Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-08-21

great that we hardly realized our loss,
but in looking through the house we
found that the burglars had made a
pretty clean sweep of everything OF
value They took such odd things, for
besides the basket of silver my choicest
tablecloths and napkins had been
taken, underclothes, linen sheets and
pillowcases and several of my best
dresses and Harry's wardrobe had also
suffered They had not secured much
of my jewelry, as most Of it kept in
a small safe which weighed two hun
dred pounds, and was too heavy for one
man to lift alone.
Mary could give no description OF the
men, as they were closely masked My
husband telegraphed to Philadelphia
for detectives and two were sent up.
After spending several days in shad-
owing innocent people they returned to
the city, leaving us no wiser than be-
fore their visit, but with our purses
considerably lighter The chest of
silver in the attic now opened to sup
ply the place of what had been taken.
called Mary to help me carry it down
stairs How her eyes danced when she
saw the rich contents of the chest, and
how fervent were her thanks that the
burglars had not known of this extra
amount.
We felt very grateful to Mary and
cared tenderly for her until she was
quite strong again. She said she suf-
fered greatly with her teeth. The gag
had been put in her mouth so roughly
that it had loosened some of them, and
L.. x-ici%e 80 4ha
dentists. Often she was gone the en-
tire afternoon. She always took
bundle with her. Once when ques-
toned her about it, she said that she
wrapped up the waist of an old dress to
wear in the dentists chair to keep her
dress fresh, and could but commend
her prudence and careful forethought-
One evening at dusk when Mary was
out, | went for stroll with my hus-
band. AS we were ascending steep
hill on the outskirts of the town we
saw two figures at the top, clearly out
lined against the evening sky. My
husband hastily drew me into a thicket
at the side of the road. As the figures
approached. | saw in the faint light
that one was Mary, and an evil-looking
man was with her. They stopped near
us, and Mary, handing him the bundle
she carried, said something about
melting" thought she was refer
ring to the very warm day just over:
then hastily separating, as carriage
was seen coming up the hill, she called
out: 81 will be here next week at the
same hour" and walked rapidly away.
Ny confidence in Mary was somewhat
shaken in finding that she did have ac-
quaintances in the place, when she had
told me she knew no one; but ! did not
refer to the meeting we had witnessed
when l went to the kitchen to give her
the order for breakfast
Harry looked unusually grave the
next few days, and he would not let me
share his thoughts. His only answer
to my questions was bright smile and
the vague remark: 81 have a theory"
There was little sociability in
W, but one day we received an in
vitation from the people of the place to
progressive euchre party. was anx-
ious to accept, but could we leave Mary
alone? We had never left her for a
whole evening, since her terrible ex-
perience of few weeks ago.
But Mary said at once: 80, ma'am,
you must go. Never mind me- I shall
not be afraid to stay alone. The bur-
glars will not come again so soon. l
will keep the door well locked this
time"
The evening of the company, as we
left the house, we heard Mary boiling
the door behind US, and her last words
were; Don't hurry home on my ac-
count. l am not afraid to stay alone"
We reached the house where the gath
ering was, and just as we were ascend
ing the steps, my husband said:
"Anna, / shall have to let you go in
alone. / have an attack of neuralgia
and shall be obliged to go home for
awhile. will come for you later in
the evening""
| was anxious to remain with him,
but he would not let me. was con-
stantly looking toward the door to see
Harry enter 1t was very late when
he came and there was an air of sup
pressed excitement about him that
aroused my curiosity.
AS soon as we were walking toward
home he told me how he had spent the
evening. Ever since our twilight en-
counter with Mary, Harry had sus-
pected that all was not right Our in
vitation out was the first real excuse
we chad to leave the house in her
charge, and he welcomed it as giving
him an opportunity to prove if Mary
was the thief he suspected her to be-
His attack of neuralgia was fcigned,
and, after leaving me, he hastily re-
A
dark except for bright light in the
kitchen Mary sat near an open win
dow sewing and looking so serene and
sincere that Harry felt quite ashamed
as he quietly stole behind lilac bush,
where he could command a good view
of the kitchen and its occupant. He
waited nearly an hour without seeing
anything suspicious, and was about
moving away from his hiding place
when the town clock struck nine. This
seemed to be signal for Mary to fold
up her work, and he heard her say (she
had a way of talking to herself):
at is time to begin proceedings, or
the folks may be home sooner than
expect"
She took bunch of keys from her
pocket. lighted candle and vanished
through the door leading into the din
ing room. Harry moved around to the
front of the house and saw light in
one front bedroom upstairs 1t disap-
peared for a moment and again shone
out from the third-story window, the
room where the chest of silver was
kept
As my husband heard her descending
the staircase he returned to his post by
the kitchen window, just in time to see
Mary appear with her hands full of
silverware and his winter overcoat and
my sealskin jacket over her arm. She
disappeared down the cellar stairs My
husband by stopping could look into
I. ,.!|'|;, :, :. !. ...
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