The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-06-02

r. <saSD many detectives set
1 : %tt s', work. s and many n.ns,
the result before was sent down to
Investigate the affair.
The fact is, the rascals who had
committed these depredations were
SO we'll up in their business, so cunning
and shrewd, as we'll as bold and
daring, that they left no trace of
themselves anywhere by which a clue
could be gained to fix reasonable
suspicion. .
And yet the nefarious work went ON
at irregular intervals, sometimes only
81 day or two elapsing between one
burglary and another, and sometimes
a period OF weeks; but the dark
business so certainly continuing that
no master OF house felt perfectly
safe behind his locked and bolted
door, while ladies everywhere became
nervously timid and afraid of their
own shadows.
Yet not one of these latter, as far as
my knowledge goes, was ever molested,
or ever. got even a sight OF midnight
robber.
Money, watches, jewellery of all
kinds, and valuable plate were the
articles usually taken, and rarely any
thing else.
OF these valuables not trace could
subsequently be found, showing that
the scoundrels were too we'll off and
too cunning to dispose OF them in the
usual channels.
When I was sent for to try my skill
in ferreting out and bringing the guilty
parties to Justice, and had everything
explained to me, l agreed to enter up
on my task on condition that every
other detective should be recalled;
that it should be given out that the
mystery was too deep to be solved;
that it should not be known ] was
anywhere in the neighborhood; and
that should be left to take my own
time and pursue my own course, with
money enough at my command to
carry out any plan might adopt
| started out with the theory that
these burglars knew, before operating,
exactly where valuables were conceal
ed, and what they had to do to get
possession OF them; that they had no
ordinary means of concealing their
plumber till it could he disposed of at
d distance-perhaps across the Chan
mel; and that to find the operators
must look for them in igh rather
than in low life. ,.-... =
Upon my arrival in the the town I
engaged rooms in O. irst-class hotel,
dressed myself like a gentleman OF
means, and described myself as Frank
Henderson, of Dublin. -.s
Alter that soon managed to let it
be understood that I had been an Of
7ficer in the army; that had only re-
tired on coming into possession of q
large fortune left by deceased uncle;
aud that l was now travelling, partly
for pleasure and partly with a view
to purchase an estate-my uncle hav-
ing made it condition of his bequest
that I should buy land and settle
down. -4.r w
Of course requested all this to be
kept profound secret because wish
ed it to be known; and, Of course, it
WAS made known. far and wide by
every man or woman who heard of it
telling it to some other man or woman
RS a profound secret.
In the course of the next two or
three weeks found quite q number OF
the best townspeople seeking my &C.
squaintance, and received numerous
invitations to visit at the houses OF
the foremost gentry.
During the next month my visiting
dist became so extensive as to include
all the leading families in the place:
and as 1 encouraged gossip Of all
kinds, 1 soon became conversant with
.nll the prominent Incidents connected
with these families during the proceed
ing decade.
Among great many facts OF more
eor less interest-but which, as they
have no connection with my story,
shall not here record-I learned who
were old families and who were new
who were rich and who were compare
lively poor; who had property to sell
and who had not; and last, but not
least, who had been robbed during
the past two years.
Among the newcomers who had tax
zen up their residence in the towr
within that period was a family OF the
name OF M'Lysaght, consisting Of &
venerable mother, her married sor
and his wife. another son, and tive
blooming daughters.
Curiously enough, their house hac
been broken into and robbed shortly
after their arrival, and as consider
able sum OF money and much valuable
jewellery had been taken, the married
son, shead OF the family, had a
once offered a large reward for the de
lection andspunishment OF the villains
hut without result.