Mexico weekly ledger., 1880-08-05
HOW I GOT PROMOTED.
A DETECTIVES STORY.

been rather mysterious robbery at
Barrowtown, and it's likely to give the
locals some trouble. So 1 wish you
to go down as soon as possible"
This order received one hot day
in August, on the day after the
robbery had taken place. OF course
/ did not let much time pass before l
was at the station and fairly started.
Once there, Barrowtown is quaint,
picturesque little town, like many
another in goodly England. 1t seemed
almost too dull to be able to boast
the doubtful honor of having had a
full grown robbery. Still, like the
quiet little town, forit was Athere that
l gained my first promotion.
/ was met at the station by the 10
cal inspector, a stout, pompous,
excltable little man, who looked,
doubtful as to the prudence Of the
Scotland Yard authorities in sending
such an ordinary-look'ng mortal as
myself.
"Oh,' he remarked ut last, $50
it's you, young man, Is it? l don't
think we are liable to trouble you
much this time. The fact is-ahem-
we have caught the culprit ourselves"
L merely howed and expressed a
wish to see the prisoner, and we both
SET off for the county Jail, perhaps a
mile or so away.
| Well, it certainly seemed as PLAN
as day to me that the unhappy wretch
on whom Inspector Muggridge had
laid his fell grasp could easily have
proven an alibi had not that worthy
officer continually interrupted him
with:
''Better keep all that for your ex-
animation, my good fellow, or it'll
be brought up against you, my man,
you know"
| told him seriously, as soon as l
could, IN private, that the man he
had arrested vas no more guilty than
l was but he simply smiled incredu-
lously, and asked who else could be
the culprit, as this was the only really
abandoned character OF the town, and
it was plainly the work of some one
who knew the place. Besides be
added, sit isn't very likely that any
one could beat me on my own ground,
where l know everybody, you know
and if lie didn't do it, who did?''
With which really unanswcrable ar,
gument he accompanied me to the
: scene of the robbery, where we were
shown over the premises by the mis-
tress of the house.
When saw the ground floor win
dow by which access had been gained
to the house, l quite agreed with tht
worthy "local" that it was the worl
of ''new hand;" and that from tn,
fact that his footprints, wherever w
could trace them, showed no hesita
2 ton, but rather thorough acquaint
, ancs with the grounds; the culprit
whoever he was, must have had som
opportunity of visiting the scene Q
: operations, and probably lived some
| where in the neighborhood.
ri 1t seemed that the thief had entere'
| the house by window in the rear
a and carried Off a small box of valua
\ bles from the room of the master Q
/ the house, who had been staying at
friends on that night. Both thes
r facts showed an intimate knowledg
, of the premises on the part of the cul
4 prit, and strengthened our former be
1 lief. We were informed that the los
n casket-an ordinary tin cash. box
n had heen almost filled with variou
n articles of jewelry, and, therefore, til
b loss was rather heavy. Of course th
/! knowledge that there would be goo
O. reward for the recovery of the missin
Q property did not abate my zeal. Still
# in spite of my eagerness to discove
the culprit, could make but little {
It the case, and might even have com
k over to the opinion of the slocal, bu
d for one important fact namely, til
"a footprints in the garden bed were a
l. smaller than those of the prisoner
is Now, although q, man may wear boo
e several sizes too large for him on o,
e casion, yet he can hardly walk viii
,r comfort in shoes an inch Or so to
t. short. --. ....
!. Very much annoyed at my want
d success, and dreading the chaff
}. should be sure to get when, compel
el ed to give 1t up, l should return
town, l was not particularly delighte
next morning to see Mr.. Muggrid.
coming up the road to the house a
companied by the editor of the Bs
rowtown Weekly Banner, who hs
w determined, he said, to write up I
L. account Of the robbery himself, b
20 there was no escape, and so, prepar,
10 for a host of questions, l was waikiki
~ slowly to meet him, when my eye W
7" caught by something bright amo
ne the bushes by the roadside. Ye
Mt there could be no doubt Of il; the
k Law the lost box, empty Of .cours
~ Without stopping, however, walk
{" as calmly as possible on to the
on speetor and was introduced to n
of Shears, the editor, II was simI
ull wonderful how obliging I had becon
NJ even, when Mr.. Muggridge hint
that he was pressed for, time, volt
Us teered myself to give Mr.. Shears
OF information he wished, and to
he over the premises with him. Or
me left alone with the Jealous represen
by tive of the press, l gave the gent
hes man all the points in the case, and
ool few more, as you shall see.
ma The next forenoon, as -soon.~as
ms copy of the Banner came to the ho,
be where the robbery had occurred
in, had for two days spent from the 20
ow neon until dusk fhereI turned
we the end of the column devoted to-
ear .sGreat Robbery, and read, with
US chuckle, the announcements s'the !
al of the jewels would be less felt |
en-, there not been between the two B
Lie toms Of the box almost two hund
are pounds in bank notes, Of which,
in fortunately, the numbers had
lso been TAKEN
or Probably the Intelligent Erea
ces sees my plan, but certainly | did
by choose to explain it to Mr.. Muggri,
ind when, an. hour later, that worthy {
Of excitable gentleman rode, very S
nd, andgvery red, up the shadeless re
for TO complain of myr having. ssmads
,as- confountled mess OF the account.
ess know simply advised hin