Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-08-15
THE BURGLARS ENTRAPPED.

w Ntlt VII lilC li'ili, cOiiI7'ii
and |, rushing west at the rate of thirty
miles an hour. johnson was detective,
and he and | had known each other from
boyhood. We talked over our school days
as we sat on the seat together; we discussed
the crops; we argued the moral, social, in
teiectual and political questions of the day
we speculated on the weather; we brought
forth every subject we could think of until,
at last, there came a lull in the conversation.
Then said, as a sudden thought struck me:
johnson, don't you ever have any excit
ing adventures in your line of business?
Tell us IL story Of your experience, will
you?'
My friend laughed, and, fixing his keen
gray eyes upon my face, answered, mus
ingly
"Excting adventures? IIum-yes-
suppose they would be called so. There are
a good many occurrences that ! might re-
late, but | don generally care to speak of
them; however, as it is you. Reade, | wiH
tell You of a curious capture that made
few weeks ago-on one condition.
"Name it,
'''rhat if break off suddenly in the mid
die of my story You will not be di>pleascd."
| knew he had some good reason for his
prOyiso, SO | said:
''tcrtainly not. accept the condition"
Last spring. he began. 81 had occasion
to track a noted Burglar from our city to
Chicago and back but didn t catch him
after all. almost had the clutches of the
law upon him several times, but think he
must have got wind that he was pursued,
for he did number of slrewl things, and
assumed Il number Of strange dis.uiscS,
which bafed my every attempt. Still
determined he should not eludc me by any
mere subterluge, and, though many times
thrown off the trail, entered b few
hours after the fellow himself | don't
think he suspected he could be followed so
closely, for he grew careless and soon
knew his whereabouts. ! knew the man
personally. We We're long acquainted be-
fore discovered hi; character, for he was a
person of education, and in his department
a perfect gentleman. \ man whom you
never would suspect to be guilty Of the crime
which had di>graccd his career
"Well, as ! said, found out where he
was, and about nine O'Clock one moonlight
night, detective Davis and myself, disguised, !,
went in search of him. 1t was at a house
in Tho ,ft bn al
pected to find him, but he was not there.
We made a search, but our eel had once
more slipped through our fingers. Foied
again, we turned our steps homeward. We
parted at the corner, and | was proceeding
up through the business streets alone, when.
passing the door Of aashy saloon, | was
surprised to hear the sound of familiar
voice. IL ras my man earnestly engaged in
conversation with another fellow of the
same class. 1t was not discreet to take him
just there, so. trusting to my disguise,
entered the place. There was crowd
around the bar, eating and drinking. They
stopped their loud talking and laughing for
moment to gaze at me as entered, and
Immediately resumed their hilarity. By
and by the two came in from the doorway,
went into one Of the curtained recesSes and
ordered oysters. Their earnest conversation
had the effect Of rousing my curiosity, and
here was the opportunity to learn what
mischief was brewing. | bought some little
things, a douglmut or two, and left the
saloon. Between this building and the
next there was passage-way about four
feet wide. Into this | went and reached the
window Of the stall where the burglars
were. 1t was warm evening in the last
of May, and the window was open.
crouched down and listened, and recognized
the deep bass voice of my criminal in a
moment.
'What learned that night surprised and
astounded me, and don't need to tell you
all, to tell you what has bearing on this
case. They were indeed plotting mischief.
However, discovered, among other things,
that they were going to Nova Scotia and
Canada to join gang Of thieves, that my
gentleman was the leading spirit, and that
wealthy city in Northern Massachusetts,
was also to be scene of their depredations,
where the whole gang would appear. |
learned the whole plan, the whole method
of procedure, before l left the spot. Thi.
question then presented itself to me !:
Would it not be better to let this fellow
alone for the present, and, by so doing, cap
turc the whole band?' | thought it would,
and, Notwithstanding the large amount of
fcred for his arrest, resolved to keep my
nwn secrnt and Let HIM 1Innnrt In nnncn