the stolen white elephant-第3章
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the present with a clear eye； but even the future could not be hidden
from him。 I was soon at his office； and said I could not help wishing he
had had those men arrested； and so prevented the trouble and loss； but
his reply was simple and unanswerable：
〃It is not our province to prevent crime； but to punish it。 We cannot
punish it until it is committed。〃
I remarked that the secrecy with which we had begun had been marred by
the newspapers； not only all our facts but all our plans and purposes had
been revealed； even all the suspected persons had been named； these would
doubtless disguise themselves now； or go into hiding。
〃Let them。 They will find that when I am ready for them my hand will
descend upon them； in their secret places； as unerringly as the hand of
fate。 As to the newspapers； we must keep in with them。 Fame；
reputation； constant public mentionthese are the detective's bread and
butter。 He must publish his facts； else he will be supposed to have
none； he must publish his theory； for nothing is so strange or striking
as a detective's theory； or brings him so much wonderful respect； we must
publish our plans； for these the journals insist upon having； and we
could not deny them without offending。 We must constantly show the
public what we are doing； or they will believe we are doing nothing。
It is much pleasanter to have a newspaper say； 'Inspector Blunt's
ingenious and extraordinary theory is as follows；' than to have it say
some harsh thing； or； worse still； some sarcastic one。〃
〃I see the force of what you say。 But I noticed that in one part of your
remarks in the papers this morning you refused to reveal your opinion
upon a certain minor point。〃
〃Yes； we always do that； it has a good effect。 Besides； I had not formed
any opinion on that point； anyway。〃
I deposited a considerable sum of money with the inspector； to meet
current expenses； and sat down to wait for news。 We were expecting the
telegrams to begin to arrive at any moment now。 Meantime I reread the
newspapers and also our descriptive circular； and observed that our
twenty…five thousand dollars reward seemed to be offered only to
detectives。 I said I thought it ought to be offered to anybody who would
catch the elephant。 The inspector said：
〃It is the detectives who will find the elephant； hence the reward will
go to the right place。 If other people found the animal； it would only
be by watching the detectives and taking advantage of clues and
indications stolen from them； and that would entitle the detectives to
the reward； after all。 The proper office of a reward is to stimulate the
men who deliver up their time and their trained sagacities to this sort
of work； and not to confer benefits upon chance citizens who stumble upon
a capture without having earned the benefits by their own merits and
labors。〃
This was reasonable enough； certainly。 Now the telegraphic machine in
the corner began to click； and the following despatch was the result：
FLOWER STATION； N。 Y。； 7。30 A。M。
Have got a clue。 Found a succession of deep tracks across a farm
near here。 Followed them two miles east without result； think
elephant went west。 Shall now shadow him in that direction。
DARLEY； Detective。
〃Darley's one of the best men on the force；〃 said the inspector。 〃We
shall hear from him again before long。〃
Telegram No。 2 came：
BARKER'S； N。 J。； 7。40 A。M。
Just arrived。 Glass factory broken open here during night； and
eight hundred bottles taken。 Only water in large quantity near here
is five miles distant。 Shall strike for there。 Elephant will be
thirsty。 Bottles were empty。
DARLEY； Detective。
〃That promises well； too；〃 said the inspector。
I told you the creature's appetites would not be bad clues。〃
Telegram No。 3：
TAYLORVILLE； L。 I。 8。15 A。M。
A haystack near here disappeared during night。 Probably eaten。
Have got a clue； and am off。
HUBBARD； Detective。
〃How he does move around！〃 said the inspector 〃I knew we had a difficult
job on hand； but we shall catch him yet。〃
FLOWER STATION； N。 Y。； 9 A。M。
Shadowed the tracks three miles westward。 Large； deep； and ragged。
Have just met a farmer who says they are not elephant…tracks。 Says
they are holes where he dug up saplings for shade…trees when ground
was frozen last winter。 Give me orders how to proceed。
DARLEY； Detective。
〃Aha！ a confederate of the thieves！ The thing； grows warm；〃 said the
inspector。
He dictated the following telegram to Darley：
Arrest the man and force him to name his pals。 Continue to follow
the tracks to the Pacific； if necessary。
Chief BLUNT。
Next telegram：
CONEY POINT； PA。； 8。45 A。M。
Gas office broken open here during night and three month； unpaid gas
bills taken。 Have got a clue and am away。
MURPHY； Detective。
〃Heavens！〃 said the inspector； 〃would he eat gas bills？〃
〃Through ignoranceyes； but they cannot support life。 At least；
unassisted。〃
Now came this exciting telegram：
IRONVILLE； N。 Y。； 9。30 A。M。
Just arrived。 This village in consternation。 Elephant passed
through here at five this morning。 Some say he went east some say
west； some north； some southbut all say they did not wait to
notice； particularly。 He killed a horse； have secure a piece of it
for a clue。 Killed it with his trunk； from style of blow； think he
struck it left…handed。 From position in which horse lies； think
elephant traveled northward along line Berkley Railway。 Has four
and a half hours' start； but I move on his track at once。
HAWES； Detective
I uttered exclamations of joy。 The inspector was as self…contained as a
graven image。 He calmly touched his bell。
〃Alaric； send Captain Burns here。〃
Burns appeared。
〃How many men are ready for instant orders？〃
〃Ninety…six； sir。〃
〃Send them north at once。 Let them concentrate along the line of the
Berkley road north of Ironville。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Let them conduct their movements with the utmost secrecy。 As fast as
others are at liberty； hold them for orders。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Go！〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
Presently came another telegram：
SAGE CORNERS； N。 Y。； 10。30。
Just arrived。 Elephant passed through here at 8。15。 All escaped
from the town but a policeman。 Apparently elephant did not strike
at policeman； but at the lamp…post。 Got both。 I have secured a
portion of the policeman as clue。
STUMM； Detective。
〃So the elephant has turned westward；〃 said the inspector。 〃However； he
will not escape； for my men are scattered all over that region。〃
The next telegram said：
GLOVER'S； 11。15
Just arrived。 Village deserted； except sick and aged。 Elephant passed
through three…quarters of an hour ago。 The anti…temperance mass…meeting
was in session； he put his trunk in at a window and washed it out with
water from cistern。 Some swallowed itsince dead； several drowned。
Detectives Cross and O'Shaughnessy were passing through town； but going
southso missed elephant。 Whole region for many miles around in terror…
…people flying from their homes。 Wherever they turn they meet elephant；
and many are killed。
BRANT； Detective。
I could have shed tears； this havoc so distressed me。 But the inspector
only said：
〃You seewe are closing in on him。 He feels our presence； he has turned
eastward again。〃
Yet further troublous news was in store for us。 The telegraph brought
this：
HOGANSPORT； 12。19。
Just arrived。 Elephant passed through half an hour ago； creating
wildest fright and excitement。 Elephant raged around streets； two
plumbers going by； killed oneother escaped。 Regre
