The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-04-14
THE DETECTIVES STORY.

the hour OF three in the afternoon, and
was sitting by myself in our little inner
Office, looking out at the expanse of dull,
gray wall that formed my only prospect
from the not over-clean window, and
thinking. I had read every square inch
of type in the newspapers; l had made
out all the necessary papers and docu-
ments, and now with literally, nothing
to do" l was musing about Kitty Elton,
and wondering how long it would be
before [ should be able to marry her.
Dear little Kitty she was as sweet and
patient as it was in the nature of woman
to be, butt knew it was hard life for
her in that overcrowded milliner's work.
room, day after day and month after
month, and longed to set her free from
the moutonous captivity. She was q
pretty, blue eyed girl of twenty, with a
dimple in her chin and the sweetest roses
on her cheeks that ever inspired The pen
of poet. was no poet, yet [ think I
understood and appreciated all her wo-
manly grace and delicate beauty as fully
as if my hearts thoughts could shape
themselves into verse. And it was of
them l was thinking when the door open
ed and Mr.. Clenner came in.
! Mr.. Clenner was our 'chief"-a dark,
| silent, little man, with a square, stern
mouth and clouded gray eyes, which ap-
peared almost expressionless when they
were turned full upon you, and yet which
seemed to see everything at one compre-
hensive glance. He sat down beside me.
Meredith" he said, in a quiet, sub
| dQed tone that was natural to him, "didn't
you say you were getting tired of doing
noJhing?"
eyes, sir"
''Well, have something for you to
d."
"What is it, sir?"
Something that will bring you both
credit and friends, if you manageit skill
| fully. I had intended to go myself, but
circumstances happen unt0wardly, and l
shall send you instead"
| Bending his head toward me and speak
ing scarcely above whisper, he told me
The special business on which l was to
| be sent. There had been, it seems, q
series of very heavy forgeries lately COM
mitted, with boldness and audacity that
| fairly seemed to set the authorities at
defiance. For some time he had been in
| doubt as to the exact perpetrator Of the
crime, but after much quiet investigation
and casting hither and thither, he had
detected the hidden spring-one Perley
Matterson-who had skillfully eluded all
pursuit and was now somewhere hiding
in the northeastern portion of the state.
His whereabouts had been ascertained as
nearly as possible, and it was for me now
to go quietly up and apprehend him,
before he should become aware of our
knowledge of all his movements.
I sat listening to all the various details
of our plan as they were sketched out by
Mr.. Clenner. The reward that had been
| privately offered was high-my heart
| eaped as L reflected how much nearer
it would bring me to Kitty Elton, nor
id the enterprise seem particularly diff
cult to accomplish.
'Do you think you can do it?" Mr..
| Clenner asked, after the whole thing had
| been laid before me.
eyes, sir. When shall start2''
"Now-within half an hour1"
''Within half an hour, sir?"
"Hes; why not?'
| could think of no sufficient reason
except one, which / do not care to COM
municate to my superior,-t longing
wish to see Kitty once more before l
started.
Just as you decide, Mr.. Clenner, of
course. " I said, rising. eff I take the
four o'clock express, shall be there by
daylight tomorrow morning"
eyes, and that is altogether the best
plan. He will Lot remain long in any
one place just at present, depend upon
it, and what you have to do must be done
a. oace."
All through that long night journey, /
mused upon the task that lay before me.
The house to which I was directed was
IN the midst of woods, about half mile
beyond the village of Drownville-the
| ~
of the audacious forger. If help was
needed 1 was fully authorized to call for
1t upon the constabulary authorities of
DrowDville; but I expected to need none.
The rosy dawn was just flushing the
eastern SKY when l alighted, stiff, weary
| and iaded from the train, at the little
way-station Of Drownville.
''Can you direct me to Mrs Masteson's
place?' / ASKED of the sleepy station
master, who was yawning behind the lit
tie aperature of the ticket office.
"Matteson = Mrs. Masteson; L don't
know her, but I guess Likely 1 can tell
You where she lives. Just you follow the
main street of the village out, about a
half mile, and ye'll come 10 a patch O.
woods, with bars at the fence. Go through
them bars little way further Oh. and
you'll see little yaller house, Just the
last place in the world where you'd ex-
pect to see house. That's where Mrs.
Matteson lives"
I thanked my informant, and set out
on brisk walk, carrying my travelling
bag. twas quite distance ere I emerg-
Ell from the suburbs of the ''main street
into quite and secluded country road,
OF rather lane. The "patch O. woods
w''h the bars, and the s'little yaller
No"se -aersan sologed cotesgs, literally