Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-12-11


way. was well acquainted both with
the bankers habits and his house. |
knew that often, when the rest of his
household was fast asleep, Mr.. Burton
would sit for hours writing in the study
which opened on the lawn at the back.
To this room fastened. 1t was as [
supposed. There was a bright light
within. | turned the handle to the
French window; it yielded to my touch.
Without pausing for an instant to reflect
on what the consequences Of my act
might be, burst into tie room.
AS entered, Mr.. Burton was sitting
writing at table. He looked up.
When he saw me he rose from his seat.
He clutched the edge of the table. he
gazed at me, speechless, unable to be-
lleve that what he saw was real.
Wheeler" ne gasped at last; Rich
ard Wheeler !"
"Yes, sir, tits I Not dead, but liv-
ing. This is no ghost you gaze upon,
but creature or flesh and blood to
whom God has given strength to de-
| clare hist innocence and expose anoth-
err crime"
Ipoured out my tale He was too be-
wildered at first to grasp the meaning
of my words. 1t was all so unexpected
| and so str nge that he was unable to
realize that he was not the victim of
spme dreadful dream. But it became
plain to him at last. 1t was painful to
see his agitation as he began to grasp
the purport of my revelation.
"You had a cataleptic fit ?''
| "Ifit was not catalepsy, | know not
| what it was. | am no doctor, SIR"
'And you were within an ace of be-
ing buried alive The thought is terri
| ble."
sit was terrible to me-"
| "And you saW-you actually saw
Philip Morris rob the safe ?"
81 was the silent witness of his crime.
1t was only when he supposed that I
was dead that it occurred to him to
place the gultupon my shoulders"
| hat a villain the man must be 1t
seems incredible But the whole story
seems incredible, for the matter OF that,
and the most incredible part of it is
| your presence here. But even suppos-
ing that what you say is true-and God
| forbid, after wfat you have told me, that
/ Should deny it--how are you going to
prove his villainy ?''
'Mr. Burton, I am but newly come
from the chambers of DEATH"
"For heavens sake don't talk like
| that You make my blood run cold :"
But the fact is SO; and things are re-
1 fOalON " h1O uAClI W JOu are
rose up, still III my grave clothes.
| trembling like leaf. SAT this instant
| the thief is at his work again, and
| hampers with the safe. Mr.. Burton. I
entreat you to come with me to the
bank; his villalny shall be proved to-
night"
''Come with you-to the bank-at
this hour of the night ~
But had my way. The banker lent
| me some of his own clothes, and q
| greatcoat was thrown over my should
ers. The coachman was reused: a car
! riage was ordered out. Within a very
few minutes we were seated in it, and
were being driven swiftly toward the
| bank, through the silent streets, to catch
the criminal in the very moment of b s
crime.
The carriage was drawn up some little
distance from the bank. We got out.
Mr.. Burton had the KEY OF the private
door. We approached swiftly, vet
silently as we'll Our chief object was
not to give the slightest alarm.
On the very threshold Mr.. Burton
paused.
81 am afraid that this is wlld-goose
chase that you have brought me on.
Some folks would even call it by a
stronger name"
rustles q bundle of notesl They are
tho-e notes which were missing, and
which you searched my house to find"
Hear him, Wheeler Are you mad :?
When he is in the private office-if he
is any where at all-and we are out in
| The street."
81 can hear him, if you can't. Give
me the key, or open the door. Every
| moment which we waste increases his
| chances OF escape"
Hesitatingly-I believe he doubted
my sanity even then-Mr. Burton put
the key into the lock. Noiselessly 1T
turned. Without sound, the door
swung open on Its well-oiled hinges.
We stood inside. 1t was pitch dark.
Hadn't we better bave a light? I
| cannot see my hand before my face.
We shall be falling over something if
we don't take care"
81 need no light. Remember nv
eyes have grown accustomed to the
dark. You, sir, have only to keep close
to me-"
led the way. He followed close up
on my heels. Suddenly [ paused.
See; there is light"
Sure enough there was, in the inner
| room-in that inner room in which the
So was kept. | caught Mr.. Burton
W odO 'A LII ok COLIO IiGCIO luTCQ0T,
and you shall see it all. You shall see
the criminal detected in his crime"
| did not tremble then; / had become
quite cool and calm.
[ knew my hour was at hand. With
unfallering fingers / nnloosed the cloak
from my shoulders, and stood revealed
in my cerements as though [ had new
sen from theg ave. And then
Then [ stole by the outer door into
the Office in which bad been overtaken
by that strange mockery of death.
Through the glass partition, sure enough.
| saw alta glance that Phi ip Morris, Ian
tern in hand. was at his old work, busted
with the contents Of the sale. L leaned
right forward on the desk, and tapped
with my fingers against the glass. He
caught the sound at once, but for mo-
ment did not perceive from whence it
rose. He approached the partition; [
saw him trembling as he came. I saw
his face was CHASTITY white.
When he was quite close, in my grave
clothes | rose straight up and looked
him straight in the face-his pallid,
panicstricken facet raised my arm
above my head, and in loud voice
cried ont: