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DETECTIVES, INC.
A Mystery Story for Boys
by
WILLIAM HEYLIGER
The Goldsmith Publishing CompanyChicago
Copyright 1935 byThe Goldsmith Publishing Company
Made in U. S. A.
CONTENTS
PAGE Foreword 13 Theft in the Rain 21 Voices in the Night 53 The Unknown Four 81 Blind Man's Touch 107 Birthday Warning 137 The House of Beating Hearts 163 As a Man Speaks 193 Arm of Guilt 221
FOREWORD
DOGS WHO SET BLIND MEN FREE
In Morristown, New Jersey, there is what is probably the most remarkableschool in the world--a school where dogs are educated to liberatephysically the blind people of our country. This school is called TheSeeing Eye and was founded in 1928 by a woman whose life and wealth hasbeen devoted to this remarkable cause; her name is Mrs. Harrison Eustis.
Female German shepherd dogs are chosen for this work because they are noteasily distracted from the duties entrusted to them. It takes from threeto five months to complete a dog's education. The first few months arespent with her instructor: she learns to pick up whatever he drops;learns that if she walks off a curb without first stopping, he stumblesand falls; that if she passes under a low obstruction, he hits his head.
It is very hard to find men with sufficient patience to learn how toeducate these dogs and it is equally as difficult to teach the blind howto rely upon and use these dogs.
HOW THE DOG WORKS
The method by which the dog and man work together is simple. The dogguide does not take her master to his destination without being toldwhere to go. It is not generally appreciated, but blind people develop anadequate mental picture of their own communities. All they need is ameans by which they may be guided around _their_ picture. In a strangecity they ask directions as anyone else would. It is simple to rememberthe blocks and to remember also when to go right or left. In familiarterritory people with eyesight do not look for the name of every street.The master directs his dog by oral commands of "right," "left" or"forward." But it is the dog that guides the master. By means of thehandle of the leather harness which he holds lightly in his left hand,she takes him around pedestrians, sidewalk obstructions, automobiles,anything which may interfere with his safe progress. The pace is rapid,rather faster than that of the average pedestrian. Upon arriving atstreet crossings the dog guides her master to the edge of the curb andstops. He finds the edge immediately with his foot or cane and then giveshis guide the necessary command for the direction in which he wishes togo.
The dog can be depended upon to do her part. Her lessons have beenthorough, particularly those which teach her to think for herself. Shemust pass the school's rigid "blindfold" test in which her instructor'seyes are bandaged so that he is, for practical purposes, blind. She isthen tested under the most difficult conditions, on streets andintersections and in the heaviest of pedestrian and auto traffic. Shedoes not look at traffic lights but at traffic. When she passes she canbe certified as ready for her blind master.
Not every blind person can use a dog guide. Some are too young, many tooold. Some do not like dogs. But conservative estimates indicate thatthere are about 10,000 in America who would benefit through a dog guide.It is understandable that leading workers for the blind, business men andwomen, are urging The Seeing Eye to extend its facilities as rapidly asis consistent with the maintenance of the highest possible standards.
THE ESSENTIALS TO SUCCESS
There are no secrets which The Seeing Eye uses to make the shepherd aneffective guide, but there are several essentials to success. The firstis experience. The knowledge gained by the years of work which have goneinto the development of The Seeing Eye is called upon in the education ofevery student. A second essential is that the carefully selected dog iseducated, not trained. She is taught to think for herself and in herinstruction learns certain principles which she can apply to problems shewill meet later. If she reacted only to commands she would be useless inguiding blind people. Another essential is the fact that she loves towork. To her, service is a pleasure and not a duty. Her master's hoursare hers. Her main compensation is her master's affection and his utterreliance on her.
Blind students, men and women, come to the school in classes of eight,the maximum an instructor is able to teach at one time. While their majorobjective is to learn through practice and instruction how to direct thedog and follow her guidance, some of them must learn other things, too.Many of them since blindness have lost the faculty of finding their wayin known surroundings. Others have fallen into the habit of shufflingfeet and groping walk, with body bent forward and hands outstretched.Some never have walked down stairs unaided. These are things which mustbe unlearned if the dog is to bring independence. At The Seeing Eye thestudent is taught to free himself from these habits of helplessness, sothat self-reliance and courage gradually return. Anticipation replacesdespair as the dog opens a new world for her master, one he dreamed ofbut never hoped to have again.
All the practice work of the student with his dog takes place on thestreets of Morristown. Here, morning and afternoon each day, the studentgradually assimilates his lessons. Near the end of his month's course heis able to go easily and fearlessly about the city without an instructor,just as he will in his various activities on his return home.
THE DOG AND HER MASTER ARE INSEPARABLE
From the time the student is assigned his dog, the two are inseparable.No one else feeds or cares for her and within a few days the two arebound together by a mutual affection--a tie which remains unbrokenthroughout the years of the dog's working life. Even about the house,where no guiding is necessary, dog and man are constantly together justbecause they want to be. She even sleeps close by her master's bed.
NOTE
For the sake of the story certain qualities have been given "Lady" whichare found in individual German shepherd dogs, though never present in ablind leader.
DETECTIVES, INC. _A Mystery Story for Boys_
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