The Osceola times., 1877-03-17

the stairs, and shoot him If he attempts
10 escape by that way. Look here" he
added more earnestly, "Pll not mind
giving you FIVE, or ten, or even fifteen
dollars out of my own pocket, II you'll
only stand by me in this matter. lisa
thing I've been particularly wishing for;
and, now that I've chance, I'm bound To
do it. They're accusing me of hanging
back in the Ryan burglary, and, If ] can
show 'em their mistake, and capture this
fellow without calling in professional as
sistance, it will I've worth 10 me more than
the money III owe you"
In a moment he had arranged his plan.
After going carefully over the first floor,
and securing all the doors oas TO prevent
escape in this direc.ion-all the time OBJ
serving the greatest silence and caution
Perrin posted Goodman at the foot of
the stairs, directed me 10 take my posi-
ton on the halfway landing, and then
himself quietly ascendcd to the second
floor, revolver In one hand and his heavy
boots in the other. Both Goodman and
myself were N fire at the burglar il he
ATTEMPTED TO escape in our direction.
As the policeman disappeared in the
drakness Of the upper hall, | began to
feel rather unpleasantly. i pressed
closely into the darkest corner OF the
landing. and listened. At first all was
dead silence but presently ] distinctly
heard in one OF the rooms above sound
rs of drawer being opened. Then there
was sharp, metallic ring, and some OBJ
iect fell lightly to the floor Here, then,
the burglar was at work. Before | had
time to recover from the creepy chill
which this thought evoked, there was a
sudden, stihed examination--a scuffing
aud trampling OF feet--a chair over
thrown-a crash of glass, and a heavy
fall, oil the floor. The next moment Per
rims voice was heard shouting loudly:
"Hello, here! saunders /? Goodman J
Quick I've got him down.
rushed up and attempted TO open the
door. To my surprise, ii was fastened.
"Break Il in,' cried Perrin, cor get
through the landing window on the roof
of the porch. or he'll escape"
/ rushed 10 the landing. The window
was too high to be easily scaled by one
CT my short and rather pussy stature,
and | ran down into the hall, seized
chair. called 10 Goodman-who, how
ever, made no response, having doubtless
beat retreat on hearing the noise above
and with difficulty and delay sue
ceeded in getting through the window.
| wrenched opened the shutters of the
room in which the struggle was going on,
and throwing up the sash sprang to the
floor within.
All was pitch darkness and deep
silence. Not sound, not a breath,
could he heard. A cold horror came
over me. The thief had murdered his
captor, left him dead on the floor, and
escaped.
groped my way to the door. II WAS
still locked-no doubt by the murderer in
his flight. threw up the front window,
and yelled Justify for help.
"What's the matter?" shouted a voice
from the street.
Murder !" burglars help!"
A crowd, including two policemen,
rushed in. They told me they found the
front door open, though | had the key,
which Perrin had given me, still about
me, and breaking in the chamber door,
pressed on with eager faces.
Where's the burglar?" inquired one
of the officers, looking around AS the gas
was lighted.
Where's the murdered man ?" de-
manded the other, whilst precociously
thoughtful boy pushed his way through
the crowd, ushcring in physician,
whom he had hastily summoned from his
office, few doors off.
There was no mangled body on the
floor, no blood. stain anywhere. A broken
chair, an overturned table, a shattered
Bohemian-glass toilet set these alone
testified to the struggle that had taken
place.
In as few words as possible | explained
the case.
"The thief has escaped, and de
liceman is after Kim" concluded.
Hadn't you better join in the pursuit
at once Z"
1--WE will first look around little"
said one of the officers, coolly.
The search revealed some bureau
drawers pried open, and several jewel.
cases and two understands lying empticd
OF their contents. Downstairs the plate
had vanished from the dining.room clos
cts, and the doors of my writing desk
stood open, revealing the secret money
drawer minus the roll of bank notes
which | had an hour before deposited
there.
How on earth could this have been
done ?" | exclaimed in tewilderment.
"The secretary was locked when we
went upstairs after the burglar. He
could not have had time to do this work
after his escape, and with Perrin in pur.
suit and Goodman at the foot of the
stairs
rather think, sir, that your disin.
terestcd friends, Perrin and Goodman,
know more about this matter than you
do, remarked policeman, grimly, "rll
70 and hunt 'em up now, and no doubt
they'll he promoted for this nights work
Ito the state-prison."
Slowly the light began to dawn upon
my dszed and bewldered mind. looked
around. ! saw grin broadening on the
faces Of all present, and heard a murmur
in which | could distinguish only the
appalling monosylable sold"
One month thereafter | had the pleas
ure Of indentifying my friends, Good.
man aud the soi-di.ant "policeman Per
rim of the Third district" as they were
led from the prisoners box, adorned
with iron bracelets, each to serve
second term in the state-prison, Good.
man nodded patronizing at me, while his
mpanion looked me full in the face,
smiled susvely, and--winked.