right stuff and shine like good deeds in a naughty world.

As one peruses this little pink pamphlet he is constantly
struck by the repeated references to the detective as an
actor. That was undoubtedly the ancient concept of a sleuth.
"He must possess, also, the player's faculty of assuming any
character that his case may require, and of acting it out to
the life with an ease and naturalness which shall not be
questioned." This somewhat large order is, to our relief,
qualified a little later on. "It is not to be expected,
however," the author admits, "that every detective shall
possess these rare qualifications, although the more talented
and versatile he is, the higher will be the sphere of
operation which he will command."

The modern detective agency is conducted on business
principles and does not look for histrionic talent or general
versatility. As one of the heads of a prominent agency said
to me the other day:

"When we want a detective to take the part of a plumber we
get a plumber, and when we need one to act as a boiler-maker
we go out and get a real one--if we haven't one on our pay
rolls."

"But," I replied, "when you need a man to go into a private
family and pretend to be an English clergyman, or a French
viscount, or a brilliant man of the world--who do you send?"

The "head" smiled.