Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-04-02

fernal foolery of calling myselfa detective
and letting Satan reign night and day all
over the city. The newspapers drive me
mad They know nothing about the
obstacles we contend with, and goad us
into premature steps, which cost us our
reputation, and end in failure I've been
working in the dark these nine weeks,
but, by Heavens, believe you've shown
me glimmer of light"
Then, producing notebook, he opened
it at well-worn leaves.
"There have BEEN" he began, LOOKING
at me with sort of smile, five great
! robberies within the last six months. and
each one has these special features, char
acterizing it as the work of the same
hands as the other four:
| First, the combination of seven to
eleven masked men, all adroit burglars ::
second, an isolated house is attacked, sure
to contain ample provision for success
full robbery; third, the thieves know the
| premises fourth, the leader of the gang is
| a small man, of active habits, with clear.
| shrill voice"
| He stopped and looked at me.
"I did not know there was arecognized
| leader" remarked.
| He drew a large book from his desk.
1
| in all five cases. Run your eve over II
and you will see that the general facts ali
| coincide. The small man gives directions
and leads everybody"
"PrObably some London craftsman /"
Belts nodded, winked, then leaned for
ward, and whispered in my ear, 81 suspect
| it is woman"
"ImpOssiblei no woman has the nerve -
"a she-devil, then-something in a
woman's form, at all events. The rest of
the gang are as free and easy with each
other as you please, yet no one ever laws
a finger on this little one, but all draw
back to let him pass. He gives orders,
exerts himself when ingenuity is required
| but when strength is needed he looks on
while the others fall to work
You have to Jump at conclusions
sometimes, and find facts to suit. AS
soon as [ had mastered the details I was
| impressed by the conviction that one of
the thieves had been on the premises be-
fore. At Mr.. Stewards, for instance. the
safe is built into the wall, and a false
panel in the wainscOt is the only opening
to it; get the first place the burglars o9
prOacted aoaS that panel, ao1tSch the little
| feILoao slid aside at once. So set to work
| looking for a suspicious character in the
| house, and found all satisfactory till
came to French governess who staid
with them six weeks last spring. Now,
| sir, in each house entered by these masked
| devils there has been during the past
twelve months some similar transient in
mate At Wardwell's it was a French
| cook, in white cap and apron; at the
Lewises', the young lady's page, clever
Buttons; at the Pratts', protege of the
children, a handsome vagrant Italian
| boy, with a violin. And now, Mr.. Pow
ers," continued Belts, bringing his hand
down heavily upon my knee, &c am
ready to swear that you have this danger
| Gus inmate under your own roof, in the
| character of your wife's maid"
| started as if [ had been shot
Impossible" | gasped; 5mpossi6Zeh
But why, Bir, impossible ?"
"The idea is mOnstrous. Marie is a
sweet little gifl, playful as a kitten"
But, Mr.. Powers, you are man of the
world, and know that woman is not
proved honest because she bewitches
you"
but, Belts, admit that though l am an
old fool my wife is a thorough woman,
and, as rule, suspects all her own sex,
yet she is positively fond of Marie''
Marie Is clever little puss. Wherever
she has lived, as man or woman, the
whole family have adored her. Has
Marie shown an interest in these bur-
glaries?'
There could be no doubt of her having
questioned me concerning them with in
tense eagerness, and if spoke to my wife
about any apprehensions while she was
| present Marie never lost word.
docs she know about your silver?
Has she any charge of your wife's dia-
monds?"
started That very morning I had
| shown her my safes behind false book
case in my study, and asked her opinion
whether any one could mistrust those
| innocent-looking encyclopedias, or sus-
| pect the existence of a closet six feet
| square between my room and the library.
| was ashamed of my own greenness, but
made clean breast of it to Belts, who was
| good enough to refrain from expression of
his opinion of my discretion.
My word for it." he cried, I" she has
been waiting to find out that secret, and
now she will leave your house within
tortyelght hours. Her preteXt will be a
reasonable one, and she will promise to
return, but when she does return she will
bring her lang at her heels to rob your
house for you"
/ The idea Of connecting our pretty Marie
with such outrages filled me with horror.
| rejected it strenuously.
Believe or not, as you like" he re-
turned, with shrug, 80 long as you
only follow my advice. Just out of curl
osity, take home little dog with you and
see if Marie does not set to work to be-
| witch it at once. Then the moment she
speaks of leaving your house telegraph
to me-"
Our interview lasted another hour.
| When left him went to dog-fancier's
and bought little yelping black-and-tan
spaniel, and carried him home with me.
Whom did you see in ?" inquired
my wife.
"Don't speak of it." said 1, looking
fearfully about, as if the walls had ears,
"but was with Belts, the detective. You
must not repeat what | say, Marie"
Never, monsieur 2" cried Marie.
"The fact is" proceeded, sinking my
voice into sepulchral whisper, that gang
of masked burglars have been traced to
New Orleans, and may be arrested by
this time"
"Then 1 hope, DEAR" said my wife,
laughing, THAT you will again sleep
soundly in your bed After you got up
last night for the fourth time to prone
made about, pistols in hand, decided ii
might be better to eat off pewter and wear
French gilt jewelry than to lead such a
life"
too laughed. and stretched my legs
comfortably. Eyes, | mean to sleep like
Christian hereafter; besides, | have
brought home dog"