Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-03-08

the stairs, and shoot him If he attempts
to escape that way. Look here,n he
added more earnestly, "I'll not mind
giving you five, ten, or even fifteen dol
lars cut OF my W pocket, If you'll on
ly stand by me in this matter. It's a
thing I've been particularly wishing for ;
and, now that I've the chance, I'm
bound to do it. They're accusing me
of hanging back in the Ryan burglary,
and, if I can show 'em their mistake.
and capture this fellow without calling
in professional assistance, it will be
worth to 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 so
as to prevent escape in this direction
all the time observing the greatest ST.
lence and caution-Perrin posted Good
a. at the foot of the stairs, directed
me to take my position ON the halfway
landing, and then himself quietly as
cended to the second floor, revolver in
one hand and his heavy boots in the
other. Both Goodman and myself were
to fire at the burglar if he attempted to
escape in our direction.
AS the policeman disappeared in the
darkness of the upper hall, I began to
feel rather unp~leasantly. I pressed
closely into the darkest corner of the
landing, and listened. At first all was
a dead silence; but presently l dis
tinctly heard in one of the rooms above
a sound as of a drawer being opened.
Then there "a a sharp, metallic ring,
and some object fell lightly to the floor.
Here, then, the burglar was at work.
Before I had time to recover from the
creepy chill which this thought evoked,
there was a sudden, stifed exclama-
tion-a scufi ng and trampling of feet
a chair overthrOwn-a crash of glass,
and a heavy fall, on the floor. The
next moment PERKINS, voice was heard
shouting loudly:
"Hello, here! Saunders! Good
man! Quick! I've got him down."
| rushed up and attempted to open
the door. To my surprise, it was fast
ened.
"Break it in" cried Perrin, "or
get through the landing-window on to
the roof OF The porch, or hell escape "
l rushed to the landing. The win
dow was too high to be easily scaled
by one of my short and rather pussy
stature, and | ran down into the hall,
seized a chair, called to Goodman
who, however, made no response, hay-
ing doubtless beat a retreat on hearing
the noise above-and with difficulty and
delay succeeded in getting through the
window. [ wrenched open 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 ST.
lence. Not a sound was heard. A cold
horror came over me. The thief had
murdered his captor, left him dead or
the floor, and escaped.
Igroped my way to the door. It was
still locked-no doubt by the murderer
in his flight. l threw up the front win
dow, and yelled Justify for help.
What the matter?" shouted a
voice from the street.
Murder! burglars! help!"
"a A crowd, including two policemen,
rushed in. They told me they found
the front door open though | had the
key, which Perrin mad given me, still
about me, and, breaking in the cham
Der door, pressed in with eager faces.
Where's the burglar?" inquired
one Of the officers, looking round as the
gas was lighted.
Where's the murdered man?" de-
manded the other, whilst a precocious-
ly thoughtful boy pushed his way
through the crowd, ushering in a physi-
clan, whom he had hastily summoned
from his office, a few doors Oft.
There was no mangled body upon the
floor, no blood-stains 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 a. possible l ex-
planned the
"The thief has escaped, and the po-
liceman is after him." | concluded.
"Hadn't you better join in the pur-
ur:- - 49,