as　detectives　and　hunted　the　elephant　on　the　stage　in
the　most　extravagant　way。　　The　caricaturists　made　pictures　of　detectives
scanning　the　country　with　spy…glasses；　while　the　elephant；　at　their
backs；　stole　apples　out　of　their　pockets。　　And　they　made　all　sorts　of
ridiculous　pictures　of　the　detective　badgeyou　have　seen　that　badge
printed　in　gold　on　the　back　of　detective　novels；　no　doubt　it　is　a
wide…staring　eye；　with　the　legend；　〃WE　NEVER　SLEEP。〃　　When　detectives
called　for　a　drink；　the　would…be　facetious　barkeeper　resurrected　an
obsolete　form　of　expression　and　said；　〃Will　you　have　an　eye…opener？〃
All　the　air　was　thick　with　sarcasms。

But　there　was　one　man　who　moved　calm；　untouched；　unaffected；　through　it
all。　　It　was　that　heart　of　oak；　the　chief　inspector。　　His　brave　eye　never
drooped；　his　serene　confidence　never　wavered。　　He　always　said：

〃Let　them　rail　on；　he　laughs　best　who　laughs　last。〃

My　admiration　for　the　man　grew　into　a　species　of　worship。　　I　was　at　his
side　always。　　His　office　had　become　an　unpleasant　place　to　me；　and　now
became　daily　more　and　more　so。　　Yet　if　he　could　endure　it　I　meant　to　do
so　alsoat　least；　as　long　as　I　could。　　So　I　came　regularly；　and　stayed
the　only　outsider　who　seemed　to　be　capable　of　it。　　Everybody　wondered
how　I　could；　and　often　it　seemed　to　me　that　I　must　desert；　but　at　such
times　I　looked　into　that　calm　and　apparently　unconscious　face；　and　held
my　ground。

About　three　weeks　after　the　elephant's　disappearance　I　was　about　to　say；
one　morning；　that　I　should　have　to　strike　my　colors　and　retire；　when　the
great　detective　arrested　the　thought　by　proposing　one　more　superb　and
masterly　move。

This　was　to　compromise　with　the　robbers。　　The　fertility　of　this　man's
invention　exceeded　anything　I　have　ever　seen；　and　I　have　had　a　wide
intercourse　with　the　world's　finest　minds。　　He　said　he　was　confident　he
could　compromise　for　one　hundred　thousand　dollars　and　recover　the
elephant。　　I　said　I　believed　I　could　scrape　the　amount　together；　but　what
would　become　of　the　poor　detectives　who　had　worked　so　faithfully？　　He
said：

〃In　compromises　they　always　get　half。〃

This　removed　my　only　objection。　　So　the　inspector　wrote　two　notes；　in
this　form：

　　　　　DEAR　MADAM；Your　husband　can　make　a　large　sum　of　money　（and　be
　　　　　entirely　protected　from　the　law）　by　making　an　immediate；　appointment
　　　　　with　me。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chief　BLUNT。

He　sent　one　of　these　by　his　confidential　messenger　to　the　〃reputed　wife〃
of　Brick　Duffy；　and　the　other　to　the　reputed　wife　of　Red　McFadden。

Within　the　hour　these　offensive　answers　came：

　　　　　YE　OWLD　FOOL：　brick　Duffys　bin　ded　2　yere。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BRIDGET　MAHONEY。

　　　　　CHIEF　BAT；Red　McFadden　is　hung　and　in　heving　18　month。　　Any　Ass
　　　　　but　a　detective　know　that。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　MARY　O'HOOLIGAN。

〃I　had　long　suspected　these　facts；〃　said　the　inspector；　〃this　testimony
proves　the　unerring　accuracy　of　my　instinct。〃

The　moment　one　resource　failed　him　he　was　ready　with　another。　　He
immediately　wrote　an　advertisement　for　the　morning　papers；　and　I　kept　a
copy　of　it：

　　　　　A。xWhlv。　　242　ht。　　Tjnd…fz328wmlg。　　Ozpo；　2　m！　　2m！。　　M！　ogw。

He　said　that　if　the　thief　was　alive　this　would　bring　him　to　the　usual
rendezvous。　　He　further　explained　that　the　usual　rendezvous　was　a　glare
where　all　business　affairs　between　detectives　and　criminals　were
conducted。　　This　meeting　would　take　place　at　twelve　the　next　night。

We　could　do　nothing　till　then；　and　I　lost　no　time　in　getting　out　of　the
office；　and　was　grateful　indeed　for　the　privilege。

At　eleven　the　next　night　I　brought　one　hundred　thousand　dollars　in
bank…notes　and　put　them　into　the　chief's　hands；　and　shortly　afterward　he
took　his　leave；　with　the　brave　old　undimmed　confidence　in　his　eye。
An　almost　intolerable　hour　dragged　to　a　close；　then　I　heard　his　welcome
tread；　and　rose　gasping　and　tottered　to　meet　him。　　How　his　fine　eyes
flamed　with　triumph！　　He　said：

〃We've　compromised！　　The　jokers　will　sing　a　different　tune　to…morrow！
Follow　me！〃

He　took　a　lighted　candle　and　strode　down　into　the　vast　vaulted　basement
where　sixty　detectives　always　slept；　and　where　a　score　were　now　playing
cards　to　while　the　time。　　I　followed　close　after　him。　　He　walked　swiftly
down　to　the　dim　and　remote　end　of　the　place；　and　just　as　I　succumbed　to
the　pangs　of　suffocation　and　was　swooning　away　he　stumbled　and　fell　over
the　outlying　members　of　a　mighty　object；　and　I　heard　him　exclaim　as　he
went　down：

〃Our　noble　profession　is　vindicated。　　Here　is　your　elephant！〃

I　was　carried　to　the　office　above　and　restored　with　carbolic　acid。　　The
whole　detective　force　swarmed　in；　and　such　another　season　of　triumphant
rejoicing　ensued　as　I　had　never　witnessed　before。　　The　reporters　were
called；　baskets　of　champagne　were　opened；　toasts　were　drunk；　the
handshakings　and　congratulations　were　continuous　and　enthusiastic。
Naturally　the　chief　was　the　hero　of　the　hour；　and　his　happiness　was　so
complete　and　had　been　so　patiently　and　worthily　and　bravely　won　that　it
made　me　happy　to　see　it；　though　I　stood　there　a　homeless　beggar；　my
priceless　charge　dead；　and　my　position　in　my　country's　service　lost　to　me
through　what　would　always　seem　my　fatally　careless　execution　of　a　great
trust。　　Many　an　eloquent　eye　testified　its　deep　admiration　for　the　chief；
and　many　a　detective's　voice　murmured；　〃Look　at　himjust　the　king　of　the
profession；　only　give　him　a　clue；　it's　all　he　wants；　and　there　ain't
anything　hid　that　he　can't　find。〃　　The　dividing　of　the　fifty　thousand
dollars　made　great　pleasure；　when　it　was　finished　the　chief　made　a　little
speech　while　he　put　his　share　in　his　pocket；　in　which　he　said；　〃Enjoy　it；
boys；　for　you've　earned　it；　and；　more　than　that；　you've　earned　for　the
detective　profession　undying　fame。〃

A　telegram　arrived；　which　read：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　MONROE；　MICH。；　10　P。M。
First　time　I've　struck　a　telegraph　office　in　over　three　weeks。　　Have
followed　those　footprints；　horseback；　through　the　woods；　a　thousand　miles
to　here；　and　they　get　stronger　and　bigger　and　fresher　every　day。　　Don't
worry…inside　of　another　week　I'll　have　the　elephant。　　This　is　dead　sure。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　DARLEY；　Detective。

The　chief　ordered　three　cheers　for　〃Darley；　one　of　the　finest　minds　on
the　force；〃　and　then　commanded　that　he　be　telegraphed　to　come　home　and
receive　his　share　of　the　reward。

So　ended　that　marvelous　episode　of　the　stolen　elephant。　　The　newspapers
were　pleasant　with　praises　once　more；　the　next　day；　with　one　contemptible
exception。　　This　sheet　said；　〃Great　is　the　detective！　　He　may　be　a　little
slow　in　finding　a　little　thing　like　a　mislaid　elephant　he　may　hunt　him
all　day　and　sleep　with　his　rotting　carcass　all　night　for　three　weeks；　but
he　will　find　him　at　last　if　he　can　get　the　man　who　mislaid　him　to　show
him　the　place！〃

Poor　Hassan　was　lost　to　me　forever。　　The　cannonshots　had　wounded　him
fatally；　he　had　crept　to　that　unfriendly　place　in　the　fog；　and　there；
surrounded　by　his　enemies　and　in　constant　danger　of　detection；　he　had
wasted　away　with　hunger　and　suffering　till　death　gave　him　peace。

The　compromise　cost　me　one　hundred　thousand　dollars；　my　detective
expenses　were　forty…two　thousand　dollars　more；　I　never　applied　for　a
place　again　under　my　government；　I　am　a　ruined　man　and　a　wanderer　on　the
earth　but　my　admiration　for　that　man；　whom　I　believe　to　be　the　greatest
detective　the　world　has　ever　produced；　remains　undimmed　to　this　day；　and
will　so　remain　unto　the　end。







End