The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-03-24
A DETECTIVES MISTAKE.
A TRUE STORY.

1t was dali, rainy day. toward the end of
August. The clock that hung against the
wall pointed to the hour of three in the af-
ternoen, and l, a detective, was sitting by
myself in our little inner Office. was mus
ing about Kitty Elton, and wondering how
long it would be before 1 would be able to
marry her
Dear little Kitty She was as sweet and
as patient as it was in the nature of a woman
to be, but knew it was a hard life for her in
that overcrowded miIIiner's workroom, day
after day and month after month, and I
longed to set her free from that monotonous
| captivity. The door opened and Mr.. CIenner
came in.
Mr. Clenner was our "chief''-a dark ST.
lent little man, with stern gray ewes. which
seemed to see everything at a glance. He
sat down beside me-
Meredith, he said, ''didn't you say YOU
were getting tired of doing nothing"
eyes, sir"
'Well, have something for you to do.
"What is it, sir -
something that will bring you both credit
and friends, if you manage it skinfuIlv. i
had intended to go myself, but circumstances
happen untOwardly, and shall send YOU in
stead"
Bending his head and speaking scarcely
above whisper, he told me the special BUS
mess on which ] was to be sent There had.
been, it seems, a series of very heavy forger-
les lately committed with a bOldness and
audacity that fairly seemed to set the autho-
rites 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 detect
ed the hidden spring-one Periey Matteson
who had skillfulIy eluded all pursuit, and
was now somewhere hiding in the northeast
ern portion of the State His whereabouts
mad been ascertained as nearly as possible
and 1t was for me to go quietly up and appre-
mend him, before he should become aware of
/ our knowledge of his movements.
/ l sat listening to all the various details of
our plan as they were sketched out bv Mr.
/ Clenner The reward that had been private
! iy offered was high-my heart leaped as 1
rejected how much nearer it would bring me
! TO Kitty Elton, nor did the enterprise seem
/ particularly difficult to accomplish.
DO you think you can do it ?'' Mr.. Glen
ner asked, after the whole thing had been laid
] before me.
y es, sir. When shall I start ."
/ 'Now-within half an hour"
within half an hour -
eyes why not ."
L could think of no reason except one
which did not care to communicates n nv
superior, the longing wish to see Kitty be-
fore / started.
Gust as you decide, Mr.. CIenner of
1 course" | said, rising "If I take the four
I O'Clock express l shall be there by daylight
t tomorrow morning.
Yes, and that is altogether the best plan.
/ he VIII not remain long in any one place lust
/ at present, depend upon it, and what Won
have to do must be done at once"
All through that long night Journey I
mused upon the task that Law before me
| The house to which was directed yvae hole
a mile beyond the village of DownyiIle tba
residence of Mrs Mattesor, the mother of the
audacious forger. If help was needed. 7 was
fully authorized to call for it upon the con.
stabulary authorities of DownviIle. hut 7 vyae
. expected to need none
Ihe rosy dawn was just flushing the east
ern shy when l alighted, stiff. weary and
/ Jaded from the train, at the little way station
/ of Downville.
Can you direct me to Mrs. Matteson,s
/ place % / asked of the sleepy station master
+ who was yawning behind the little apertnre
of the ticket office,
'Matteson-Mrs. Matteson don't know
her, but guess I can tell You where she
lives. Just you follow the main street of the
village out about half a mile, and ven coroo
to patch o woods with bars at the fepce
Go through them bars a little vav furtbar on
ana ye'li see little yaller house. inst the last
place IN the world where you'd expect to see
mouse. That's where Mrs. Matteson Iivas ,,
thanked my informant, and set out on a
Disk walk, carrying my travelling bao II
was quite distance ere IemeroeJ froy, a.,
suburbs of the 'main street. into a ouiat
andsecluded road or rather lane. The 'patcb
O woods" with the bars, and the 'little val
Ter house'-a cream colored cottage. literally
. oVergTown with oneysuckles-rewarded NV
search, and as | Knocked at the door a clook
/ somewhere inside struck seven.
/ a decent looking, elderly woman, in wild
/ ow's weeds came to the door.
/ rs Mr.. Matteson in? Mr. Perlev 2''
I mo, she answered quickly, with. as 7
imagined, rather a confused look. I did not
believe her, and asked quietly:
when do you expect him home?''
/ Not at present
Apparently she expected me to 90 away
but instead, l stepped in.
/ Mother" asked soft voice at the head
Of the stairs, who is it ?'