Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-08-14

zen earth of November, and remarking
upon the singular absence of remains be
low; then they turned inward, surveyed
the vacant room, went down the silent
stairways, and made the circuit of the
building inside, returning just in time to
encounter the disguised officers of Justice.
Under the auspices of the latter a stricter
search was instituted, but in vain. Their
Journey had not, however, proved quite
fruitless. In the spotless and tasteful
chamber of Mr. Herrick the officers had
found pair of beautifully kept books,
where the profits of that gentleman during
his residence in G. were recorded in a
copper-plate handwriting, and by new
species of double entry. Each page was
divided into two columns-so much by
trade; so much by profession The first
column was subdivided to show his rela
tive gains by his proper handicraft, and
his locksmith's work. Under the profes-
scrupulously recorded, with the place and
date and sometimes few descriptive
words attached
June 2-Took chronometer at Captain
Jinks'"
August Took fine old snuff.box at
Madame Blaise's"
There also were noted in their true or
der the express and post-off1ce robberies
This unique trophy the officers took away
with them, thereby depriving the archives
of G. of what might have been their
brightest ornament.
Slowly the mind of C. opened to the
full beauty and complexity of the arrange
ment indicated above. The mans too ex-
plicable skill as locksmith, united to his
unimpeachable life and amiable character
had given him access everywhere. He
had literally had the run of evervbodv's
penetralla for three years. To most of
the locks he had mended he had fixed
skeleton keys, and in one or two houses
he had Oftenest visited some window was
found supplied with an ingenious con-
trivance which enabled the artist, by the
insertion of a case-knife and the pressure
of a spring, silently to remove the sash
entire, and to enter at will. 1t was awe
some to think of the range Mr. Herrick
had had. In the express office by night,
in the post-office at all hours of the dav,
in the best chamber, the back-shop, the
wine cellar-where not? The ladies who
had trusted him so implicitly were seized
with strong retrospective terror, and saw
his fine face in every dark corner for
many months. The injured father and
son were restored to the post-Office with
the next change in the Administration
and the expressman was doubly lowered
with the confidence and commissions of
the community, but Mr. Herrick, after the
November night when he literally van
ished in smoke, was seen in the flesh no
more.
1t is needless to say that man of his
wit never jumped out of fourth-story
window He had only to hide adroitly
among the packing-cases of which the
factory was full-perhaps in the very
room IN which he was so valiantly guard
ed-and then depart at leisure after the
search for him had been abandoned A
legend there was that man in a tweed
coat, with an open face and simple, at
tractive manners, was observed next day
upon one Of the northern railway trains,
but no more authentic trace of Mr. Her
rick was ever obtained. A certain mvs-
terry also involved the proceedings of the
men who came to arrest him. The fact
that no effort had ever been made to dis
pose of any one of the stolen articles in
the neighborhood seemed to point to dis
tant accomplices, and there have not been
wanting those who believed that the self
styled officers of justice were of the num-
Der. In any case there is a good reason
to suppose that Mr.. Herrick may yet be
exercising in other parts his original and
highly cultivated gifts.-B0st0n Ado8r-