The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-10-28
How / Got Promoted.


"Tom,' said the chief, "there has been
rather mysterious robbery at Barrow
town, and it's likely to give the locals
some trouble. So l wish you to so down
as soon as possible
This order received one hot day i'll
August; on the day after the robbery
had taken place. OF course l did not
let much time pass before | was at the
station and fairly started. Once there,
Barrowtown is quaint, picturesque lit
tie town, like many another in goodly
England. 1t seemed almost too dull to
be able to boast the doubtful honor OF
having full grown robbery. Still ]
like the quiet little town, for it was
there that gained my first promotion.
! was met at the station by the local in
spector, a stout, pompous, excitable little
man, who looked doubtful as to the pru-
,lence of the Scotland Yard authorities
in sending down such an ordinary look
ing mortal as myself.
"Oh," che remarked at last, $50 it's
YOU; is it don't think we are likely
to trouble you much this time. The
fact is. abem we have caught the cul-
prit ourselves"
merely bowed, and expressed wish
to see the prisoner, and we both set of
for the county Jail, perhaps mile or so
away.
Well, it certainly seemed to me as
plain as day that the unhappy wretch on
whom Inspector Muggridge had laid his
fell graso could easily have proved an
alibi, had not that worthy officer con-
tinually interrupted him with: Better
keep all that for your examination, my
good fellow, or it'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
incredulously, and asked who else could
be the culprit, as this was :he only real
" abandoned cha racter Of the town,
and it was plainly the work of some one
who knew the place. " Besides" he
added, "it isn't very likely that any one
could beat me on my own ground, where
know everybody you know; and it he
didn't do it who didP With which
really unanswerable argument he &C
COMMANDED me to the scene of the rob
berry, where we were shown over the
premises by the mistress of the house.
When | saw the ground-hoor window
by which access had been gained to the
house, | quite agreed with the worthy
"local." that it was the work OF a "new
hand" and that from the fact that his
foo. prints, wherever we could trace
them, showed no hesitation, but rather
thorough acquaintance with the
grounds, the culprit, whoever he was,
must have had some opportunity OF WIS.,
ting the scene of operations, and prob
ably lived somewhere il the neighbor-
hood.
l, seemed that the thief had entered
the house by a 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 q friend
ON that night. Both these facts showed
An intimate knowledge of the premises
on the part of the culprit, and strength
ened our former belief. We were in
formed that the lost casket-a an ordi-
nary tin box, had been almost filed with
various articles of 'jewelry, and there
fore the loss was very heavy. OF course
the knowledge that there would be a
good reward for the recovery did not
abate my zeal Still, in spite OF my
eagerness to discover the culprit, could
make but little out Of the case, and
might even have come over to the opin-
ions Of the "local," but for one very i'm
porsant fact, namely, the footprints in
the ga,den.bed were all smaller than
those OF the prisoner Now, although q
man may wear boots several sizes too
large for him on occasion, yet ne can
hardly salk with comfort in shoes an
inch or so too short.
Very much annoyed at my want OF
success, and dreading the chat | would