How I Got Promoted
A Detective's Story
“Tom,” said the chief, “there has been a rather mysterious robbery at Barrowtown, and it’s likely to give the ‘locals’ some trouble. So I wish you to go down there as soon as possible.”
This order I received one hot day in August, on the day after the robbery had taken place. Of course I did not let much time pass before I was at the station and fairly started. Once there, Barrowtown is a quaint, picturesque little town, like many another in goodly England. It seemed almost too dull to be able to boast the doubtful honor of having had a full-grown robbery. Still, I like the quiet little town, for it was there that I gained my first promotion.
I was met at the station by the local inspector, a stout, pompous, excitable little man, who looked doubtful as to the prudence of the Scotland Yard authorities in sending down such an ordinary-looking mortal as myself.
“Oh,” he remarked at last, “so it’s you, young man, is it? I don’t think we are likely to trouble you much this time. The fact is—ahem—we have caught the culprit ourselves.”
I merely bowed, and expressed a wish to see the prisoner, and we both set off for the county jail, perhaps a mile or so away.
Well, it certainly seemed as plain as day to me that the unhappy wretch Inspector Muggridge had in his fell grasp could easily have proved an alibi had not that worthy officer continually interrupted him with:
“Better keep all that for your examination, my good fellow, or it’ll be brought up against you, my man, you know.”
I told him seriously, as soon as I could, in private, that the man he had arrested was no… Read More