Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-10-03

Il shall do my best !"
And then | left the house. refusing to |
accept Miss Grandis' offer to return to
Rock Ridge. | resolved to remain in the
vicinity for time and shadow every per-
son who promised anything In his appear
ance.
A single thread viii sometimes lead to
wonderful and startling results. | had
not found even so much as a thread In
the present case on which to hang a the
DRY.
My inward questioning ran like this:
Why had the image been taken and the
wallet with the 81 900 left untouched?
Was it possible that the thief had over
looked the great prize? Yes, it was barely
possible, but not probable.
In detective work | usually prosecute my
plans on probabilities, and have found that
In ninety-nine cases out of a hundred l
have not erred.
In the present case, then, the thief had
not stolen the Indian idol for gain. This,
| promised, and ON this theory | proposed
to work.
Although Irene Grandis had asserted
that she had no admirers among the stern
er sex | was satisfied that she was mistak-
supposition | proceeded to work
For several days l hung about the old
stone house without making any discover
les
One morning I entered the house to find
the members more deeply excited than
ever. The invalid, Mr. Grandis, was
nervous to prostration, and Irene met me
with pale face and troubled. half-startled
aHY1T.arSjoY1 IF ba owes
1--WE have been visited again, she
said.
.'Visited?"
Eyes, by the idol thief. y
Then she turned about and showed me
where large chestnut curl had been sew
cred from her head.
1T was done last night, y she exclaimed
''When felt the cold steel against my
head | woke and saw a human form dart
ing away. He went through the window.
| nearly tainted from fright, and | feel
almost afraid to live another night under
the roof.
/ was puzzled but fully satisfied that the
perpetrator of these strange acts was an
admirer of Miss Grandis. She again as
serted, however, that she had no gentle
! men friends In the west save her father
and John Lawns.
at once examined the ground beneath
the window, and was this time able to
track the intruder.
followed the trail only short dis
lance when it was lost, and | was unable
to find it again.
iii secure the window so that no one
will be able to enter - declared Irene,
when she learned that the outlaw had
come from the hills and climed the tree
beside the house.
DO nothing of the kind, Miss"
urged. He may come again I will
watch, and rest assured I will see that
no harm comes to you; in fact you might
occupy another room for the present.
This plan was agreed upon, and for a
time occupied Miss Grandis' room. A
week passed with no reward for my vigils,
and began to think we should have no
more visits from the strange night-prowler,
when one pleasant night, when the moon
rose high in the clear heavens, the crisis
came
On no night did I remove my clothing,
but lay on the outside of the covering,
anxiously waiting for the denouement.
had fallen into dreamless slumber on
the night in question when | was
aroused by touch on my cheek | did
not move, but gazed upward into the face
of bearded man, over which the moon
light streamed. To say that | was startled
would only feebly convey my feelings, for
/ was completely at the mercy of the in
| truder, should he make any attempt upon
my life.
was in the shadow, and he did not
seem to understand the situation.
"See, Irene, have brought back the
image you have shed so many tears over.
only took it for little while, its bright
figure brought back the old days.
Then the man laughed, and turning plac-
| ed the image on the bureau.
gathered myself now for a spring, de-
termined not to permit the fellow to escape.
He seemed fumbling with something on
the bureau, then giving way to another
chuckle, he turned away. His look was
now toward me.
bounded forward full upon him, plant
ing my knees in the small of his back;
with a quick, sharp jerk brought him to
the floor with tremendous force. He was
stunned by the fall, and had no difficulty
in securing him with a cord | had pre-
pared for the purpose.
Then | lit the lamp, and lifted him to
d sitting posture, as a groan informed me
Of returning consciousness. He opened
his eyes and stared at me in bewildered
way.
'.Bless my eyes! What does this mean
! Where am ?" cried the man, a handsome
beard covered his face.
''You re safe for the present, my man,
l returned.
He still looked bewildered and glared
at his bonds in a comical way that as
sured me he was not shamming
Fine room Dueced pretty place. >
! Just then the door opened The sound
/ of the struggle had brought Irene to the
room. She stood in the doorway with
4 flushed cheeks and streaming hair, and a
more beautiful picture had never seen.
| you have caught the robber? p
yes
my God! It is Irenel''
! The man on the floor, held by his hands,
/ made a desperate effort to gain his feet.
He was helpless, however. Then he cried
out in an excited voice:
Don't you know me, Irene? 1t is
Frank, your brother.
Miss Grandis stared, she reeled across
the floor, and sank fainting on the neck OF
the prisoner.
! Afterwards it was explained. Frank
Grandis had been shipwrecked, and came
near losing his life. He was cast among
! cannibals, became member of the tribe
and saw no white man for years.
He was finally rescued and came to
America to learn that his family had gone
west, but where no one seemed to know.
1t was while camping with party OF
hunters in the neighborhood of the stone