The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-08-10

little of the case, and might even have come
overto the opinion of the "~local,' but for
one very important fact, namely, the foot
prints in the garden bed were all smaller
than those of the prisoner! Now, although
a man may wear boots several sizes too large
Tor him on occasion, yet he can hardly walk
with comfort in shoes an inch or SO too short.
Very much annoyed at my want of success,
and dreading the chaf l would be sure to
get when compelled to give it up, I should
return to town, l was not particularly de-
lighted next morning to see Mr.. Mrggridge
coming up the road to the house, accompanied
by the editor Of the Barrowtown Ueekly
Banner, who had determined, he said. to
write up the account of the robbery himself.
But there was no escape; and so, prepared
for a host of questions, | was walking slowly
to meet them, When my eye was caught by
something bright 1mong the bushes by the
roadside. Yes, tLorc could be no doubt
about it there lay the lost box, empty, of
course. Without stopping, however, | walked
on to the inspector, AMI was introduced to
Mr.. Shears. the editor. 1t was simply won
derful how obliging / had become. | even,
when Mr.. Muggrdge limited that he was
pressed for time, volunteered Myself to give
Mr.. Shears the information he wished and t.
go over the premises with him. Once left
alone with the zealout representative OF the
pleSs, / gave Illdt gentleman all tile points OF
the case, and a few more, as you shall see.
The next forenoon, as soon as a copy of the
Banner came to the house where the robbery
had occured-I had for the last two days
spent from the forenoon until dusk there-I
turned to the eni Of the column devoted to
the "Great Robbery and read, with q
chuckle, the announcement that " the loss of
the jewels would be less felt had there not
been between the two bottoms OF the box
! n lt,nr- t,rD 1900 l,~I ,~,,-l - l>--l I- q
which, unfortunately the numbers had not
been taken.'
Probably the intelligent reader sees my
plan, but certainly [ did not choose to explain
1t to Mr.. Muggridge, When, an hOur later,
that worthy butexcltable gentlemanirode, very
hot and very red, up the shadeless rode, to
complain of my having ''made a confused
mess of the account, you KNOW" | simply
advised him to wait for a very few
days, and l would be very happy to explain
everything.
That evening, as usual, | left the grounds
at dusk, after spending most of the day watch
lng-though apparently engage in something
else-whether any one went near the spot, a
few hundred yards from the grounds, where
lay tie box Oh which | especially depended
as a bait to hook the thief. BY walking
slowly, | 7 managed to let the shades of even
ing close around me before | was far beyond
lie SlUD W HeIt l. Hill ilitltC up lily IHllu u
watch and wait.
Eight! Nine! Were they never coming :
al d was my trap laid and baited in vain :
Ten! Surely they should have come by thi:
time. Still - Was that a sound Oh the
road? Yes, and coming from the village, too
There were evidently several Of them, and /
began to regret not having brought somt
help. Nearer they came laughing and talk
ing, as | cautiously drew further back from
the road. And now they were opposite the
spot where the box lay hid. But-what
They've gone by, and in the hearty OUTLAW OF
the man further away of the three, l recognize
Farmer Lobbins, all honest fellow, whose &C
quaintance l had made during my short stay
After this sell, | had almost given up, ant
was actually making up my mind to abandon
the affair, when a faint sound from down tl
road made me crouch as low as possible ono
more. 1t was no hoax this time. A shor
thin man, whom l easily recognized a
a man-of- all-work who had been helping til,
gardener that day, Was creeping steadily dow
the road, close to the bushes. As soon as III
reached the spot where the box had bee
Thrown, he lit a small lantern to aid him i
his search. This time l felt sure, and whel
the man blew out the light, after securin
the supposed treasure the capture was made
GOA why, yes,' observed the worthy MI
Muggridge, who was in the office when
brought the prisoner that night, 81 though
as much; I've had my eye on that fellow a
A along"
/, The man made confession-indeed he wa
Z caught in the act, and could not deny it. Th
4 jewels were all recovered, land the rewar'
proved very useful ia helping me to MARI
and settle down quietly, when one mont
l later, l received my ,promotion.-Chombef
, Journal.
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