Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1893-03-16

boy, just for the fun Of the thing, and
knew he would have no trouble with the
common pattern before him.
A stout piece of bent wire was all he
needed to perform the trick, and this he
could obtain at any hardware store,
Hastily retreating down stairs Willis
made his way out doors, and in few
minutes had brought just the article he
needed. The key of 33, he noticed, was
| still on the rack, so that he felt sure the
occupant had net yet returned. With
pair OF plyers purchased at the same
time Crandall quickly gave the wire the
desired crook, and. inseI ting it In the LOCK
snapped the bolt back in jiffy.
! So far everything worked well. NOW
If the diamonds were only in the room
Willis might recover his property with
out trouble before the supposed thief re-
| turned. But would he be so foolish as
to leave the precious stones there sub
jiect to the depredations of any chance
sneak thief? No, it was hardly possible
argued Crandall, as he turned the handle
| of the door aud stepped into the room !;
but perhaps he might have left some
traces Of the crime which would discov-
er his guilt.
1t was with this feeli & that Willis
Crandall entered the chamber and began
his search for the stolen gems. His eyes
first rested on terra Gotta valise that
stood near the dressing case, and In a
minute the New Yorker pounced upon
it only to fini it securely locked. Here
was a dilemma. If he bl Oke the lock and
found no traces of the owners guilt, or
il the man were really innocent, he might
get into serious trouble should his bur
glarious action be discovered. And yet
Willis felt morally certain he was on a
hot trail, to abandon which we're little
short of madness. Should he assume all
risks and burst open the valise?
Before he could settle the question
satisfactorily theintruder heard unsteady
foot steps in the hall way which by their
possible arrival of the occupant of
close proximity. Quickly withdrawing
to his own apartment and slipping the
bolt Willis shortly heard key fumbling
in the lock of the adjoining room, and in
another minute he saw, through the
friendly keyhole, the owner of the yell
low mustache stagger into the room.
Crandall's heart gave an eXultant leap.
The man was unmistakably drunk. So
much the better for his plan of action.
Continuing his virgil he watched the fell
lows clumsy efforts to undress. and saw
him finally crawl into bed only partially
disrobed, leaving the gas still burning
low.
Receding from his peephole Willis
again went down stairs, and on this Oc-
casion visited drug store several blocks
distant, where he had a small vial filled
| by sleepy night clerk, who asked no
questions. Ascending to his room he
carefully locked and bolted the door, and
taking off his coat and shoes, sat perfect
| ly still until the sonorous breathing of
the man with the yellow mustache as
sured him he might safely venture in
side.
Pushing back the bolt and opening the
door, with quickeDed pulses Willis
crossed the threshold on his hands and
knees and crawled to the side OF the bed
wherein lay, in drunken stupor, the
man whom he firmly believed had stolen
the diamonds intrusted to his care. T5sa
stetorous breathing convinced Willis he
had nothing to fear, but to render him.
self doubly secure from Interference be
had purchased bottle of chloroform,
which he now extracted from his vest
pocket. Pouring quantity Of the fluid
on handkerchief that lay on the floor | G
allowed the sleeper to inhale the strong
narcotic. Crandall did this with some
mental compunctions, but he could not
afford to take any chances.
Leaving the handkerchief on the pillow
Willis stood upright, and by the dim
light gazed on the features of the sense
less man. 1t was not bad appearing
face, but rather that of one whose dissi-
pations had driven him to extremes. The
scrutiny, as it was, rendered Crandall's
convictions stronger then ever, and with
feverish activity he began his search.
From bunch of keys found in the
trousers pocket of his victim Willis Sc.
lected one that unlocked the valise,
whichhe flung open with nervous hand.
Nothing that interested him was in the
first compartment, but In the other side,
rolled up in pair of underdrawers, he ex.
posed to view the missing diamond case
He was not surprised at this find, for all
along he had been confident of the iden.
tity of the thief still he eagerly clutched
the morocco leather, and, pressing the
spring that held the lid, for moment sus.
pended breathing till it flew open.
The case was empty!
Willis groaned in spirit at this revela.
ton, and, utterly overcome, sank to the
carpet in Respondent fit. Then, reco>'
ering his nerve, he began a systematic
search through the pockets and lining;
OF the clol hing lying in confused heaI
on the floor, but all to no purpose. The
diamonds were still as far from biz
possession as ever.
Once more approaching the bed, wallis
thrust his hands under the pillows
roughly displacing the head of the sleep
er, whose heavy and laborious breathing
might have alarmed any one whose
nerves were less highly strung than were
Crandalls at that moment. The search
proved fruitless, but the swaying of the
mans neck exposed string which haG
previously been concealed by his higt
cut undershirt.
A tug at the cord met with sharp re-
sistance, and whipping open the wooden
garment the excited searcher discovered
the cause of the obstruction. A chamoi!
skin bag lay ensconced under II left arm
pit of the thief against which it was
tightly pre- ssed. To sever the string and
seize the sack was the work of an in
slant and the next moment Willis was
standing under he gas jet gazing with
wide staring eyes on the recovered dia
mohds. Sinking to the floor and oblivi
Gus Of the big beads of PRECIPITATION
which poured down his face, Cranial
| u ~