Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1870-03-25

icer was closeted with Mr.. johnson, and
naturally feared that he had fallen under
suspicion. The first words of the detect
hension on that score. IL
NOW, my man, L want 10 ash y1u afew
questfcns, Snd you must answer me care
fully Don't be frightened, we know that
you have had nothing TO do with this rob-
berry, but fancy you can help me in find
ing out who has"
Every good, sir; but don't know how"
"W no closed the warehouse last nightT
81 did, sir"
"Are you certain that all was securely
fastened2"
"Exactl y the same as every other night
"And the fastenings had not been tam
pc rcd with in any way when you undd
them this morning?"
"No SIR"
"Well, now, who was the first person "
whom you spoke to-day2"
~ think it was Mr.. -" Naming
one of the clerks.)
"Ah, but thinking won't do. Did not
any one speak TO you, or ask any question
of your"
"Yes, gentleman did ask me what time
Mr.. johnson usually came to the store, as
he wanted TO see him about some orders"
"What sort of man was he? Can you
describe him2 2''
"1le was young gentleman, very pleas
ant-spoken, dark, with moustache, and
very well dressed. He said he came from
the country, and was traveller to a firm in
the same line as ours, who were going to
buy largely from u.s."
WAS he alone?"
mo, there were two others with him,
81 +, both nice-looking young gents"
"Did he come in?"
"oh yes, he came in; l had just opened
the door, and was sweeping the floor, so
he walked straight up 10 me, and"
Did his friends Ct me in too?"
I'm not q ute sure Of that, but / think
they must have, as it was raining, and they
wouldn't stand out in the wet"
"shoud you know them again, If you
should see them?"
~ should know two of them-the one
who spoke to me and another, who had
carpet-bag in his hand. He walked a little
lame"
"Thatll do, porter, you need not say
anything outside, but am afraid we have
not learned much"
GAN right SIR"
AS soon as he had gone, the detective
turned TO Mr.. johnson and said "You
will soon get your property back, l ex-
pect, sir. Those three men are sneak
thieves, and if they are the same l believe
them to be, think 1 know them. They
always pursue the same plan. First of all
they discover from confederate, generally
female, the place where the best
booty is to be most easily obtained. They
then rise early in the morning, and wait
outside until the porter opens the door,
taking great care that no one is observing
them. One then enters, and addesses the
porter, telling him some such tale as this
fellow told yours, and while he is talking
the other two adroitly slip whatever they
can into bag which they have with them,
and decamp as soon ii is filled. They are
always well dressed, and would appear to
b thorough gentlemen to those not con-
versant with their tricks, and mention that
they have just come up from the country,
early in the morning. You will hardly be-
lieve it, perhaps but thieves carry about
with them external marks of their profess
sion, which to detective officer are unmis-
taxable. For instance, they have a pecu-
liar walk, and movement of the arms
they are generally ungloved, and carry
nothing in their hands, while they are con-
tinually glancing on one side or the other
to see if they are being watched. would
guaranty to pick a thief out from among
one hundred honest men, let his general
appearance be what it may"
The detective then took his departure,
promising to communicate again with Mr.
johnson as soon as he had anything of i'm
portance to tell him, and proceeded to
headquarters to report. He had observed
three young men frequently walking about
to gethor, and from their general appear
ance had set them down in his own mind
as thieves of some sort or other, although
he knew nothing positively against them.
He was irresistibly reminded Of the trio
by the robbery in Broadway and the de-
scripton given by the porter of the man
who conversed with him conceded remark
his especial notice. He determined there
fore to keep sharp lookout and trace
them home, should he run against them.
Mr.. johnson, meanwhile, after attending
to several matters of business started to go
up town, and on his way met young
Vaughan, who seemed strangely excited at
the encounter. He turned, however, at
Mr.. Johnson's request, and listened attent-
lively TO his account of the robbery, ex-
pressinga hope that the perpetrators would
soon be brought to justice. lie did not
seem very well pleased, nevertheless,
when he heard that the detective conceived
that he already had a clue, and was unable
to conceal his agitation when his compan-
ion remarked in whisper: "Do you see
that man? he is the officer whom l have
engaged it is singular that we should meet
him."
Vaughan suddenly remembered that he
had forgotten a commission entrusted to
him by his sister, and hastily bidding Mr..
| johnson good-by, hurried off in an oppo-
site direction. The detective Immediately
came up and asked his employer who the
gentleman was who had just left him and
on hearing that he was friend of the fam
| lily, gave long, low whistle expressive OF
| the most intense surprise.
"Where does he live, sir? Tn sure /
| have seen his face somewhere"
AT No. Fourth street, Why do you
! ask ?"
"Oh, simple curiosityi it's way We
have" and he, too, left the puzzled mer-
cant
and rack ed his brain to elucldate the mys-