Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-11-28
whether I am or am not Mr.. Robert

WuclucT dl1 VI dul AOb ulI 4tOuClb
HAYNES"
aVery we'll got off. my young gentle
man, but you must allow me to take your
arm"
81 am not in the habit of walking arm
in arm with policemen" said l. haughtily.
"Then shall be obliged to arrest you
for suspicious conduct" he responded,
preparing the way for action.
There was nothing for it but to submit
to have his blue sleeve passed through
my black one, and proceed to the resi-
dence of the judge-to find out if l was
myself
We had hardly passed to the sidewalk
when, fortunately. the judge himself
came along.
"Hello, Haynesl' he cried. and then
| glanced at the figure at my side.
81 am about to be arrested for break
ing into my own house." said, return
ing his salutation The policeman had
suddenly dropped my arm, as if it burned
him. The old Judge, who relished al oke,
burst into guffaw of laughter which
brought the neighbors to their windows.
"By-the-wav." said the judge, when he
had recovered himself, ''you had better
keep your friend of the star in tow. My
wife spoke to me about your housekeeper
this morning; said she went away in a
carriage. and took more bundles than she
brought when she came here"
My heart beat almost audibly. Could
this gentle-browed, low-voiced woman, of
whom had thought in connection with
diamond engagement-ring, be vile
enough to deceive me, to despoil me? The
supposition was too dreadful.
81 counsel you to attempt another
raid," he added. 'Perhaps Johnny, here,
I Wi crixr honcf - on6 hn 1anrbod
again at may be all the purest conjec-
ture on my wife's part, you know. Ladies
are apt to be suspicious of housekeepers.
| Ha! ha! ha"
1t might be all mistake! 1t was a
mistake, repeated, almost furiously, to
myself. Mrs George, that quiet-moving,
perfectly lady-like person; Mrs. George,
whose lightest step had sometimes set my
pulses fluttering; of whom had dreamed
I dare not say how often; whose superb
eyes, swan-like throat, and stately pres
ence had admired untold of times-she
to descend to any little petty meanness,
to house-lifting!
1 entered the domicile at the back win
dow, bidding the policeman be within
call. The first thing saw in the base
ment passage was the dead body of poor
Jip, my pet terrier He had evidently
been poisoned. 1 walked through the
the lower rooms. A costly bronze clock
and three expensive vases were gone from
the parlor shelf; also very beautiful lit
tie group in terra Gotta, for which had
given an extravagant price. On closer
examination I saw that the edges of my
new carpets were loose. They had GER
tainly been tackled down before.
opened the door into the front hall,
which literally swarmed with packages.
They stood on the chairs, on the hat-rack,
oD the table-everywhere Not caring to
stop to examine these evidences of dis
honesty, went up stairs to the second
story. There on toilet-table lay neat
ly folded note, of which the following is
a transcript:
"DEAR MATT have packed everything that
could be conveniently carried Clothes the sill
yer, the books. and as many light ornaments as
possible. think you might easily take the car
pets, if you expeditions and rely upon
your men. The old gentleman q bit my tongue)
won't be home till noon tomorrow. have cir
culated report that he intends to dispose of some
OF his furniture; consequently yoq might fill a
| couple of large vans. The money have in my
possession. 1 contrived to loosen the carpets at
the edges but could not move the heavy furniture.
You can fold the first, and your men can carry out
the latter. hope you have followed my direc-
| tons as to dress; the neighbors will take you for
Mr.. HAYNES If it had not been for you Mat.
would have let him make love to me- Icoatd tlCist
him round ney finger!
|
designated. The servants are in my pay, and
have sent them off. You cannot tell how patient
ly I have looked forward to the completion of this
little scheme. My dear Mat, if get off 1--WE shall
get Off we are made for life
"And now, my darling, farewell for a short time
| wish could have seen you, but this letter must
suffice. Destroyn at once"
So she could twist me round her finger,
could she? The truth in this bold asser-
ton made me vince; felt fool down
to my finger ends.
The Star joined me at a signal, and we
went up stairs together.
cts the most outdacious thing 1 ever
heard tell of" he exclaimed. "We will
wait up here and see the play out I'll
bow the shutters, and there'n be some
fun before long. Have you got any shoot
g-irons?"
went to my room and returned with
two revolvers.
''That is good" he said, his stolid face
lighting up; now we are prepared for
them. 1t will be pretty case. Suppose
you suspect the housekeeper?"
had kept the contents of the letter to
myself, merely giving him hint or two,
but I felt my blood boil at the mention of
Mrs. George.
eyes, of course l suspect the house
keeper. She turned off my old servants
and brought two creatures of her own
here. Nobody knows how much they
have carried Off"
''It's resky business" muttered the
Star, with shrewd glance. ''Men amt
never safe with women folks about, un-
less the ladies are in the firm, by Jove!
Rayther nice-lookings" and the fellow
winked vulgarly.
"No, ugly as the deuce!" was my half
savage reply. 1t would never do to let
this man know how l had been cajoled by
an artful interloper.
Here's our camel" whispered the po-
liceman, as stylish carriage drove up to
the door.
I looked down. The make up of the
thief was complete. A casual acquain-
tance would have sworn that it was me,
The fellow sat gracefully back in his car
riage, waited till the coachman opened
the door, and stood there a moment on
the sidewalk, looking carelessly around
"Sure it's perfect duplicate; but he'll
send the carriage off presently It's in
specting he'll be about for time, and
then different kind of carriage I'll be in
waiting"
Sure enough, the stylish equipage was
driven off, and the man with the very
trick of my own step, lounged coolly up
the door, the red-lined cape of his coat
J,,..iiy 1iePidyou. OIHoo ludt udy nave
discarded red lining.
The door opened, and the fellow went
prowling over the lower rooms. In a
very few moments he was Joined by two
other men, whom he let in by the back
basement door.
"We1l contrive to intercept them"
whispered the policeman. 'sYou Just
stand here with your two pistols, and I'll
lind my way down, so as to surprise them
If they show fight, fire."
He crept down stairs. I waited, trem-
bling little, but resolute. The men
men trampled about for a while, and
said something about dray round the
corner. Presently they gathered in the
parlor, and began to take up the carpet,
thinking, no doubt, they were working
for Mr.. Robert Haynes. Then the Star
posted himself in the back-door, and
called me down by sign.