Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-02-19

sion OF his setting up any noise Wnien
might attract attention. l even called
+" Neptune. >" Nep :" in a voice M not
much above whisper. No reply. The
moon suddenly shone out, and saw an
ugly, almost shapeless mass lying half
in and half out OF the kennel. Can that
be Neptune asleep 2 All no it was
sleep without waking, for the gallant dog
lay stiff and cold, his limbs contorted by
the death Of agony, fully poisoned.
The sight lent wings to my feet, l
think for though no great walker in
general, and though the read was muddy
ana dark, and the ill-lighted streets and
lanes of the suburb were not to familiar
to me, it was not long before L reached
the house of the superintendent of police.
A little maid showed me into the parIor
where the superintendent and friend,
stout person in plain clothes, sat slipping
their spirits and water beside a little ta-
bic. had once been to the magistrates
court to beg off wretched little boy, all
rags and ignorance, who had been caught
stealing my apples, and whom | did not
wish to be hardly used and he civilly
rose to offer me chair, and to ask what
he could do for me.
"You need not, Miss Primworth, madam
be afraid to speak before this gentleman.
lie belongs to the force; Sergeant Samu-
cl Collins, ma am, the detective from Lon
don. dare say his name may be famil-
lar to you, from the papers"
had never heard of Sergeant Collins
before, perhaps because l seldom relish
the police reports; but | saw that he
looked both a shrewd and a good.nasurcd
man, with twinkling eyes, and broad,
smiling countenance. My tale was soon
told, aud couldn't help seeing, trembling
and nervous as was, that my profession
al hearers were to the full as much eNcit-
ed as myself. They examined the lump
of tcll-tale wax, read the letter that had
fallen from the buffers pocket and asked
me few pertinent and sensible questions.
Then the superintendent tinkled his tea
spoon against the sides of his tumbler till
it rang again, and the detective whistled
softly, irowning the while and rafting the
loose silver in his pockets.
Now, madam, you seem courageous
lady, and clever one too, and you did
the right thing where many would have
tainted or screamed, and got their throats
cut for their pains, very likely" said
Sergeant Collins. ''Wil you be guided
by US a Bit, now Will you let the su-
perntendent and me manage as We think
best, to checkmate those yagabonds at
their little game, even if our plans .
queer one !'
Il will" said 1. And meant it.
should think it was quarter-past ten
O'Clock when | reached the superintend-
ent's house and told my story to himself
and his astute companion. The telling OF
my tale occupied another quarter of an
hour. There remained the interval be-
tween half past ten and twelvc-for
twelve, or about twenty minutes to twelve
was my customary hour for retiring to
rest and can assure you that the time
was not idly spent on the part Of my new
allies.
At five minutes to twelve O'Clock the
two candles on the chimney piece in the
sleeping apartment of Miss Prmworth,of
The Grove, were extinguished, and have
no doubt that the signal agreed upon by
the burglars was duly made. At twenty
minutes after the stable clock had struck
midni ght, some one came creeping, shoe
less, up to Miss Prinworth's door; and
behind him crept another figure, and also
that Of man who had pulled off his
shoes for fear of noise, and tried his ut
most no. to make the boards creak as he
ascended the stairs. Both wore black
masks made of thick Grape that futered
with their breath, and both were in smock
frocks, like rustic la5orers. Yet the first
was Mortimer, the respectable butler, late
of the Venerable the Archdeacon oil
Crossminster, and the second was the So
called apprentice of Mr.. Clcnch the IRON
monger-alias Lanky Dick. Mortimer
had u dark lantern. Both had b. d.
geons.
Other men were busy be'ow. In the
pantry, in the dining-room, men were eau
tiously creeping about, dragging heavy
furniture from the wall. forcing back
bolts, picking locks, filling bags with
punder. There were three men at this
work below. Mortimer and Lanky Dick
had the rest of the work for their share
The UNDERSTANDABLE family jewels and.
heirlooms, whch-were the chief prize
to be looked for, better even than the
heavy old plate below. They were in
presses aud boxes and drawers. Their
owner had all the keys, of course it was
put to frighieu her, Or Mortimer
very gently turned the handle of Miss
Primworth's door. Unlocked So far
so good.
The old lady--Tho misstrcss Of The
Grove-was reading, as late as it was
reading in bed, propped up by pillows
Mortimer, as he peepcd warily round the
curtains, could see her nlghtcap and the
red India shawl wrapped round her shoul.
ders. She was intent on her book, and,
possibly, drowsy, for she nodded slightly
as she read, aud she never even heard his
approach, which was certainly most guard
cd and cautious. lie turned, and winked
exultingly at his follower. There VS.
but one poor little lamp aIight, oi.uso 80
the bed, and Mortimer drew up the slide
of his lantern, darted sorward, and laid
his hand heavily on Miss Primworth's