The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-10-26
CHAPTER x.

1t is decidedly irritating to be laid on
would most wish to be more than usually
active and efficient. But the milk is
spilled, and worrying will not restore it
to the pitcher. Imust keep quiet tand hope
for better things. At all events have
abundant opportunity to indulge my
hobby of writing.
The topic of special interest at present
is the burglars. From information we
have received, as the newspapers say, I'VE
are in position to state that there is
probability of our being their next vic
tins. No doubt they are skillful gang
of rascals, but even an amateur thief
might operate in this neighborhood with
comparative security. We have two or
three infrm and erratic constables to
take charge of 20 or 80 square miles of
territory, and the facilities for escape
and concealment afforded by the topog-
raphy of this region are all that the most
fastidious could desire. Accordingly we
have seriously made up our minds to de-
fend ourselves, and not only that, but if
possible to bag the burglars into the bar
gain.
The Cedarcliffe estate is two a. mes
miles in circumference, AMI :ict..e
is good deal diversified W.
ravines, cliffs, cultivated laii -
dens. The force available 70 ,....t
frontier consisted of four persoas--,.
Henry, Tom, the groom, and myssE--.
my own involuntary detection reduce.
TO
three ought to be enough. Sinfre wants
to come in, but that is hardly practc...
BILE. She would unquestionably do her
part, however, should any chance bring
her in contact with the enemy. She not
only has no fear, but she is very clever
in suggestions. and in fact it was she
who first proposed the scheme which will
probably be put in operation.
The theory upon which we are pro-
ceeding is that our robbers are members
of the community and probably among
the most jealous of those who are clamor-
ing to have the villains caught. They
have shown such competent knowledge
OF the locality, of the obstacles to be en-
countered and the facilities to be de-
pended on, they have made so few mis-
takes and their success has been so uni
form that it is difficult to suppose them
strangers, unfamiliar with the ground.
This hypothesis being granted, it follows
that although our task is made harder
in one way it is simplified in another.
On the one hand, they will be able to ar
range their attack with more certainty
and confidence, but on the other we
shall be able to play off with them bit
Of strategy that might else fail Of its
effect. Let me explain.
We are in the habit every summer Of
making party to go to Pebble lake and
camp out there night or two. The lake
lies some 10 miles to the southwark and
is surrounded by woods which have
stood beyond the memory of living man
In former years we built small log hui
there for the ladies of the party or fol
refuge in case of storm, and we carry
tents, cooking apparatus and all Other
paraphernalia with us.
Father bought the lake, with the sur
rounding woodland, at the time of ou,
| first settlement here. Perhaps he intend
ed it for fishing preserve, or possibly
his motive was merely aesthetic. At any
rate, there 1t is, and there is not pret
tier sheet of water within 100 miles. Il
is about 200 acres in extent and remark
ably deep at one end, where Mount Sa
chem descends, rocky and precipitous
sheer into the water. At the other enc
it is comparatively shallow, and the shor,
slopes gradually. Pebble brook enters 4
st this point, and on ia hanks the lof
cabin stands, commanding view Of tn
whole stretch Of the lake and Of Noun
saohsm rsasoted n u. Ths hahins I