The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-07
TRAPPING A BURGLAR.

Ocean.
TRAPPING A BURGLAR.
Sir Barton Crawley was ono OF those pri-
nordial. childish creatures who never seem.
however much they may rub shoulders with
their fellow-men. to pick up the ordinary
wisdom and caution Of the nineteenth CEN
tury. Deceived he had been a hundred
times In his life, but yet he became no moro
suspicious as he grew older. He was cred
ulous. gullible. il you will. and perhaps II
was this very simplicity which made him
the general favorite which he undoubtedly
was. Added to this he was % curious and
inquisitive az was our first mother.
''Here's a good natured busy body II ever
/ could read q face" was the mental %eiacu-
lation OF a smartly dressed man who found
himself one morning seated opposite to Sir
Barton in . first class railway carriage on q
branch line Of tho Great Western. The
latter was a stranger to that part Of the
country through which lthey were travelling
and was not sorry to find himself with a
person who. he instinctivsly Judged, would
be only too glad to give him all the inform
ation he required.
"a nice morning, sir.'' he said. 40 soon 40
Sir Barton was comfortably seated.
"A very nice morning." replied the baro-
net, with that cordial emphasis which en-
souraRes further in~terchanRes of ideas.
"Capital weather for our agricultural show,
If only it will last" he continued. Per
haps you arc interested in it, sir ?'
"That 10 n of the chief reasons for my
presence here" nnswered the stranger. II
take particular interest in the country
shows. and yours ia ono of the few which I
attend. Do you expect representative OK
hibits this year?"
Eyes. I think in all probability II will be
the most complete local display that We
have yet had. Indeed. we have made every
e1ertion to render it particularly 80 since
George Atbor, Is expected to be present ON
the second day. as o guest of Sir Spencer
Horton, and between you and me and the
post, it Is rumorsd that the most successful
OF the country shows this year is to receive
. royal charter"
Icussion upon breeding. fattening and stock
ing. which no doubt was very satisfactory
to them both, but would hardly interest my
readers. In the course Of conversation il
transpired hat Sir Barton was one of the
judges at the forthcoming show. and that
the stranger was staying in the neighbor-
hood and proposed to be. If possible. a daily
visitor at it. and the baronot was go
charmed with this thoroughly. sympathetic
person that he invited him forthwith to
lunch at Barton hall IN any day that he
might be present, from June ID to 16.T
The house was but i've minutes' walk
from the show yard. which was on his
grounds, and there the stranger would moot
most of the country gentlemen and farmers.
The invitation was gratefully accepted.
The stranger alighted at the next station
and Sir Barton was left alone in the car
riage.
II wonder who he is. and what he GOES
md the baronet mechanically turned his
ayes upon tho seat just vacated by his late
companion as if to c~oniure up his appear
hnce again for the answering OF the Ques-
lion. In contemplating the cushions he
found something much more tangible than
he had expected.
In a moment he held in his hand a large
Russia leather pocketbook. temptinRly fat
with papers-what was more will tho con-
ents sliQhtly pr%otruding. Ii waa y quite
90 irresistible temptation to the ipquislt,ve
title man. Besides, he said to himself, II
may be of the utmost Importance to the
Ptranger to have it in his possession with
nut delay, and his name and address must
70 discovered somehow.
Sir Barton accordingly yielded himself
p to that most delightful OF oocupations-
Prying into ones neighbours most intimate
fairs. and with something Of an excuse
or doing 30. But, If his main objsct was
Q discover the strangers name and ad-
ress. he was doomed to disappointment.
ts chief contents proved to be documents
nd memoranda in q strange sort Of cipher,
My half %raadable. and wholly unintslliQi-
10. The baronet could find no clsv hers
b bis late ~companion's identity.
6AsnA A-k Al---
nsealed envelope which afforded him some
oneolatien and excited BY degrees hia Gu
posity to the very highest pitch. II was
ddressed to the occupant of a cottage
Phich he knew we'll, standing in a secluded
pot some ten miles away from Barton hall.
nd ran as follows:
"Please deliver the small parcel left with
on last Monday to bearer OF this note, only
he calls on Tuesday, June IL. or before
midday, Wednesday, June IL. He will piyo
on two sovoreigns for You troublc.'
When Sir Barton Crnwley came to put
NO and two together he saw that nm on.
%ortunity here presented itself of having a
is nance acquaintance at the same mo-
Ient. BY the time he arrived home he
lade up his mind how TO act. His un-
nown visitor was probably coming to
lnch with him On the Wednesday,. Bsfors
iat he was hardly likely to see or hear Of
m.
1t was evident from this open note that
Their he or some ono to whom no was to
md 1t was to call at the cottage for some
ling which only this pistle would give
10 right OF obtaining. and that the time
r doing 80 would be past before the
ranger was TO be his gucst. He would
en- ride over on tho Tuesday. produce thu
ste. pay the two soveroigns, and do him
II tho pleasure OF having an agreeable
rprise in store for his newly-made friend
the following day.
Accordingly. Of Tuesday morning Sir
nrton ordered his horse and an hour and n
III later found himself In the vicinity of
. cottage to which tho letter wus nd
esscd. The place seemed curiously do
rted aud still 40 he got of his horse and.
tn tho rein over his nrm. knocked al tho
,mble door. The knock galvanized tho
ace TO life. for nj once there we @ quick
otstcps within ne though charged with
pectaney.
The door opened. A hand protrudod.
DO note WAS almost snatohod from Sir
hrton's fingers and the door banged in his