Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-05-02
THE WOUNDED HAND.

his hand and addressed me with an in
vitation to undertake the unraveling oi
a mystery which had baffled the loca
police at T. consented, and departed
for the scene of the crime which had
been committed, much limited, how.
ever, as to the time l was allowed fol
spending on the case.
Two hundred and fifty-fve thousand
marks had been stolen from the widow
of well-connected man named
Friedow. Her villa stood outside the
gates of small town, and the lost
property consisted chiefly in coupons
and such value, together with a little
coin. Her habit was to keep all papers
of Importance, as well as money, in a
chest of drawers beside her bed. Her
sleeping room was situated on the first
floor, and had but one window, which
looked out upon the yard. Her conf
Dental friends had often advised Frau
Friedow to keep her gold at least in
some safer place, but she had always
resisted such counsel, and put no faith
in banks or bankers. AS to safel she
had averred that if robbers did ever
molest her, unless her trusty dog and
faithful Frederick, who was her factotum
and the only male person upon her lit
tie property, could protect her, an iron
box would avail little beyond, perhaps,
delaying the thieves in laying hold OF
what they wanted.
On the night of the 9TH of May the
poor lady was suddenly awakened about
twelve O'Clock. Her room was illu-
minated. Before her bed stood small
thin man, with a lantern in his left
hand and a hatchet in his right. ~
In a rough disguised voice he threat
ened to knock out her brains if she so
much as ventured to utter a sound.
The unfortunate Frau was already
voiceless from alarm. This speech
could scarcely make her more quiet,
but she could use her eyes, and did SC
for the next few seconds while her visit
ors remained with her. She saw that
the speaker wore black hose, blue
blouse and a mask, and that two more
men were busy in the background
breaking open her chest of drawers.
In the furthest back division, covered
over by stockings, yarn and fax, lay o
round tin case, in which she kept hel
movable treasures. She was Just re-
covering herself sufficiently to begin
thinking about risking her life by call.
ing for help when the smothered yelling
of dog was heard without. The
thieves had found what they wanted,
however, and sprang with it to the
window, a sash of which was open.
They threw themselves upon a ladder
without, and descended to the ground,
while the third man still kept guard be.
side the bed. Frau Friedow cried,
"Help! Help" with all her might
You may scream as loud as you like
now," he muttered, turning away, and
following the others from the room.
Frederick appeared at this instant
having been awakened by the noise
He found the ladder still in its place
and below, was just in time to save the
life of the house dog, which had beer
almost choked by a cord twisted round
his neck fastening him to his kennel
The man servant reused up the neigh
bors, but all pursuit, then or later, by
friends privately or by the police pub
icly, had been in vain. Not the leas
clew had hitherto been obtained as Il
the identity of the house-breakers.
This was how the matter stood whel
arrived at T. When 1 had privatel,
communicated with the magistrates M
second visit was naturally paid to Frat
Friedow. | sought everywhere for any
special indications which might put mi
on the right track, but what l founC
was desperately little. Like those whC
had gone before me l concluded tina
the robbery had, at any rate, been &C
compllshed by persons well acquainted
with the locality, as entrance to tn,
premises had been made by a small
door in the yard, of the very existenc,
of which many of the neighbors wer,
unaware. The ladder made use of hat
been dragged out of nook in which
had long lam concealed. A pane O
glass had been smashed in the window
of the bed room to enable one of tn,
assailants to slip back the bolt. A few
footprints had been traced, but ther
was nothing remarkable about thei
appearance, and they had been lost a
once upon the high road or street upol
which the little courtyard opened.
One thing seemed alone certain ami,
the maze of perplexity; the house
breakers must be sought for from am on
the neighbors, servants, friends or rela
tions. Now the neighbor theory, upo
investigation, seemed utterly futile, an
one glance at old Frederick was enoug
TO dismiss all thoughts connected wit
the second term in the list. There re
manned the friends and relations in tn
habit of visiting at the villa The wid
ow had not the faintest suspicion G
soul play in any OF these; nevertheless
l made her describe and closely partiC
ularize them all to me. took up hal
dozen imaginary scents; ran hithe
and thither. l telegraphed in variou
directions. i worked, in fact, in th
sweat of my brow; but, alas! the resul
was simply nothing, nothing, nothing
never before had been so utterly pul
zled and hopelessly at fault, l.'<
On the fourth day of my residence 3
L. went again to the villa, where tn
widow greeted me with eyes full of e,
pectation. Frau Friedow," | sale
"i it seems to be hardly possible ths
you are utterly without suspicion
every quarter. There must surely b
some one or other on whom your min
has fixed. if it were but for secont
Confess it is so, and confide in me-"
I" l assure you l have not even
shadowy thought such as you describe,
she replied, in much disappointe
tone.
"And has nothing more struck yo
about those men you saw in your roo
than you have already mentionedP Or
remembers things on due considerable
which have been often overlooked b
fore. Did you notice no peculiarit
about any of the scoundrels-in II
voice, for instance; the way of stan,
ing, the hands of him who held d
axeP Had he on a ringP Did he loo
rough, like the otheEsP"