The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-05
THE SHERIFF'S
LOVE STORY.
From the Chicaeo Times.

-
of the county. had charge of the jail,
of course, and though an old bachelor,
occupied the apartments set aside for the
jailer's family in a wing of the building.
My turnkey was also a single man-Floss
by name-and while we slept at the jail
we took our meals outside Ours was a
peaceful community, and it was seldom
we had a prisoner who had been sentenced
for anything beyond theft or vagrancy.
In a town Of that size everybody knows
everybody else and the arrival of new
family is a matter Of public talk.
One day about six months after had
become sheriff a new family arrived in
MonroeviIe 1t wasn't much ola family
so far as numbers went, consisting only
of father and daughter, but there was
big ripple of excitement nevertheless.
There were several reasons for this. The
name of the family was Taylor, and IL
was reported that Miss Bessie Taylor, the
daughter was going to apply for a posi-
ton as school-teacher. She was young
woman of 20, stylish and handsome. 1t
was also said that the father was old and
blind, but well off in purse, and that-he
had lost his sight by accident while test
ing an invention. Again the gOssips
had it that Miss Bessie could have been
"a
scented to leave her father, but that her
love for him was so great that she had
determined not to fall in love till after
his death. The story, as a whole, as it
passed around the town, was quite rO-
mantle, and when the young woman APP
peared on the streets and was declared
TO be the handsOmest girl in the county,
and when it became q settled fact that
the gray-haired old father couldn't dis
tinguish day from night, there was more
talk about the TaylOrs than about any
ten other families in town.
After three or four weeks it was learned
that Miss Bessie was not going to teach
school. The doctor had prescribed coun-
try air and perfect rest for her father,
who had money enough and to spare. 1t
was further learned that the father was
a great chemist, and that he had lost his
eyesight while seeking the antidote of a
subtle poison. They rented a pretty
house, put in very stylish furniture, and
in a few weeks the young woman was at
the top of the social ladder. This story is
a sort Of confession, and l may tell you at
the outset then fell in love with Miss
Bessie at first sight. As I vas
twice her age and not at all her
style Of man, it was silly in me,
of course, but the man who makes
fool of himself seldom realizes it until
too late to save his reputation. Through
family as soon as etiquette permitted,
was introduced and paid my respects, and
] made no great effort to conceal my feel
ings. I found Mr.. Taylor a very quiet and
reserved man. Indeed, as he himself
gave me to understand, he had a horror
of strangers, and avoided them when
ever possible. He had not only lost
his sight, but was so lame he could
only hObble about. After my first call
l did not meet him again, though I
sometimes heard him moving about in the
house.
The Taylors had not been with us over
two months when one Of the society ladies
gave a party to which all the best people
in town We're invited. Miss Taylor was
there of course. l had the distinguished
honor OF escorting the fair young lady to
and fro, and it is needless to add that the
flame Of love burning in my bosom in
creased by several candlelpOwer. / got
home soon after midnight, TO be upset by
the news of a burglary in town Within
half an hour it was known that the post
Office and a store had been entered and
robbed, and two dwellings had been Wis
tied and plundered. A sheriff and I as
sisted the town marshal to investigate.
In the postOfice tho safe had been
blown open and about 5000 secured In
the dry goods store the safe, which was
an Old-tashiOned one, had been opened
with false key and plundered of about
$500. In the other cases the dwellings
had been left alone and the rObber mad
gone in by the window The money and
Jewelry secured amounted to nearly
s., 0O0 The two families robbed were at
the party, as was also the owner of the
store, who was a single man aud slept in
room of his Office.
None of US could lay any claim to de-
tectlye ability, but the investigation sat
ished us that ono man had done the four
Jobs. The season was the last Of NOvem-
ber and a light snow had fallen early in
the evening. In the alley back Of the
postoffice we found certain footprints.
We found The same under the alley win
dow of the dry goods store, and the very
same around the two private
houses. The fellows rapid and thorough
work proved him a professional and the
town was in high state of excitement for
week.
The robberies took place on a Thursday
evening. On the following Sunday even
ing L called on Miss Taylor and she almost
Immediately asked for all information l
had secured up to date, and then made a
confidential communication On that
Thursday evening an attempt had been
made to enter her fathers house by bed
room window but hearing the prowler at
work the father had raised an alarm.
Miss Taylor felt it her duty to tell me
this, but she requested me not to give il
publicity, as her father was extremely
sensitive and people might say she was
selfish to leave a helpless old man alone
in the house as she had. There were
marks of a chisel on the window sash and
when 1 was told that the robber might
have secured So 600 in cash if he had got
in, l extended my heartfelt congratula-
tions. l also offered to speak TO one of
the town watchmen and have him keep a
special watch of the house, but this Miss
Taylor strongly objected to and made me
promise not to do.
told you was in love with the girl.
but wasn't the only one. Seven or eight
young men were badly gone on her and
enjoyed the same privilege of calling, but
/ tiattered myself / had the inside track
About three weeks after the robberies
Miss Taylor and other youngIadies organ
lied a social club. The meeting to perfect
the organization was held at her house.
Among those present was a Young man
named Carleton. who was cashier in a
private bank in town lie carried a key
to the door of the bank, and il being a
large key he carried it in his overcoat
pocket.
Next morning, afterthe meeting at Tay-
lor's it was discovered that an attempt
had been made to rob the bank. Some
one had entered by the front door, using
the key blown out the lock on the door OF
hn