7. How did Berliner get into the house in Paris? Why did Gard not know he was there? How was the capture finally made?

ADDITIONAL READINGS.

1. “The Four-Footed Police of the Dog Patrol," I. Crump, Boys' Book of Policemen, chap. 6. 2. "The Purloined Letter," E. A. Poe. 3. "Sentinels of the Silence," A. D. Cameron, in Century Magazine, 57: 289–299.

2. ISRAEL DRAKE

KATHERINE MAYO

The blue-coated policeman is a common figure in all cities. He regulates traffic, gives information to strangers, stops runaway horses, takes care of lost children, and maintains law and order. Rural communities, as a rule, are not so well protected. They are frequently without safeguards from thieves and bandits. To protect the lives and property of rural inhabitants and to provide for the common welfare, some States have established a State police. The following true story gives an example of the work of the State police of Pennsylvania.

Israel Drake was a bandit for simple love of banditry. To hunt for another reason would be a waste of time. He was a bandit, just as his neighbors were farmers - just as a hawk is a hawk, while its neighbors are barnyard fowls.

Drake was swarthy-visaged, high of cheek-bone, with large, dark, deep-set eyes and a thin-lipped mouth covered by a long and drooping black mustache. Barefooted, he stood six feet two inches tall. Lean as a panther and as supple, he could clear a five-foot rail fence without the aid of his hand. He ran like a wolf. As a woodsman, even the deer could have taught him little. With rifle and revolver he was an expert shot, and the weapons he used were the truest and best.

All the hill-people of Cumberland County dreaded him. All the scattered valley-folk spoke softly at his name. And the joy of Israel's care-free life was to make them skip and shiver and dance.

As a matter of fact, he was leader of a gang, outlaws every But his own wickedness eclipsed the rest, and he glared

one.

alone among the members of his gang, endowed with terrors that made his very name a word of fear throughout the country.

His genius kept him fully aware of the value of this leadership, and it lay in his wisdom and pleasure to fan the flame of his own repute. In this it amused him to seek the picturesque - the unexpected. Once, for example, while going through Shippensburg on the rear platform of a freight train, he chanced to spy a constable crossing a bridge near the track. "Happy thought! Let's touch the good soul up. He's getting stodgy."

Israel drew a revolver and fired, neatly nicking the constable's hat. Then with a mountaineer's hoot, he gayly proclaimed his identity.

Again, and many times, he would send into a town or settlement a message addressed to the constable or chief of police: "I am coming down this afternoon. Get out of town. Don't let me find you there."

Obediently they went away. And Israel, strolling the streets that afternoon just as he had promised to do, would enter shop after shop, look over the stock at his leisure, and, with perfect good-humor, pick out whatever pleased him, regardless of cost.

Help yourself, sir! Glad we

"I think I'll take this article," he would say to the trembling storekeeper, pocketing his choice. "Help yourself, Mr. Drake! are able to please you to-day." This was indeed the truth. were who would have hastened to curry favor with their persecutor by whispering in his ear a word of warning had they known of any attempt against him by the agents of peace.

And many of them there

Such was their estimate of the relative strength of Israel Drake and of the law forces of the State of Pennsylvania.

In the earlier times they had tried to arrest him. Once the attempt succeeded and Israel went to the Penitentiary for a term. But he emerged a wilier bandit than before. Sheriffs

and constables now proved powerless against him, whatever they attempted.

Then came a grand, determined effort, when the sheriff, supported by fifteen deputies, all heavily armed, actually surrounded Drake's house. But the master-outlaw, alone and at ease at an upper window, his Winchester repeating rifle in his hand and a smile of content on his face, coolly stood the whole army off until it gave up the siege and went home.

This disastrous expedition ended the attempts of the local authorities to capture Drake. Thenceforth he pursued his course without pretense of interference.

At the time when this story begins, no fewer than fourteen warrants were out for his arrest, issued on charges ranging from burglary and highway robbery through a long list of crimes. But the warrants, slowly accumulating, lay in the bottom of official drawers, capturing nothing but dust. No one undertook to serve them. Life was too sweet too short. Israel chanced to bethink him

Then came a turn of fate. self of an aged farmer living with his old wife near a spot called Lee's Crossroad. The two dwelt by themselves, without companions on their farm and without neighbors.

were said to have money.

They

The money might not be much. But, even so, Israel could use it, and in any event there would be the fun of the trick. So he summoned one Carey Morrison, a gifted mate and subordinate, with whom he proceeded to act.

At dead of night the two broke into the farmhouse crept into the chamber of the old pair crept softly, softly, lest the farmer might keep a shotgun by his side. Sneaking to the foot of the bed, Israel suddenly flashed his lantern full upon the pillows-upon the two pale, deep-seamed faces crowned with silver hair.

The woman sat up with a piercing scream. The farmer clutched at his gun. But Israel, bringing the glinting barrel of his revolver into the lantern's shaft of light, ordered both to lie down. Carey, slouching at hand, awaited orders.

"Where is your money?" demanded Israel, indicating the farmer by the point of his gun.

Where's the money?"

“I have no money, you coward!"
"It's no use your lying to me.
"I have no money, I tell you."

Within an hour, however, the two bandits with great cruelty compelled the aged couple to reveal the hiding-place of their few treasures, and before dawn Drake and his companion were gone, bearing the little of value that the house had contained.

When the news of this brutal robbery spread abroad, it seemed, somehow, just a straw too much. The district attorney of the County of Cumberland blazed into white heat. But he was powerless, he found. Not an officer within his entire jurisdiction expressed any willingness even to attempt

an arrest.

"Then we shall see," said the district attorney, "what the State will do for us, since we cannot help ourselves!" And he rushed off a telegram to the superintendent of the Department of State Police. The latter promptly referred the matter to the captain of "C" Troop, with orders to act.

It was Adams, in those days, who held that command. Truer soldier, finer officer, braver or straighter or surer dealer with men and things need not be sought.

The captain of "C" Troop, then, choosing with judgment, selected his man-selected Trooper Edward Hallisey, a Boston Irishman, square of jaw, shrewd of eye, quick of wit, strong of wind and limb. And he ordered Private Hallisey to proceed at once to Carlisle and report to the district attorney for the capture of Drake.

Three days later Private Hallisey sent in his report to his troop commander. He had made all necessary observations, he said, and was ready to arrest the criminal. In this he would like to have the assistance of two troopers, who were to join him at Carlisle.

The report came in the morning mail. First Sergeant Price

They were Privates H. K.
Their orders were simply

detailed two men from the reserve. Merryfield and Harvey J. Smith. to proceed at once to Carlisle, in civilian clothes, where they would meet Private Hallisey and assist him in the arrest of Drake.

Privates Merryfield and Smith, carrying in addition to their service revolvers the 44-calibre Springfield carbine, which is the force's heavy weapon, left by the next train and met Hallisey at Carlisle.

Over the supper-table that evening Hallisey gave the news. "Drake is somewhere on the mountain to-night," said he. "His cabin is 'way up high on a ridge called Huckleberry Patch. He is practically sure to go home in the course of the evening. Then is our chance. First, of course, you fellows will change your clothes. I've got some old things ready for you."

Farmer Stover, like every other inhabitant of the rural county, had lived for years in terror and hatred of Israel Drake. Willingly he had aided Hallisey to the full extent of his power. But now he was asked to perform a service that he would gladly have refused; he was asked to hitch up a horse and wagon and to drive the three troopers to the very vicinity of Drake's house.

"Oh, come on, Mr. Stover," they urged. "You're a public-spirited man, as you've shown. Do it for your neighbors' sake if not for your own. You want the county rid of this pest." Very reluctantly the farmer began the trip. With every turn of the ever-mounting forest road his reluctance grew. At last he could bear it no more.

"Here's where I turn 'round," he muttered hoarsely. "If you fellers are going farther you'll go alone. I got a use for my life!"

"All right, then," said Hallisey. "You've done well by us already. Good-night."

It was a fine moonlight night and Hallisey knew the woods as well as did his late host. He led his two comrades up