The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-02-08
A WEIRD MYSTERY
..-Ols-
Tracing a Dark Crime.
BY ALEXANDER ROBINSON, M. D.
CHAPTER XVI.


NV appearance was not prepossessing.
In fact, to tell the honest truth, had
succeeded in giving my face q rather
.villainous look that would be a passport
TN my favor considering the locality
where expected to carry on my opera
tons
My gait, too, was slouchy. It was
nv desire to appear as much as POSSIBLE
like man whose greatest fear would be
to meet the police in daylight
Thus disguised felt that could de-
pend upon my natural talents for get
ting me through any scrape.
It was not long before I was in the
neighborhood Of the place to which !
had been directed by the detective.
My idea was to find Colonel Cain and
Keep q watch on him, trusting,to chance
to throw myself in his way.
The den I entered was known to the
police, but those who frequentsd it were
evidently not wanted as yet, for few
calls were made here by the blue coats.
Now and then detective prowled
about in disguise, looking for his man,
bat, on the whole, it was quiet resort.
soon discovered that my man was in
the place. The photograph gave him
away.
he seemed to keep apart from the
rest, and several times saw him e1-
anining something he had written upon
. small piece OF paper.
Imade up my mind that this was the
plan OF house he intended to enter.
It was after midnight when he left the
place, but in the meantime ] had seen
the paper slip from his pocket and fall
upon the floor under his chair. -..
Watching my opportunity had picked
It up, photographed 1t op my mind, and
then dropped it sgsin, 80 that when he
came to look for 1t he found 1t.
had found, just as might have been
expected, the diagram Of the ground
door OF house on Madison avenue, with
his method of procedure marked.
When he went out knew that he in
tended to burglarize that house.
Here was q chance to make his ac-
guaintsnce, and at the same time gain
his goodwill.
A bold move and the game was mine.
Did have the grit to try it9
Subsequent events would prove that /
did not lack the necessary nerve.
followed him out, but it was not my
Intention to pursue, but to get ahead.
This managed to accomplish, and ar
rived at the house on Madison avenue
long before he came upon the spot.
A feeling of repulsion passed over me
st the part was about to play. For
physician In good standing to be caught
or shot in the act Of burglarizing pri-
Sate residence would ruin me.
relied on two things, and the thought
of Leonore carried me through. Should
anything happen, Mr.. Ketcham would
see that I did not come out with dis
credit. Then again, I took it for granted
that so shrewd q man as this burglar
would not fix his eye upon house that
was well protected as base OF opera
tions.
These things quickly decided me.
remembered what his plan had been
In the matter Of gaining an entrance.
So made my way over fences to the
rear Of the house had marked las the
ono he intended working. 80
It was q new experience to noe, this
climbing about among back yards in the
solemn hours Of night, running the risk
of q shot from some person who might
happen to be on the watch.
My nerves were pretty well strung by
the time I landed in the yard for which,
had all along been aiming.
Hcre I made as rigid an examination
rs the time and circumstances would
permit, and was pleased to find that it
all compared fayorably with Abe little
plan the cracksmsn had possessed.
There could be no doubt that ! was in
tho right place.
Over in one quarter saw the door
leading to the kitchen. This was in the
shape Of storm-door. According. to
Colonel Gains idea, this door. SHOULD be
readily opened-it bad been fixed for or
by him.
1, it.
y Sure enough, there was no resistance
as turned the knob. Before me was
inky darkness-the interior of the room.
What lay there could not guess, but
the venturesome burglar takes many
risks, and as for good cause / was now
serving in that role, must do likewise.
81 stepped within and closed the
door.
Cropping my way step by step across
the room finally came to the stove.
Behind this I crouched, revolver in
hand, and awaited results.
All was silent as death in the house,
and socl came to the conclusion that
the family must be away, and that the
burglar had known this fact.
Z, My game was to hoodwink him, and
did not intend aiding in sacking the
house either.
. If my plans carried out, the owners OF
the house ought to feel obliged to me for
soaring burglar away who would have
ransacked the premises
Under such pecu lar circumstances the
min utes seemed terribly long to me, and
Twas really relieved to hear o sound at
the door.
Ny man had come.
! prepared to receive him il the man
ner ! had planned.
When the door opened heard rather
than saw o man enter. Almost on the
point of rising, I suddenly became frozen
With astonishment-
Another man had glided in through
the open door.
The camesa third.
] felt chill run over me.
A dark lantern was cautiously opened
for o moment, and I was almost petrl'
fed to see the blue uniforms OF police
officers.
Were they after me? =,
l confess Ibegan to wish myself well
out OF the scrape. Mr.. Ketcham might
be able to clear me, it was true, but the
thought Of being caught in the kitchen
of q private residence was anything but
pleasant to my mind.
The three policemen closed the door
after them, and could hear them talk.