Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-06-03

right unaccountable. How is it hu-
manly possible that things can be stole
out Of a second floor window without a
ladder. or anything to climb up by.
unless it's a water-spout--that's what
! want to know. And what's more,
even if he got up. how did he ever get
| down again:"
| Hearing these remarks put aloud,
and in an interrogative for, NJ 5. Stott
thought it incumbent upon her to
speak. and the more so, As she had in
gcniously elaborated theory Of her
own to account for the whole mystery.
"Ifnobody could have got in from
the outside John people as was inside
could have done it easy enough. 1t was
one OF those trapesing scrvant-girls
who dresses so fine, and is always want
ing money to buy gewgagcs, you may
take my word for it,"
II don't suppose. lam, returned
the chicfconstable with supreme con-
tempt. ..that the Bench of Justices
would take your word for il, even il I
was weak enoughto do so-which am
not. The servants are all above sus-
picion, botl at Sir Roberts and Mrs.
Peewits-that was the first thing as we
looked to OF course. But even il il
were otherwise, do YOU suppose that
thicving /, an epidemic, that it should
break out in one-household to-day. and
N h.r skto -.
done. You had better 20 to sleep
ma'am. and leave me TO think the mat
ter out alone. -"
Which, accordingly. this great man,
having drawn his nigntcap On. the bet
ter to consider in. proceeded To do.
Two burglaries on two following
nights. in town under his personal
superintendent. and nobody vet in
custoiy He had never imagined that
such a blot could bcfall his 'scutcheon
1t was not impossible. in town SO
slendcrly guarded. that ladder might
have been employed without detection,
but most certainly in neither OF these
cases had such an instrument been
ANN+A- 44t iit"tI-bOAtN D-Aai. III IDiu
instances, projected beyond the sill, SO
that the top Of any ladder must have
rested on them, and left its mark -
There Was also no trace OF the foot OF
II IN the soil beiow--or sign Of an at
tempt TO remove such trace-although
in the case Of Sir Roberts house, there
was n fiowcr-bed immediately beneath
the window. Mr.. Stott, in short,
brought all his intelligence to bear up
on this problem in vain, and nothing
.Syxt- day rne wnoic town was IN 4
state OF intense alarm. The previous
robbery had created much excitement
among the inhabitants. but not so
much on account Of the crime As Of the
sagacious manner in which their chief
had discovered the mode OF
but now. not only had
second outrage been committed. but
the fact Of IL. occurrence while the ac-
robats were away had proved their in
nocence Of this particular offence
Though the magistrates. not knowing
how 10 account for their seizure, COM
mittcd them for month, - rogues
and vagabonds). and nega,iyed Mr.
John Stott's solution of tn. riddle al
together. The chairman Of the Bench,
who had been accustomed to suck that
officials brain, before addressing his
audience in the Town hall. had nothing
10 say upon the subject except To recon-
mend people 10 shut their second hoor
windows. since, which II was very
warm weather, and most Of them cui-
tiyated iower-boxes. did not give gen
eral satisfaction
The next night the mayors own
house was robbed in a precisely similar
manner.
IL was Oh a Friday, and the local
papers which came out the next day,
published second and third editions, To
describe the details. Besides the
burglary. a sort OF sacrilege had been
committed The thief had actually
possessed himself Of the Municipal
Mace. This beautiful object, although
lot intrinsically valuable. had appar-
entity excited his greed. for he had
dragged it out Of its case as far as the
window, and thence let it fall with re-
port that had alarmed the house, and
dintxd the ground below. When the
door was opened, however (Which the
servants declined TO do, until the prop
er authorities arrivedD, the marander
had vanished, and with him this En-
blem Of Authority, As well as q pair Of
his lordship's boot-hooks. There hap
pened TO be nothing kept i'll that room
but the mayors boots and the town
mace. But the incident was, Of course.
As distressing to Mr. John Stott as
though the regalia had been plundered.
lie felt that his great reputation was
giving way under these repeated
shocks while the rest Of the constabu-
lary were of course overwhelmed with
disgrace and the Tory newspaper
openly advocated stringent measures
aud the calling out Of the feomanry.
II suppose" sighed his wife. upon
this Saturday afternoon, There Is no
chance Of your going with me Tonight
to the Show: And yet it seems such
a pity, after that civil Mr.. Shaw has
sent Us these tickets; and you know l
never enjoy anything-let it be wild
beastesses. or what nOt-without you,
John. How fine they look, with the
picture Of the lion and the unicorn
though the biz says as the unicorn is
dead-with Shaw's Show, 'patronised
by all the crowned heads Of Europe
and admit the bearer, with the auto
graph in the corner, in red ink Why,
the mayors own invitations are not
more splendid"
Don't talk Of the mayor, woman,
for that makes me think Of the Mace"
replied her husband with shiver. Il