The Expressman and the Detective

During the greater portion of a very busy life, I have been actively engaged in the profession of a Detective, and hence have been brought in contact with many men, and have been an interested participant in many exciting occurrences.

The narration of some of the most interesting of these events, happening in connection with my professional labors, is the realization of a pleasure I have long anticipated, and is the fulfillment of promises repeatedly made to numerous friends in by gone days.

"THE EXPRESSMAN AND THE DETECTIVE,"

and the other works announced by my publishers, are all true stories, transcribed from the Records in my offices. If there be any incidental embellishment, it is so slight that the actors in these scenes from the drama of life would never themselves detect it; and if the incidents seem to the reader at all marvelous or improbable, I can but remind him, in the words of the old adage, that "Truth is stranger than fiction."

ALLAN PINKERTON. CHICAGO, October, 1874.

PUBLISHERS' NOTICE.

The present Volume is the first of a series of Mr. Allan Pinkerton's thrilling and beautifully written

DETECTIVE STORIES,

all true to life--founded upon incidents in the experience of the great chief of all detectives.

At intervals the following will appear:

"CLAUDE MELNOTTE AS A DETECTIVE."

"THE TWO SISTERS AND THE AVENGER."

"THE FRENCHMAN AND THE BILLS OF EXCHANGE."

"THE MURDERER AND THE FORTUNE TELLER."

"THE MODEL TOWN AND ITS DETECTIVE."

That these Volumes will meet with a cordial reception we have no doubt.

W. B. KEEN, COOKE & CO.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

I. Frontispiece--THE ROBBER.

II. At this inopportune moment Simon gave way to his oars, and left the poor deputy hanging in the air. pp. 40

III. "Yah! yah! yah!" roared both the darkies; "you don't know Mother Binks! Why, she keeps the finest gals on all the riber." page 69

IV. As he gaily entered the gallery, twirling his handsome cane, he was welcomed by a pleasant smile from a young lady, an octoroon. page 73

V. Cox and his friends joined in having a good time at the tinker's expense, and pronounced him "the prince of good fellows." page 86

VI. Franklin gave his orders, and the delicious bivalves were soon smoking before them. * * * He kept the alderman in such roars of laughter that he could scarcely swallow his oysters. page 125

VII. "You are my prisoner!" said he. "Nathan Maroney, I demand that you immediately deliver to me fifty thousand dollars, the property of the Adams' Express Co." page 131

VIII. On and on he plunged through the darkness, following the sound of the hoofs and wheels. At times he felt that he must give up and drop by the way; but he forced the feeling back and plunged on with the determination of winning. page 145

IX. "Wal, stranger, whar yar bound?" was his first salutation. Roch looked at him in a bewildered way and then said, "Nichts verstehe!" page 158

X. Mrs. Maroney looked him full in the face with flashing eyes, clenched her little hand, and in a voice hoarse from passion, exclaimed: "What do you want here, you scoundrel?" page 190

XI. In a second, Mrs. Maroney grasped a pitcher and smashed it over Josh.'s skull. page 222

XII. Raising the dead animal by its caudal appendage, he angrily exclaimed, "That's my dog!" page 226

XIII. As he stood outside of the counter, I was enabled to call off all the packages on the way-bill, but dropped the four containing the forty thousand dollars under the counter. page 237