The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-06-05


barred, so that our expected guest
could not escape through them, should
he feel 80 inclined, and its door was
fixed to be strongly bolted from Jout-
side, in the hall. Sumo old watches
and jewelry Of small value we're care
lessly left on the dressing case, to
tempt the rascal and keep him In ig-
norance OF our crafty scheme.
Several well-armed men were 10 be
stationed quietly in and about the
house, TO do whatever fighting might
be necessary, though our plan was to
let the buglar rest In fancied peace,
III possible. Then, after his departure
In the trunk, we we're to follow and
capture his pals In the city and so
recover the previously stolen articles.
'Tis needless to mention our excite
ment Of waiting all the next day for
the trunk, or our scarcely concealed
agitation when, toward evening, it
arrived.
Uncle John himself loudly proclaim
ed his gladness at the pleasure of the
ing expressman up the broad staircase
and carefully left it in the. guest
chamber, right side up, and where it
could be observed from the hall by
peeping through the ksy-hole of the
well-fastened door.
Before dark 1 mustered courage
enough to steal in stockinged feet to the
key-hole and peep in. =
Yes, the trunk was the very one 1
had entertained and even sat on in my
room at homo, with never u thought
Of its horrid occupant. Ugh! The
sight of it sent chills through me and
aroused q feeling on my scalp, as il my
hair was trying to erect itself. Hastily
l ran away from that worse than Blue
Reard chamber, and never stopped
shivering till supper was over.
You may be sure no eyes were closed
in the house that night. The men
guarding the hall heard the knob of
the prison-room door softly tried, but
Of course, it didn't open, which. was
lucky for the rascal within.
at last daylight came and relieved
us OF some of our awful suspense.
After breakfast Uncle John noiselessly
unbolted the door, and, c~arelessly
handy weapon, entered the ROOM. The
trunk stood just as it was left the
evening before. But the jewelry and
stuff had disappeared from the dress
ing-case.
When brave Uncle John returned to
us to report his eyes shons with O
hunters delight. His game was
trapped and ready to be bagged when
the time came.
Just before dinner the other tele-
gram, almost u duplicate of mine,
arrived, and after it the exprSsslnah
for the trunk. Again EnpoleyaadSthe
still unsuspicious man lifed the .BaF-
glars receptacle and placed it onsths
wagon to go to the railroad stationsSSf
Then, as we watched it driven away
| with nnnla and a Naip nf npnSfnh1n fol.
lowing in u buggy, we dared speak
above a whisper.
The rest of the story uncle told us
on the following day, when he came
home safely from his hazardous trip:
AT the station" he said, "we
found a nice looking, respectable chap
waiting. When the trunk appeared
he paid the eXpressman inc checked
the trunk through to New York, to
to which place 1 bought my ticket,
and, also, photographed on for city
police detectives to meet me on arrival
OF the train.
"When the trunk was placed in the
baggage part of the smoking car its
owner got on board and took his seat
among the smokers. AS innocent as q
babe l pumped down beside him and
in II right friendly way offered him a
cigar, which. like a gentleman, he ac-
cepted. Then, putting our cigars to-
gether as chummy as you please, we
soon got acquainted and had O truly
delightful chat-principally about
weather, though, for the follow was
mighty careful to avoid other topics.
when we reached Now York l
found it necessary to attend to some
business, which concerned him rather
mere than he thought, SO shaking
hands goodbye and expressing a
hope to become better acquainted, l
left him watched by my town con-
stables while | sought my smarter city
detectives and put them on to him.
His drayman was on hand waiting
near the baggage-room. AS soon as
he got the trunk on his cart and drove
OIL a ways my smoking friend was
neatly "collared and cuffcd" and
marched in an opposite direction
between two valiant policemen. Then
the detectives and myself took ? cab
and started after the trunk.
Through streets becoming dirtier
and wickeder we followed, without
attracting suspicion from the drayman,
until he stopped before an apparently
unoccupied house and prepared to un-
load. Ere he could do so one detective
jumped on his cart, and without speak
ing started his horse ahead again.
The other aided by me, grabbed the
fellow and prevented him from making
an cutlery to alarm his pal in the trunk.
Immediately several policemen who
l didn't know we're following behind.
suddenly appeared and burst into the
house, which turned out to be a fence
for the thieves.
Leaving our surprised drayman in
charge of some of the officers we seated
ourselves in the cab and again followed
the trunk to u police statiOn-house,
into which 1t was carried and placed
in front of the captains desk on the
floor.
Then silently we awaited results.
1t was dusk, and as no lights were yet
burning to let u game see where he
was we rightly supposed he would
think himself safe at home and act ac-
cordingly. Prepared to turn on the
gas full blaze when he did so, we
watched the trunk. For fifteen
anxious minutes it seemed lifeless.
Then we heard a movement inside,
heard a bolt drawn and saw the lid
slowly rise anda head cautiously ap-
pear. W. wen the gas and over went
the trunks lid pulled by an armed
officer. At first the head, or its face
rather, wore a happy, triumphant,
broad grin then as things didn't look
familiar its eyes opended wider in an
effort to understand matters while tho
grin faded away like arainbOw. Then,
AS the facts Of the case forced them
selves on the burglars startled brain