The daily gazette., 1880-07-17
How | Got Promoted.
A DETECTIVES STORY.

"Tom," said the chief, "there has
been a rather mysterious robbery at
Barrowtown, and it's likely to give
the locals some trouble. So wish
you to go down as soon as posi-
ble."
This order I received one hot dav
in August, on the day after the rob-
berry had taken place. Of course 1
did not let much time pass before
was at the station and fairly started.
Once there, Barrowtown is quint,
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, for it was
there that 1 gained my first promo
ton. 1 was met at the station by
the local inspector, a stout, pomp-
GUS, excitable little man, who look
ed doubtful as to the prudence of
the Scotland Yard authorities in
sending down such an ordinary
looking mortal as myself.
"Oh," he remarked at last; $50,
it's you, young man, is itp l don't
think we are likely to trouble you
much this time. The fact is, ahem
we have caught the culprit our
selves"
l merely bowed and expressed a
wish to see the prisoner and we
both set off for the county Jail, per-
haps a mile or so away.
Well, it certainly seemed as plain
as day to me that the unhappy
wretch on whom Inspector Mug
gridge had laid his fell grasp, could
easily have proved an atibi, had not
that worthy officer continually inter-
rupted him with "Better keep all
that for your examination, my good
fellow; or i.'ll all be brought up
against you, my man, you know"
told him seriously, as soon as
could, in private, that the man he
had arrested was no more guilty
than l was but he simply smiled in
credulously, and asked who else
could be the culprit, as this was the
only real abandoned character of
the town, and it was plainly the
work of some one who knew the
place. "Besides," he added, ait
isn't very likely that any one could
beat me on my own ground, where 1
know everybody, you know and if
he didn't do it, who did ?" With
which really unanswerable argu-
ment he accompanied me to the
scene of the robbery, where we
were shown over the premises by
the mistress of the house.
When Isaw the ground-hoor window
by which access had been gained to
the house, l quite agreed with the
worthy '1ocal'' that it was the work of
a "new hand"
1t seemed that the thief had entered
the house by window in the rear,
and carried off small box of valuables
from the room of the master of the
house, who had been staying at a
friends on that night. Both these
facts showed an intimate knowledge of
the premises on the part of the culprit
and strengthened our former belief.
We were informed that the lost casket
an ordinary tin cash-box-had been
almost filed with various articles of
jswelry, and, therefore, was rather
heavy. Of course the knowledge that
there would be good reward for the
recovery of the missing property did
not abate my zeal. Still, in spite of
my eagerness to discover the culprit,
could make but little of the case, and
might even have come over to the
opinion of the '1ocal," 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 for him on ocoa-
sion, yet he can hardly walk with COM
fort in shoes an inch or so too short.
Very much annoyed at my want of
success, and dreading the chaff l
would be sure to get when, compelled
to give it up, should return to town,
| was not particularly delighted next
morning to see Mr.. huggridge coming
up the road to the house, accompanied
by the editor of The Barrosotown Week
lu Banner, who had determined, he
said, to write up the account of the
robbery himself. But there was no es-
cape and so, prepared for host of
questions, l was walking slowly to
meet them, when my eye was caught
by something bright among the bushes
by the roadside. Yes, there could be
no doubt of it there lay the lost box
empty of course. Without stopping,
however, walked as calmly as posi-
BILE on to the inspector, and was intro
duced to Mr.. Shears, the editor. 1t
was simply wonderful how obliging l
had become. l even, when Mr.. Mug
time. volunteered myself to give Mr..
Shears the information he wished, and
to 90 over the premises with him.
Once left alone with the Jealous repre-
sentative of the press, gave that gen.
tleman all the points of the case, and
few more, as you shall see.
The next forenoon, as soon as copy
of seThe Banner came to the house
where the robbery had Occurred-I