Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-08-15
HOW | GOT PROMOTED.
A DETECTIVE Sc OR & .

.tTorn n said the chief, "there has been a
rather mysterious robbery at Barrowtown,
and it's likely to give the 'locsls" some
trouble So wish you to go down as
soon as possible. " lzzs 60. ..vr.
This sorderI received one hot day in
August, on the day after the robbery had
taken place IS Of course I did not ~ let
much time pass before was at the station
and fairly started. Once there, Barrow
town 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 full
grown robbery. Still llike, the quiet lit
tie town, for it was there that gained
my first promotion. [ was met at the
station by the local Inspector a stout,
pompous, excitable little man. who look
ed doubtful as to the prudence of the
Scotland Yard authorities in sending
down such an ordinary loakjng mortal as
myself
Young man, is it? I don't think we are
likely to trouble you much this time.
The fact is, attentive have caught the cul-
prit ourselves "
I merely bowed and expressed wish
to see the prisoner; and we both set off for
the county Jail perhaps mile or so
away. EF &
Well, it certainly seemed as plain as
day to me that the unhappy wretch on
whom Inspector Muggridge had laid his
fell grasp could easily have proved an
alibi. had not that worthy officer continu-
ally interrupted him with: Better keep
all that for your examination, my good fell
low; or it'll ali be b ought ap against you
| my man, you know"
| I told him seriously, as soon as could,
in private, that the man he had arrested
was no more guilty than l was; but he SIM
ply smiled incredulonsly, and asked who
else could be the culprit, as this was the
only really abandoned character of tibet town
and it was plainly the work Of some one
who knew the place. Beside" he added
sit isn't very likely that any one could
beat me on my own ground, where L
know everybody, you know; and il he
didn't do it, who did?p With which really
-unanswerablez argument he accompanied
me to 10 the scene of robbery, where we
were shown over the premises by the mis-
tress of the house. qsar
| When / saw the ground floor window
! by which access had been gained to the
house, quite agreed with the worthy
| 'local,h that it was not the work OF a
1 new hand, and that from the fact that his
footprints, wherever we could trace them,
showed no hesitation, but rather thor
ough acquaintance with the grounds, the
lcuiprit, whoever he was, must have had
some opportunity of visiting the scene OF
operations, and probably lived somewhere
in the neighborheod.
It seemed that the thief had entered the
house by window-in the rear, and carried
off a small box of valuables from the room
Of the master of the house, who had been
staying at friends on that night Beth
these facts showed an intimate knowledge
of the premises on the part OF the culprlt,
and strengthened our former belief We
were informed that the lost easket-an
ordinary tin cash box, had been almost
filled with various articles Of jewelry, and
therefore the loss was rather heavy. OF
course the knowledge that there would be
a good reward for the recovery of the
missing property did not abate my zeal
Still in spite Of my eagerness to discover
tn culprit, I could make but little of the
z case, and might soon have
/ com over to i the g opinion
4 of the 'local," butt for one very i'm.
portantr fact, namely, the footprints in
the @arden.bed were all smaller than than
those of the prisoner! Now, although a
man may wear boo several sizestoo large
for him on occasion, yet he can hardly
/ walk with comfort in shoes an inch or SO
too short. -g' q -.
| Very much annoyed at nv want of sue
cesa, and dreading the chaff would be
sure to get when compelled to give it up,
/ should return to town, l WAS not particu-
larry deligh ted next morning to see Mr..
Muggridge coming up the road to the
house &C. ompanied By the editor of the
Barfowtown Weekly Banner, who had de-
i termined, he sai9, to write up the robbery
| himself. But there was no escape and SO,
prepared for ghost of questions IL was walk
ing slowly to meet them, when my eye
was caught by something bright among the
bushes by the roadside. Yes, there could
beno dou bt of it; there laid the lost box,
empty of course. Without stopping, how
\ ever, walked as eamly as possible on to
the inspector, and was introduced to Nj.
I Shears the editor. It was simp y wonder
4 full how obliging had become. even,
1 when Mr.. Muggridge limited that he was
i pressed for time, volunteered myself to
4 give Mr.. Shears the information he wish
cd ). and to go over the premises with him.
Once left alone with the Jealous respresen-
tative of the press, gave that gentlem an
all the points of the ease, and few more,
/ as you shall see. rs .
The next forenoon, as soon as copy of
the Banner came to the ho1se where the
| Ad0 OCCANlo0 All soo Aoo
two days spent from the forenoon till dusk
there turned to the end of the column
! devoted to the 'IGreat Robbery" and read,
. with a chuckle, the annonncement that
''the loss of the jewels would be less felt
had there not been between the two bot
toms ofthe box almost two hundred pounds
: in bank notes, sof which, unfortunately, the
, numbers had not bee taken"
Probably the intelligent reader sees my
n plan: but certainly / did not choose to ex-
9 plain il to Mr.. Muggridge, when, an hou,
l. later, that worthy but excitable gentlem an
$ rode very hot and very red, up the shade.
less road, to complain of my having ''made
/, COMPOUNDED mess of the account, you
know. simply advised himEto wait for !
few days, and then I would be happy te
d explain everything. K t. ..
;, That evening" as usual. / left the
grounds at dusk, after spending the mos
of the day in watching2though apparently
y engaged in something else ether any
one went near the. spot, a few hundred
IS yards from the grounds. where lay the boz
If on which I especially depended as q bal
to hook the thief. BY walking slowly, !
i managed toilet theis6sdes Of the evening
close around me before / ::was far beyene
y the spot where had made up my mind K
o watch and wait. yiw bees -
Tscbu -