The Stolen White Elephant | Page 5

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 ignorance--yes; 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 south--but 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
it--since dead; several drowned. Detectives Cross and O'Shaughnessy
were passing through town, but going south--so 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 see--we are closing in on him. He feels our presence;