The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-06-04
THE HAND.

in our Office, behind our desA, When
our Chief entered the room with q
letter in his hand, and addressed me
with on invitation to undertake the
unraveling of q mystery which had
bafled the local police of T.
consented, and departed for the scene
of the crime which had been commit
ted, much limited, however, as to the
time / was allowed for spending on
the case.
Two hundred and fifty thousand
marks had been stolen from the wild
oy of a well connected man named
Friedow. Her villa stood outside
the gates of a small town, and tbs
lost property consisted chiefly 10 coa'
mons and such valuables, together will
q little coin. Her habit was 70 keef
all papers Of importance, as wea 9;
money, ia 9 chest of drawers beside
her bed. Her sleeping room wa
situated on the FIRST floor, aud hat
but one window, which looked on
upon the ward. Her ~conhdentia
friends had often advised Frau Erie
dow to keep her gold at least in som'
safer place, but she had always re
sisted such counsel, and put no faitf
in banks and bankers. As 10 the safe
she had averred that if robbers die
ever modest her, unless her trust,
dog and her faithful Frederick, wht
was her iactotum and the only mall
person upon her little property, coult
not protect her, an iron box woul'
avail little beyond delaying Thieves
in laying bold of what ever the,
wanted.
On the night Of the 7th Of May th'
poor lady was suddenly awakened
about u O'Clock. Her room was u
Illuminated. Before her bed stood
small, thin man, with 9 lantern II
bis left hand and q Ratchet in b.
right. ,
Ia a rough, disguised voice b
threatened to knock out her brains
she SO much as veatured to utter
sound. The unfortunate Frau wa
already ~voiceless from alarm. Thl
speech could scarcely make her NOR
quiet, but she could use her eyes. an
she did so for the next few second
while her visitors remained with be-
She saw that the speaker wore blac
hose, a blue blouse and q mask az
that two more men were busy ia th
background, breaking open her che'
Of drawers. In the fartbest back d
vision, covered over by stocking
yarn and fax, ley q round tin COS
ia which she kept her movable trea
ure. She was just recovering be
self sufficiently to begin thinkin
about risking her life by calling fC
help, when the smothered yelling
q dog was heard without. The rol
bers had found what they wante'
and sprang with il TO the windoT
one sash Of which was open. The
threw themselves on q ladder wit
ont and descended to the groun'
while the third man still kept guar
beside the bed. Frau cried "heiI
help ~ with all her might.
"You may scream as long as 70
like, now,n he muttered, then turl
icg away aud following the othel
from the room.
Frederick appeared at this instan
having been awakened by the nois'
He found the ladder still in its plac
and below, was just in time to say
the life of the house-dog, which ha
been almost choked by a cord twiste
round his neck fastening him in b
kennel. The man-servant reused U
the neighbors, but all pursuit, then
later, by friends privately or by Il
police publicly had been in val
Not the least clue had hitherto bee
obtained as TO the identity of Il
house breakers.
This was how the matter sto6
when ! arrived at r Wbs
had privately communicated wi
the magistrates, my second visit vi
naturally paid to Frau Friedow.
sought everywhere for any speci
indications which might put me {
the right track, but what l four
WIS desperately little. Like tho
who had gone before me, | conclude
that the robbery had, at any raj
been accomplished by persons W.
acquainted with the locality, as e
trance to the premises had been ma
by q small door in the yard, of {
very existence of which many Of {
neighbors were unaware. A pane
glass had been smashed in the wi
dow of the bedroom to enable n
the ASSISTANTS 10 slip back the be
A few footprints had been traced, b
there was nothing remarkable abe
their appearances, and they had be
lost at once upon the high road
street upon which the little col
yard opened.
One thing seemed alone certs
amid the amaze of p~erplexity;
house-breakers must be sought frt
among neigbbors, servants, friends
relations. Now the neighbor theol
upon investigation, seemed uttel
futile, and q glance at old Fred
lex was enough to make one dism
all thoughts connected with the s
ond term 10 the list.
There remained the friends and
lations in the habit of visiting at I
villa. The widow had not the fai
est suspicion of foul play in sny
these nevertheless, / made her
scribe and closely particularize th'
to me. l took up half a dozen imi
inery sceLts / ran bither and thi
err; / ~telegraphed in various dir
tions. / worked, in fact, in the swt
ofmy brow but, alas the result "
simply nothing, nothing, nothiI
nothing. / never before had be
So utterly puzzled and h~opelessly
fault.
On the fourth day of my resider
at Tt went again to the vii
where the widow greeted me W
eyes full of expectation. Frau Fl
dow" / said, at seems to me hare
possible that you are utterly witbt
suspicion in any quarter. There MI
surely be some one or other on wh'
your mind has fixed, if it were |
for a secoLd. Confess it is so, a
con6de in me-"
II assure you | have not a sh'
owy thought such as you describ
she replied, in q much disappoinl