The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-03-05
Who was the Burglar.
DY MAX KLEIN.

to this place from my native town in the
southern part Of New Hampshire is more
than or any body else can tell.
But left home rs soon as | was of age,
aud being rather giddy. and, as they call it
now days. fast, | wanted to get away from
the eyes of my parents and | thought that
if | could get once into the world and ont of
my native town, ] would ''get rich, and
come home and show he old folks aud the
neighbors that Robert Sanford was somebody
after all. Fortune in some way or other
brought me to this place in the fall of the
year. / at once got situation US clerk in
grocery and confectionery store at very
reasonable wages; and 10 the course of the
next two years. having been very ecOnomico!
with my money, | was admitted as an equal
partner in the business; and it paying first
rate, N .naged to get enough together to
purchase the other interest in the coucerne,
and was the sole proprietor.
Well about that time attended private
party aud there met and was introduced to
beautiful and accomplished young lady. by
the name OF Miss Mary Somers Our slight
acquaintance ripened into intimacy, and in
the course of the summer we were married.
Her parents were we'll off in worldly things
and at once set US up iD neat cottage on the
bounds of the village, and my wife insisted
that my only sister should come and live with
ue, She came jus tas we h ID got comtOrta-
blv settled ana we were OF cUu So very hap
nv TO see her. | not having seen her in six
years Every thing seemed to pass oil pleas
emily for abont two months. when one morn.
ing went as usual to the store aud on my
arrival there, discovered that my wallet was
not III my pocket. | naturally supposed that
I had dropped it at the house; aud needing
l,a thot far-nnnu tn p.V fDr
duce. directly sent my rrrand boy after it.
My wife sent me u note saying that it waS
not to he fOnnd in the the house anywhere.
| then went myself, but with the same re-
snlt IT was not to he found between the
attic and the celrr.
Here was y mistery, I knew that | had
not lost il on my way down, and | came to
the conclusion that it must have bReu taken
from my rocket while | was sslpcp Bat
who could have taken il? There we're none
in ths house but my wife aud sister, the
house keeper and my errsnd boy
The house keeper had lived with my faith
er-in-law nearly fIieen' years, aud was known
10 he strictly honest The boy had been
with ne in the store over year, and !sd in
the course of that time ha'! many chances to
take ten times the amount that was IN th"
Ballet bur had never touched cent or
course cOnu MOI SliSllCt iiC NEu SlSNti'
But who was tie thief?
The next morning my wife missed her gold
watch. This was too mach. We had fastened
the door 60 our chamber aud the only means
Of access was door leading to my sisters
chamber; but if they did, they did it without
waking any OF US.
Matters thus progressed ia this manner for
three nights more, the first night my watch
Was taken, aud the seccnd my gold pencil;
and the third my wiles jewel case from
trunk at the head uf the bed uad-r the table
| then accused the boy boldly Of robGing
the house, at which he was 50 taken back ami
indignant that he left he store Immediately
went to the house and packed his satchel a.d
started for the depot; but | had al officer
there and arrested him just as he was step,
ping on bour1 the train
At being thus accused, arrested and search
ed, the boy was SO ustouished ami ashamed
that he cried, and begged OF me TO let him
60 home But thought this only u rise to
get away on. aud | answered him that
would let him go home when be came down
with the watches, jewery aud money, al
which the boy broke out ia sOhS aud protest
cd his innocence But | could not see it,
and had him taken to the village lock-np-
lie was examined that afternoon, aud tie eVi-
dence vas 50 strong against him. on his at
tempting to leave the town so suddenly alter
'he robberies that the justice supposed he
was the guilty one aud said it must 20 up
the county court which set in three weeks
and If nobndy gave bail he mast 20 to Jail to
await hi, trial. He was sent to the Jail at
the cOuAty seat some six miles distant
That night we supposed we were rid Of the
burglar, and slept sounily without fear of
loosirg any more vuluablcs. But what WAS
our CONSERVATION in the morning TO find my
wile's finger rings gone? She had accidentlty
left them on the stand the night before, but
they were not to he found.
Now who is the burglar?
The next night resolved TO watch. ] ac-
cordiRgiy provided myself VITA a revolver
aud retired, not to sleep; but to keep awake
and watch.
About midnight heard slight noise in
my sisters room, aud in short time her door
slowly opened, aud clutched my cooked re-
volver nervlously for the burglar was coming
When the door swung open my own sister,
in her night clothes sound ASLEEP with lamp
in her hand, came into the room with cat
like step. She came straight to the head OF
our bed and took II fancy china match box
off the stand and went back with the same
nOlSelpSS 81 ID L uIOSt QuIChlN 40 NOuih
and followed her into her room, and / saw
her go at once to her trunk aud open it, aud
then open false top which she let down from
the cover; and looking over her shoulder !
saw my wallet, the two watches, tne jewel
case, my gold pencil and several other things
tl.at had been missed. went back and
awoke my wife who came in' and then we
aw, ke the somnambulist with the open trunk
before her. The mystery was explained and
the real robbcr caught Al daylight | was
as on the road to the county Jail with the
constable, going as fast as hOrse,hesh could
carry US, to release Harry johnson, the boy
l haO imprisoned on a mere supposition
To-day the boy is my equal partner, and
the firm name reads Sanford & johnson. and
my sister is severely cured of somnamhu!ism
Catnip weddings are the latest devices for
o,ettinO mn '.hpnpiits for married hpp0nrs ~