The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-12-21

, NDcfally. ROW,l WISH 10 see lnlS NOll
man, and desire to remain here until h
comes. When he makes his appearanc
shall conceal myself,and determine Ill
course Of action by his conduct. Is thi
the tool you sold him yesterday :"
asked abruptly, producing the Jimmy
"It is wonderful like it, replied tn
Old man. 81 would ret Hesitate to pfo
nounce it Identical"
a few moments later | had detailed
to him all that thought necessary fu
him to know, and had arranged all re
qulste to my obtaininga full view of tn,
purchaser, when he should arrive.
Stationed behint an empty box in :
dark corner of the room, as the town
clock struck sever that evening. saw {
fashily- dressed young fellow Of twenty
five or more enter the shop, and acUost
the lock smith.
"Well; 1ir. Weldon, l. suppose tho
tools.are desc 1 A hafesbarelY tiassst tp
catcIi The 2raii = 5ssests..s slf
tie time to stay. Just roll them up in j
wrapper for me"
lie turned his face full against the
light as he spoke, and | recognized the
features of Boyle Eradcnberg, the most
"accompli5hed'' Of the cracksmeE III the
city, but who, though well known to the
police, had invariably evaded them or
escaped detection.
Thank YOU he said, handiug Wei,
don bill of large denomination, and
taking the parcel in his hand. Il will
call when | again come to L. Good
evening
Not SO fast, Mr.. Boyle Vradeaberg,"
| said, coming from my place df conceal
ment, and seizing HIM by tie arm. 81
arrest you for the robbery of Mr.. Bar
ton Reynolds, yesterday evening You
are my prisoner
He epalcd rs spoke, but instantly re
gained his compoSurc, derisive con
temptuous- smile wreathing his hand
Sonic face.
"a little slower; Mr. Henry Leeds
Proof and q warrant are necessary be
fore accompany You" Their, oh5e:f-
ing me looking for the handouts in my
coat, he continued: s'Of course I'll go
with you, but you must be responsible
for any inconvenience | may suffer"
:'Iou will be treated with all due re-
5pect,' replied, opening the door, and
leading the way to the police hcadquar-
ters, where we soon after arrived. I at
once communicated with the sergeant
of police, who declined to commit the
prisoner, but promised to retain him uni
til morning, furnishing Vradcnberg with
small room adjoining the station keep
er's office, which tic prisoner entered
with 4 light laugh, thanking him for the
accommodation of a room, and request
ing him to leave the door slightly ajar.
Stationin9 myself at small barred
window, with no glass i'll it, | watched
the motions of the man of whose guilt
| was almost positive. Seating himself
at a table, he drew from his pocket n
memorandum book, which he consulted
several times, at the same time writing
on a piece of paper before him. His in
TesugatioES closed, he tore the leaves
from the book to which he had referred,
and holding them in the flame of the
candle before him, watched them burn
TO crisp. Then, once more placing his
pencil to the paper, he wrote or drew for
a few moments, sand lightinga cigar, threw
himself back in his seat, ,mcditdtHIg deep
ly upon some subject or other.
A half hour elapsed and the prisoner
lay back III his chair, apparently asleep.
Cautiously entering the room on tip-toe,
| drew near the table, and, without dis
turbing Vradenbcrg, gained possession
of the paper, and left the room as 81
lently rs had entered.
The following morning Boyle Vradcn-
berg was discharged from custody, there
being no proof to convict him. The
next day, and the next, | pondercd for
hours over the rude diagram L had in
my possession. To give the reader a.
knowledge of the contents of the paper,
would require time and tedious space
! will, therefore, only say that, on the
evening of the second day, I-had so Ear
succeeded in unraveling the intricate
mystery of the diagram as to feel conf
dent that it not only was intended as a
guide TO the place where the box con;
tanning the stolen bonds had been sccre
ted, but that | actually knew the place;
and the developments Of the two days
ensuing substantiatcd my snpposition.
Some ten miles from the city of l.,
and five from the residence of Mr.. Rcy-
nolds, was an unused coal-pit, which had
been cXcavated to considerable depth
before the war, but had been abandoned,
partly on account of its barrenness, and
partly for the non success in enga ring
miners. An old bucket or
tub, used to remove the coal from be-
low still hung suspended by a strong
chaili over the coal-pit, the bottom Of
which was some thirty feet below the
su. face Of the rugged hill above. II was
here, | felt confident, that Boyle Vra len
berg had concealed his plumber, an on
the fifth night after his release from du-
rcsS, started for the place, known as
the De IacS Pit.
The moon was shining brilliantly is
struck off from the main road, in n north
westerly direction, over the long, barren
stretch of country and the sense OF utter
loneliness was oppressive to the mind
At length reached the sparScly wooded
highland, and; securing my stced to a
tree, movedmorc cautiously III the direc
ton of the De llacs Pit, which was
about three hundred yards distant from
where | dismounted Rumors Of cs
capped law breakers finding safe refuge
in this lonely place had reached my ears,
and was not entirely unknown to the
light fingered, but heavily knucklcd, gen
try of l.; discretion was therefore
necessary,
Suddenly l stopped in my course, and
down behind one of the bushes
which grew so thiekIr on the brow Of the
hill. Not fifteen feet before me, and
plainly visible as they stood in tho full
light Of the moon, were two mcu on the
very edge of the pit, conversin. in Il
lone of moderate loutlncss
when | whistle three times, Bob do