The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-04-24

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| and nothing cOpld equal my wife's sym
pathy, and when the girl went into
town the next morning she actually car
| ried a note to Madame De S5urges,
written IN my wife's very best French.
Meanwhile I 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 re-
turn, but would not return. Two of
these predictions were already verified
but if Marie came back I could laugh
at his suspicious, and regard them as
futile.
But Marie did not return at five
o'clock 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 my wife she was i'll, yet obli-
ged to travel homesick IN a strange
land, without a familiar woman's face
near her, and that she had persuaded,
almost forced, Marie to remain and set
out with her and her husband for New
Orleans that very evening. An incohe-
rent, tear-blOtted note from Marie ac-
companied this, filed with protesta-
tions of sorrow at the necessity of thus
deserting US. She was torn by conflict
ing feelings of love toward Mrs. Powers
and her sacred dnty to the mother of
little Helene, the angel child whom she
had so dearly loved, and whose voics
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 predie-
tions.
instantly telegraphed to Belts that
1 would meet him at nv 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 I hurried
down, eager to see the detective. 1t
was on the stroke of twelve when I en-
tered the Office, and I thought at first
that Belts had failed me, for no one was
there but a ponderous old gentleman
with gold glasses and white side
whiskers. I am not used to intrigues
and masquerades, and when I recog-
nized Belts in this disguise 1 could
hardly refrain from exclaiming at his
cleverness but his own GOODNESS kept
me within bounds, and L sat down be-
side him and began reading a paper.
Presently, with his eyes still fastened
on his Herald, he edged toward me,
and dropped these sentences in my ear
Its all going beautifully. +
followed the girl in yesterday. i x
: Went to - hotel. = The
De Sturgeses booked there all straight.
= Whole party left jersey City
at nine o'clock last night, ticketed and
luggage checked to Washington. = x
Slipped out of the car at Newark,
all three in mems dress, and were back
here before midnight. x Net
eight fellows I 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 to-
night.
"At my house ?'' I cried.
He shook his head.
Dunno" said he looking straight
into the fire.
''Look here, Belts" I whispered,
FF this may be fun to you, but, though
I'm no coward, it's death to me. Why
not arrest 'em now ?" .--. .
eyes, Just so, he returned, irritably
&c why not ? Where is your evidence ?
Now, Mr.. Powers, just look at this mat
ter sensibIy. You know as well as do
that half the thieves we catch get off
because no one viii swear to their iden-
tity at their examination. Now I am
anxious to make sure thing of it for
once, and take my oath that I caught
them in the act. . ....
You mean to arrest them while they
are robbing me?
''I do"
"AII right-only I 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 dis
guised his contempt, and went on to
tell me that he had dispatched one Of
his men, Johnson by name, to my place
to make a reconnaissance, under pre-
tense of trimming my eYergreens. Up
on this mans report, and upon two or
three other open questions which he did
not think it worth while to explain, de-
pended his programme for tonight. If
by any possibility there was a likeli-
hood of my house being entered at once,
[ was to know it by dinner-time, that I
might be prepared for the burglars. 1
was meantime to go home quietly, and
spend my time in my usual manner, so
as to excite no comment among the ser
wants, and receiving no word from Belts
was to rest satisfied, and consider my
house safe for another twenty-four
hours.
went home according to directions,
and set about spending the day In my
usual way, but the house was so still,
and seemed so deserted, found it i'm
possible to read, even to sit quietly IN a
chair, for more than five minutes at a
time. So I called the little dog, and
set out for a walk about the gardens,
feeling some curiosity to get glimpse
of the detective, Johnson. 1t was
black December afternoon, a shivering
wind in the tree-tops, and leaden clouds
promising snow before midnight. The
bare ground was frozen hard, and a few
dead leaves eddied about IN gusts that
rose and fell at uncertain intervals.
heard the sound of an ak through the
somber stiffness, and Jingle frisked for
ward and barked at a man hacking 80
the frs In the shrubbery. addressed
him regarding his work, and he Wlnke6
back his appreciation OF our mu5ual
sharpness then I went on, reconnoI-
tered few minutes longer, ma 2ga'n
turned IN. The day seemed endless,
and 7 was Glad when Saunders lit the
gas and shut out the shiverIng land
scape. and funeral clouds with the heavy
curtains. Dinner-time came, and brought
with it a sembIance Of occupation, and
when I was half through my meal
suddenly remembered Jingle, and sent
for him TO keep me company. He was
not In the house. It flashed upon me
that I had not seen him after passing
johnson IN the thicket. and I dispatched
the coachman to call him IN but only
echoes answered the cry. He had evi-
IDENTIFY remained cut In the grounds
with the policeman, and dismissed the
aubieet from nv mind GniaFa9 my dea.