The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-07-30
HOW | GOT PROMOTED.

"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 possible" :"
This order received one hot day in
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 q quaint, pic
turesque little town, like many another
in goodly England. 1t seemed almost
too dull to be able to boast the doubt
full honor of having full-grown rob-
berry. Still like the quiet little town,
for it was there that gained my pro-
motion. was met at the station by
the local Inspector, stout, pompous,
excitabIe little man, who looked
doubtful as to the prudence OF the
Scotland Yard authorities in sending
down such an ordinary looking fellow
as myself.
"Oh," he remarked at last, $50 it's
you, young man, is it? / don't think
we are likely to trouble you much this
time. The fact is, ahem! we have
caught the culprit ourselves"
| merely bowed, and expressed a
wish to see the prisoner; and we both
set off for the country jail, perhaps
mile or so away.
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
continually interrupted him with:
Better keep all that for your ex-
animation, my good fellow, or I'll be
brought up against you, my man, you
know"
told him seriously, as soon as l
could, in private, that the man he had
arrested was no more guilty than /
was; but he SIMPLY smiled incredulous-
ly, and asked who else could be the
culprit, as this was the only really
abandoned character of the town, and
1T 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 every
body, you know; and if he didn't do
it, who did?"
With which really unanswerable
argument he accompanied me 10 tie
scene OF the robbery, where we were
shown over the premises by the
mistress of the house.
When lsaw the ground floor window
by which access had been gained to
the house quite agreed with the wor-
thy local" that it was not the work
OF new hand" and that from the
fact that his footprints, wherever we
could trace them, showed no hesita-
ton, but rather thorough acquaint-
ance with the grounds, the culprit,
whoever ne was, must have had some
opportunity Of visiting the scene of
operations, and probably lived some
where In the neighborhood.
1t seemed the thief had entered the
house by window in the rear and
carried of q small box of valuables
from the room of the master of the
house, who had been staying at a
friends that night. Both these facts
showed an intimate knowledge of the
premises on the part of the culprit,
and strengthened our former be-
lief.
We were informed that the lost cas-
ket- an ordinary tin cash box-had
been almost filed with various articles
OF jewelry, and, therefore the loss was
rather heavy. OF course the knowl-
edge that there would be very
good reward offered for the recov-
cry OF the missing property did not
abate my zeal. Still, in spite OF my
eagerness to discover the culprit, Is
could make but little OF the case, and
might even have to come over to the
opinion of the 1ocal," but for one
very Important fact, namely, the foot
prints in the garden bed we're all small
er than those OF the prisoner. Now,
although q man may wear boots sew
eral sizes too large for him, on occa-
sion, yet he can hardly walk with com
tort IN shoes an inch or SO too short.
Very much annoyed at my want of
success, and dreading the chaff would
be sure to get, when, compelled to give
it up, / should return TO town, was
not particularly delighted next morn
ing to see Mr. Muggridge coming up the
road to the house, accompanied by the
editor OF the Barrowtown Weekly
Banner, who had determined, he said,
to write up the account ofthe robbery
himself.
But there was no escape; and so,
prepared for host ofquestions, was
walking slowly to meet them, when
my eye was caught by something
bright among the bushes by the road
side. Yes, there could be no doubt of
1T; there lay the lost box, empty OF
course. Without stopping, however. ]
walked calmly as possible of to the
Mspector, and was introduced to Mr.