Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-04-02

soundly in your bed. After you got up
last night for the fourth time to prone
made about, pistols in hand, / decided 1t
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. "Yes, I mean to sleep like
Christian hereafter; besides, l have
brought home dog
"a dogi" exclaimed Marie, startled.
ayes" turned and looked at her al
tentively. Don't you like dogsf"
She protested vehemently that she loved
dogs better than anything in the world.
That very day she received letter from
Madame De Sturges, her former mistress,
asking her to come in and pass few
hours with her before she left for New
Orleans. Marie carried the letter to Mrs.
Powers. Madame wishes to talk TO me
about Mile. Helene" pleaded the girl,
with tears in her eyes. Tomorrow will
be the birthday of the pauvre ange, who
lies at the bottom of the cruel sea-"
"Poor Madame De Sturges, exclaimed
my wife, touched at the thought Of the
sorrowing mother; "you must spend to-
morrow with her, Marie. Go in at nine
O'Clock and come back at five"
Marie was grateful, and told melting
stories about the pauvre ange-her beauty,
her piety, her intelligence-and nothing
could equal my wife's sympathy, and
when the girl went into town the next
morning she actually carried note to
Madame De Sturges, written in my wlfe's
very best French.
Meanwhile / had telegraphed Marie's
proposed movements to Belts, and now,
with some nervousness, awaited events
The detective had warned me that she
would win the dogs affections; that she
would leave the house, promising TO
return, but would not return. Two OF
these predictions were already verified |;
but if Marie came back could laugh at
his suspicious, and regard them as futile.
But Marie did not return at five O'Clock !;
a telegram arrived in her stead from
Madame DE Sturges, saying that she had
kept the girl, and would write at length
and explain. Next morning letter was
received from that lady. She told nay
wife she was i'll, yet obliged to travel /;
homesick in a strange land, without a
familiar woman's face near ner, and that
she had persuaded, almost forced, Marie
TO remain and set out with her and her
husband for New Orleans that very even
ing. An incoherent, tear blotted note from
Marie accompanied this, filled with pro-
testations of sorrow at the necessity OF
thus deserving us. She was torn by con-
fiicting feelings of love toward Mrs.
Powers and her sacred duty TO the mother
of little Helene, the angel child whom
she had so dearly loved, and whose voice
she now heard calling to her from the
spirit world, bidding her remain and
comfort the lonely mother.
While my wife read this to me with
tears, stood aghast at Belts predictions.
instantly telegraphed to Belts that l
would meet him at my son-in-law's Office
at twelve O'Clock, then proposed to my
wife that she should go TO town and
spend couple Of days with our daughter,
and offered to drive her in myself. We set
off within an hour, and after leaving her
up town ! hurried down, eager to see the
detective. 1t was on the stroke of twelve
when | entered the Office, and / thought
at first that Belts had failed me, for no
one was there but ponderous old gentle
man with gold glasses and white side
whiskers. / am not used 10 intrignes
and masquerades, and when recognized
Belts In this disguise | could hardly re-
frain from exclaiming at his cleverness;
but his own GOODNESS kept me within
bounds, and | sat down beside him and
began reading paper. Presently, with
his eyes still fastened on his Herald, he
edged toward me, and dropped these SEN
fences in my ear:
ats all going beautifully. y
/ followed the girl in yesterday.
Went to - Hotel. The DE
Sturgeses booked there all straight. y y
Whole party left Jersey City at nine
O'Clock last night, ticketed and luggage
checked to Washington. Slipped
out of the car at Newark, all three in
mems dress, and were back here before
midnight. n Met eight fellows |
know at saloon in street, and can
spot all eleven Of 'em this very minute.
They're at den in - street,
getting ready TO play their little game
somewhere tonight"
"At my houseg" / cried.
He shook his head.
Dunno" said he, looking straight
into the fire.
"Look here, Belts" l whispered, "this
may be fun to you, but, though I'm no
coward, it's death to me. Why not ar
rest 'em nowf"
"Yes, just So" he returned, irritably-
"why not? Where's your evidence
Now, Mr.. Powers, just look at this mat
ter sensibly You know as well as do
that half the thieves we catch get off be-
cause no one will swear TO their identity
at their examination. Now / am anxious
to make sure thing of it for once, and
take my oath that / caught them in the
act"
"You mean to arrest them while they
are robbiDg me?"
81 do"
"All right--only should prefer TO have
the row in another mans house"
saw at once that Belts opinion OF me
had gone down to zero; but he disguised
his contempt and went on TO tell me that
he had dispatched one of his men, John.
son by name, to my place to make a re.
connoissance, under pretense Of trimming
my evergreens. Upon this mans report,
and upon two or three other open queS-
tons which he did not think it worth
while to explain, depended his programme
for tonight. If by any possibility there
was likelihood Of my house being en-
tered at once, was to know it by dinner.
time, that / might be prepared for the
burglars. | was meantime TO go home
quietly, and spend my time in my usual