Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-16
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might attempt to escape that way.
Simmons and the other officers banged
on the front door, and loudly demanded
admittance.
Not sound came from the inside. The
place was in total darkness, and the loud
knocks echoed and re-echoed through the
hallway without bringing a response.
They re in their first sleep" said Denis,
"and nothing short of Gabriel's trump
will rouse them"
Lets kick in the door" suggested his
colleague, who was anxious to complete
the job.
IAN right" said Denis; 'fhere goes"
A few vigorous kicks made kindling
wood of the door, and the two officers en-
tered the house, pistol in hand, ready for
any Resistance on the part of the boy
burglars.
The house had an empty ring. and Denis
turned on his bulls eye, to start back in
establishment.
Not vestige of furniture was to be
seen on the lower floor. The upstairs
rooms were equally bare. The birds had
flown.
This is the biggest thing of the year, )"
said Denis companion, sarcastically.
Simmons bit his lip and said nothing.
called in. They laughed imnoderately
when they grasped the situation.
And all the way back to the Central
station Denis was the target for ruthless
Jokes, which he received without a word.
but continued biting his neither lip until
the blood came.
He left his brother officers at the sta
ton and started out again in grim 81
lence. Before nightfall he had the bur-
glaTious peddIers located again Mrs.
Landgraff, her son and Curly had moved
to q brick house on Archer avenue, near
the railway station; Herman and Mott
were traced to place on Brown street.
At 10 o'clock the lads were under lock
and kew at the Central station, and a
wagon load of plumber. comprising laces
from Mendelsohn's, books from Cobbs
library, and guns, revolvers and cutlery
from the hardware store of Williamson &
Graves, was deposited in q room above
their cells.
There was no more laughing at Denis
Simmons, who had been on duty forty
eight hours and fulfilled his promise Of
making one of the most important cap
lures of the year.
The lads seemed stupefied by their ar
rest. Young Landgratf, who was ad-
dressed as captain" by the others, was
particularly cast down. He sat on the
cot for several hours after he was placed
in the cell staring at the wall with vacant
eyes.
Next morning the expression of unut-
terable misery was still on his face. He
turned to Simmons, who entered the cell
with substantial breakfast for him, and
said, in hollow voice:
"Mr. Simmons, viii you do me favor?"
Yes" answered Denis, promptly, IF
it is anything in reason"
"Who was it gave us away?"
The touch of anxiety in this query
struck Simmons as peculiar. He did not
reply Immediately. and Landgraf con
tinued, still more anxiously:
Tell me If it was a woman"
Simmons mind reverted to the lady
who furnished the clew about the lace.
Thinking the lad had some strong motive
in seeking this information, he answered
that it was a woman.
Il thought so, - said the boy gloomily,
and, then. Frightening up suddenly: Let
Curly and the others come in; we may
have something to tell you"
Curly, Mott and Herman were brought
into the cell. The captain looked at them
sadly and said:
Boys. she gave US away"
''No," exclaimed the lads; shed never
do that"
Its true Mr.. Simmons says So" said
LanJgraff, tears gathering in his eyes,
which he resolutely brushed away with
his coat cuff
Il IL
dered at the turn of affairs, but surmising
that an interesting disclosure was i'm
minent; ''she furnished the clew."
The lads grosned and looked ineifably
distressed.
What do you propose, captain?" asked
Curly.
Revenge" exclaimed Landgraff,
fercely.
Yes. that S right" said the others in
chorus. Lets make a clean breast of it,
and let the traitress take equal chances
with rs"
This is getting decidedly interesting"
said Denis to himself. II wonder VINO
she is. and what she has to do with these
kids"
Mr.. Simmons" Landgraff said, with
an air of dignity which was rather anus
ing, IF you will kindly furnish me with
pens, ink and paper | will draw up
statement about those robberies and fur
nish you with information which will be
of great service to you"
Denis readily complied with this re-
quest, after removing tho others to their
respective cells.
In an hour the statement was prepared,
ard an astonishing document it proved.
1t was full confession of the long series
of burglaries which had given the police
so much trouble But the most remarkS-
bic passages related 10 the connection of
Lawyer Claypole and Mrs. Claypole with
the gang.
Landgraf told how himself and col
leagues had been worked upon by this es-
Unable couple She told US fairy tales"
be wrote, and got us all m love with
her. She promised to elope with me this
summer, and | believe she was in earn
est. for she said she didn't have it very
comfortable with the old man Claypole
engineered the burglaTies, and we acted
under his instructions He put I'D this
street pedling fake, and we kept piles of
stuff in the vault in his Office, in Dear
born street. lie didn't ALWAYS do the
square thing. but we were bamboozled by
his wife, who promised everything to
make matters run smooth and easy like.
Now that she's squealed, we think il
nothing but fair that we should tell all
about the snap SO that she NAV get the
same deal as we got. The Mendelsohn
job was done for Mrs. Ciaypole She
wanted to get square with a fellow named
HaGey, who had been saying rough
things about her. and she started the
yarn that he helped the Dutchmsn TO rob
himself. She took me to the store one