The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-03-13

there was sharp metallic ring, and
some object 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 sudden, 81 tl9d examination
IL sculling and tramping OF ioet--a
chair overtbrown--a crash OF glass, and
a heavy tall on the floor. The next mo-
meut Perrln's voice was heard shouting
loudly:
"Hello, here! Saunders! Goodman
Quick! Fve got him Gowni'
j rushed up and attempted to open
the door. To my surprise, it was fast
ened.
"Break it in," cried Perrin, cor get
throu III the landing-Wind0w on to the
70 of of the porch, or he'll escape"
Irushed 10 the landing. Tne window
was too high to be easily scaled by one
OF my pursy stature, and ran uown into
the hall, seized chair, called to Good
man-wno, however, made no response,
haVingdouDtless beat a retreat on hearing
the noise above-and with dith2ulty ana
delay succeeded in getting through the
window. | wrenched open ihe shutters
of the room in which the struggle was
going on. and throwing up the sash
sprang 70 The floor within.
All was pitch darkness and deep ST.
lence. Not a sound, not breath could
be heard. A cold horror came over me.
Tne thief had murdered his capt0r, lett
him dead on the floor and escaped.
groped my way to The door. 1t was
still locked-no doubt by the murderer
in his ilisht. Threw up the front win
dow, ana yelled Justify for help.
mNhats The I" shouted voice
from the street.
"Murderl Duglarsl helpW
A crowd, including two policemen
rushed III. They told me they found the
front door open, though L had the key,
which Perrin had given me, still aDOut
me, and, breaking in the chamber door,
pressed it with eager faces.
"Where's the DurglarW inquired one
of the officers, looking round, as the gas
was lighted.
"Wn the murdered manp de-
manded the other, while u preeoCiOusly
| thoughtful boy pushed his way through
the crowd, usherlng in a physician,
whom he had hastily summoned from his
flee few doors off.
There was no mangled body upon the
floor, no blooa-staIns anywhere. A bro
sen chair, an overturned table, a shat
tered BOnemian-sla lass toilet set-these
alone testified TO The struggle which had
taken place.
"Th0 thief has escaped, and the po-
liceman is alter him." L concluded.
''uadn't you better join in the pursuit
at onceW
1--WE will first look round little" said
one OF the officers, coolly.
The sCarcn revealed some bureau
drawers pried open, and several jewel
cases and two watch stands lying emp
tied oi their contents. Down stars the
plate mad vanished from the diuing-room
closets, and the doors OF my writing
desk stood open, revealing the secret
money drawer minus the roll Of bank
notes which L had an hour before placed
there with care.
"HOW on earth could this nave been
doneY l exclaimed in beWllderment.
"Ihe secretary was locked when we
went up stairs after the burglar. He
could not have had Time to do this work
after his escape, and with Perrin in pul-
suit and Goodman az the foot OF the
stairs"
Il rather think, sir, that your disinter-
ested friends, Perrin and Goodman,
know more ABOUT this matter than you
do," remarked a policeman grimly, 'Fil
60 and look 'em up now, and no doubt
they'll be promoted tor this nights
work-to State prison"
Slowly the Light began to dawn upon
my dazed and bewldered mind. /
looked around. l saw grin bordering
on The faces OF all present, and heard a
murmur in which l could distingu sn
only the most appalling monosyIlaDle-
"Soldw
One month thereafter had the pleas
ure Of identifying my friends, Goodman
and the s0i-distant policeman Perrin
of the Third District" as they were led
from the prisoners box, adorned with
iron bracelets, each to serve second
term III the State prison. Goodman
nodded patronlzingly at me, While his
companion looked me full in the lace,
smiled very suavely, and-winkel.
l may add that the plate aud jewels
with most of the monty,Were covered, {,
but l have since been very particular in
| always closing the wlndow-snutLers and
curtains at night.