The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-11
a BURGLAR IN DISGUISE.
How a Civil Service Officer Discov-
cred Bold Thief.
From the Cincinnati TymesStar.

from tne CthCtN1ttttI ItHteS-otuT.
1t is a somewhat rare thing to come
across good story teller in this world-one
who knows how to enbelish his yarn just
enough and yet not to delay the point too
long. If there ever was good hand at
this sort of thing, Lieut.. Walsh of the
signal service corps is that one. This
morning he was in a fine mood and told the
following thrilling story of adventures in
the far southwest;
Several years ago was inspecting sta
tions in the west. l had just arrived
at little station out in the direction
it doesn't matter where. We had come
and eyes were filed with the dust. [
had to send my clothes out to be beaten
just like carpet. They were perfectly
white.
After took bath and got dressed felt
better, and decided to walk down to the
signal station. This was In the morning.
The man found IN charge was a big raw
boned fellow, over six feet high, with as
vlllainous countenance as ever you laid
your eyes on. Somehow or other | took a
dislike TO him from the first look | gave
him. Well, | went into the office and
looked over things 1t is usually the custom
to examine all tne property in the store
room also. | went into 1t, the man keep
ing with me all the time. 1t was a small
room about the SIZE of large closet There
were a lot of boxes in it. | looked into
some of them. In showing them around
saw one under them all. looked at 1t, but
this fellow said-we'll call him Thompson
That is my personal property There
was one thing about it tuat | noticed at
the time, and that for some reason stuck in
Nhsah lxy orb inn
there all the time, although did not kno W
it.
''This box, which was piled away under
all the others and all covered with cob
webs and dirt, had a new screw driver
into it, and the screw had broken Oft a
silver of wood which looked quite fresh
l noticed at the time, but thought nothing
of it,"
81 went to the hotel for my dinner. At
the table man sat next to me who at
tracoed my attention right away. He was
dressed like a cattle man and had all the
rough ways of this class, but somehow or
other he impressed me as a man who was
not wearing his own clothes, so to speak. 1t
was only Slight impression, but it grew
on me al observed him. He seemed anx.
ious to talk and opened a conversation with
me.
''TenderfootF' he inquired.
81 didn't like his looks at all, and the i'm
pudence of his manner made me answer
him very shortly with plain
"'No.'
"'Gunning.'
NO
Thought saw gun on your shoulder
this morningP
"'Not much.
"Fishing rod, thenP
''Nor fishing rod, either
'Purspectingp
Inspecting.
"What might tenderfoot like you be
doing out here inspectin'P
What is that your business, sirg And
who told you that l was a tenderfootP
said |. Il was out here on these plains be-
fore you were born, as 1t is plain enough
to see from the way you wear your dis
guise."
AT this last word he colcred up and soon
after left the table. A gentleman on the
other side of me said:
"4Who is that fellowP
"I haven't the ghost of an idea.' said 1.
6" L think he's a stranger in town. he
said, after a moment. There have been
q good many burglaries here lately and we
have watched strangers pretty closely
Nothing more was said, and after dinner
l went down to the signal office. l noticed
that Thompson did not have on uniform.
So l asked him:
where's your uriformp
" Haven't any" said he.
"This made me regard him with still more
suspicion. He had to take an afternoon OBJ
servation and telegraph it into Washington.
After he took it, he said:
"'I'll go down to the telegraph Office with
this
"How long will you be gomez
"'Well,' said l, III wait here until
you return, as / have some writing to
do
HE went out, and somehow or other
began to wonder what was in that box, that
looked as though it were newly screwed up,
and vet was hidden away under all the
others. The idea of looking into it grew
upon me until decided TO unscrew the lid.
! went into the closet and pulled it out. l
soon had all the screws out and lifted the
lid off. You could have knocked me down
with feather. 1t was filed TO the brim
with silverware-spoons, knives, forks, etc.
The rascal had been Disgusting the burglar
under the signal service officer.
II began to put the lid on again and had
just finished putting In the last screw when
heard a step behind me. l turned quick as
flash. Thompson had returned and the
carpet had deadened the sound of his foot
steps. he was standing just Dehind me
with revolver pointed at my head. never
thought what l was doing, SO far as l know,
but by sort of reflex action of the muscles
knocked the revolver up with the screw
driver had in my hand It went off against
the ceiling and we closed for a life and
death strug lie.
Thompson was taller than and more
powerful I was and always have been
short-winded. 1t is all right with me for
minute or so, but then l am played out.
Back and forth we wrestled, when he was
beginning to get the best of me and Thought
of the old trick at wrestling taught me at
Trinity college, Dublin. felt for his col
lar bone with my chin. l found it and
down he went.
IAN this time they told me afterward,
had been yelling murder and police loud
enough to wake the whole town. Just as
Thompson fell, in dashed my fresh friend at
the dinner table. An accomplice of
Thompson'sl Oh, no-a Chicago detective,
who had the signal officer in his bracelets
quick as flash. Thompson got five years
in the penitentiary, and got din
ner from the prominent citizens Of the
town.
OpnnRTNG A PREADHER