The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-04-20

and as before, the property had all been left
m the hall, by the open front door. The
thieves had been frightened away the second
| time.
This new affair caused genuine dismay In
the Malcolm household, and Mrs. Malcolm
spoke about getting special guards to stay
In the house at night Grace tried to reas-
sure her.
~ really don't think we have much to
fear,n she said, "with so many strong men,
servants as are known to sleep on the prem
ises. Burglars know what they are under
taking before they begin operations"
II can not imagine why they should finish
their operations by leaving all the stolen
property in the hall, them" said Jessie,
shortly.
Grace laughed, and went her way
A little later, Mrs. Malcolm, sitting in her
own room, was startled to sec Jessie enter
abruptly and lock the door, Having done
this unusual thing, the daughter placed in
the mothers hand stained and crumpled
paper
eve may as well face it, mother DEAR"
she said. "Read that"
Mrs. Malcolm smoothed out the paper and
read: "Ellwood will be at Montgomery's
at two o'clock Thursday morning"
"Why, my dear, what does this meansn
said Mrs. Malcolm. ut was Mr. Montgom-
ery's house that was robbed last night. But
who in the world is Ellwood! And where
did you get this paper?"
"Ellwood is the robber / SUPPOSE" re-
| piled Jessie, so excited that she trembled
| This is Thursday morning, you know. As
| to the paper-mother, I'd rather suffer any
thing than have it to tell you, but Grace
| Gardiner dropped that paper between here
and Mr.. Montgomerys after two o'clock
this morningi'
"Grace Gardineri You're crazy, child ~
mo, mother, am not; and am as fond
of Grace as you are. Between two and three
O'Clock this morning heard slight noise.
1 opened the door of my room-for l don't
intend any body shall chloroform me unless
know who it is-and saw that there was
lightin Grace Gardeners room. Twas about
to go to her, thinking she was sick, when
she came softly cut into the hall She was
all dressed, and wore waterproof cloak
and thick vail She hurried down stairs,
and I heard her go out through the side
door. Then, from my window, l saw her
run across the lawn in the direction Of Mr..
Montgomery's house, OF course there was
no more sleep for me- watched. and about
an hour later she came in, as softly as she
went out, and moving as If she were tired"
''My DEAR" said Mrs. Malcolm, with con.
viction, "you dreamed it all. You were
nervous and upset on account of that first
burglary, you know"
81 thought that, too. But, after daylight,
1 went out, and there were her tracks in the
dew, making straight path across the
lawn. walked all about so as to hide the
tracks, and then found this paper where
Grace had dropped it. l could make nothing
of it then, of course; still l thought that
~ inbt tat
Grace's room and out again, so l went
there while you were doing up her hand,
and in her closet found her waterproof
cloak and an old dress, all wet and draggled
around the bottom, and pair of her shoes,
soaked and muddy. Mother, that hand was
hurt at Mr.. Montgomerys house in the
course of that robbery-I am perfectly sure
of it.n
At this moment a servant announced,
through the closed door, that Mr.. Fletcher
was in the parlor to see the ladies'. Mrs.
Malcolm hastily dried her tears of grievous
distress.
"Not word to him of all this about
Grace Gardiner" she said, as she hastened
away to receive her guest. Jessie took
somb time to steady herself before she fol-
lowed.
Mr.. Fletcher explained that he had come
serve as an excuse. Really, he was off for
well-earned holiday, and would stay all
day If they coaxed him, and all night, too, IL
there was room at his disposal. He could
not have done kinder thing, after the
recent disturbing events, and he knew it.
or course these events were exhaustively
discussed by all.
at is very mysterious business alto
gether," said Mr., Fletcher. every night,
of latea there has been burglary some
where, and tho same enterprising artist
executes all the various jobs. The detect
ives are sure of that, because, as you
know, there are schools OF burglary, as
there are schools of painting, and these
masterpieces all belong to the same school,"
"Is this person of genius supposed to be
man or woman?" asked Jessie, with ex-
travagant carelessness.
"A man, undoubtedly" Mr.. Fletcher re-
piled, with a sharp look at his questioner.
"And as gentlemanly and aristocratic a
rascal as ever deserved hanging. Romantic,
too. He was well-born and well-educated;
married charming woman; had a pros
porous business, and kept his family in
luxury. He became depraved somehow, and
for years he led double life, maintaining q
high social position on the proceeds OF his
criminal enterprise. His wife died Of
broken heart when the exposure came at
last"
slow is all this knowna And who is this
charming rascal" Jesse asked.
she calls himself Ellwood. Ah, you know
the name already from the papers, see. AS
to your other question, his history all came
out at the time Of his trial, two years ago.
He was arrested after a series of just such
burglaries as these; was tried, convicted,
and sentenced to long Imprisonment. i
was prosecuting attorney at the time, and
much of the evidence was furnished by my
son, who is my partner, You know. He is
very neat amateur detective, and l wish he
would take as much interest in the matter
now, but he don't. Well, about week ago
this gray-haired man Of genius Ellwood, es-
capped from prison, and forty-eight hours
later there was q magnificent burglary of
his peculiar type. He has been at II ever
since, and the police can't get near him."
Burglary is q fascinating topic OF CONVEX
sation, but after time other subjects sup
planted 1t, even in that interested group.
Toward teal time Mr.. Fletcher remembered
that he had writing to do, and must 60 at
once to his room.
II won't come down again." he said, 'if
Miss Jessie will kindly bring-not send
some supper to me. And it will be as well
not to mention to any body that am here for
the night"
"The plot thckens," said Jessie. after he
had gone. "Just think of it; so long as ELL
wood was in prison Grace Gardiner worked
quietly at honest employment; but no sooner
does he escape than she gives up her situa-