Soon after his return from California, Mr. McWatters became associated
with Laura Keene, the actress, as her agent in New York and Buffalo;
and it was while he was at this time associated with her (for he was
connected with her in subsequent engagements) that Mr. MCWatters was
first called upon to enact the part of a detective.
To his success in this instance referred to may be attributed the
series of wonderful articles which constitute "Knots Untied;" for had
he failed on that occasion, it is probable that he would never have had
confidence to attempt again the critical _rôle_ which the successful
detective must necessarily play; and the literature of the age would
therefore have lacked the charming contribution of the mysterious
revelations of hidden life which Mr. McWatters has made in these
spirited tales.
It would be pleasing to the writer to make allusion here in detail,
somewhat, to that incident, and other affairs in which Mr. McWatters
became engaged, and which have come to the writer's knowledge, but
which Mr. McWatters has not seen fit to reveal in "Knots Untied;" but
it would, perhaps, be an unwarranted act to do so. He has conceived the
design of the book to suit his own tastes, of course; and while he has
in these articles struck a chord which cannot but awaken in the popular
mind a rich responsive appreciation of his book, yet he cannot expect
to suit everybody's taste in every respect.