The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1890-01-15

ond story man, said me Owl by way
OF introducing me TO the fair but ffail
young girl at her side, who now for
the first time noticed me. He wants
a pal to do crib over the river and
I've recommended Tim.
Tins n daisy. you can Just bet
your life, was the eulogistic response.
Without further notice the pair
drew apart-one the very antithseis of
the other-and consulted in low
tone, the hag accentuating her utter
ances with leers and sllrugs
They motioned TO boy to APP
proach, and from few unguaried
utterances of the precocious young
ster, / learned that they were planning
to rob a house up town near Central
park, and expected TO make off with
considerable silverware. After satis-
flying myself that my information
was correct, / stole from the place un-
observed, and at once determined TO
frustrate the plan of the robbers.
The house which the thieves in
tended to plumber was located in
Fifty-eighth street, and was the resi-
dence of a wealthy merchant whose
wife was society leader. Uniformed
the gentleman of the conversation /
overheard between the Owl and hep
two pupils, and he in turn notified
the police On the night planned for
the execution of the daring plot. /, to-
-gether with two police detectives and
the owner of the mansion. Law secreted
in the house awaiting the coming of
the thieves expected TO make a sem
sation by writing about the whole af-
falr, and, as was the only one out
SIDE OF the officers who knew il, excep-
ting the owner, 1 was considerably
elated
I'VE had not waited more than two
hours before we heard the window of
the basement being slillfully unfast-
ened, and going below observed
masked man enter He was shortly
followed by woman; evidently an old
one, judging from her slow move
ments. They proceeded TO the dining
room where the plate was, as we knew
they. would. They had scarcely en-
tered when the gas was turned up and
we We're upon them with drawn re-
yoiyers. Judge of my surprise when
L saw the Owl in the person of the wo-
man. She fought like fury as did
her companion, but her struggles
were useless; we had them secure
enough. When overpowered, the
owl broke down completely, and one
OF the officers, noticing something
peculiar about the old hag, pulled
the hood from her head, and with
1t came the gray wig of the counterfeit
old woman, revealing the face of a
beautiful young woman, although il
was considerably, yet artistically.
smearei with pigments, to initiate the
wrinkles and burrows of old age.
The owner of the mansion stagger-
ed back upon observing the face OF the
spurious old hag, and with dilating
pupils exclaimed in voice in which
horror and amazement were strangely
blended:
Emma Brownl' Had a park of
artillery been exploded at my back at
the moment / could not have been
smore surprised than was when /
heard that name, for L recognized at n
glqllReefff FL I'm ht9le aplfts66 or me pnFgimqtRG
woman who confronted us.
She at first stared at us boldly.
then laughed Historically, and finally
broke down completely. The gentle
mans wife entering upon the scene at
this moment he turned to her and said
like one in a dream: Agnes. what
mystery is thisl This young lady was
a guest of yours last evening, and here
she Is, a few hours later, masquerad-
ing as an old woman, and entering my
house with criminal as her compan-
ion to steal my plate. 1t surpasses my
powers of solution
The Owl was now crying pitifully
and was led away by the lady of the
house, the detectives consent;:.g when
appraised how matters sts~1. Her
companion, who stood like one petri-
fed upon observing the character of
his aged pal, was also allowed 20 de-
part. The social standing of the beau
tiful culprit precluded the possibility
of the matter being ever brought to
the notice of the public, her family
being one of the wealthiest In the city,
and she herself am heiress. What was
itl Why. another case of DIR. Jekyll
and Mr.. Hyde"
AS my friend concluded the nara
tive he gazed at me inter'ogatiyely, but
his story had interested me and
asked:
rs thai story true, Jenkins7"
''As true as you sit there, and that
today is Tuesday. Peter Donovan in