Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-02-12

ODSCIN ttllNA SAocCVt HI "kCAA AAobAO if any real progress in the remarkable investigation he had undertaken.
 The sagacious officer, however, had crystallized theory which had been gradually taking shape ill his mind. He had determined on what might be pro nounced desperate venture.
 As soon as it was fairly dark he left the hotel, first informing the landlord that he was liable to be kept out until late at night and possibly until morn ing. He was told that the negro boy who sleTt in the barroom would admit him at any hour and conduct him to his room.
 The night was dark, with faint moon. The Livermore homestead, standing al most beyond the limits of the village, was shrouded in gloom except for the dim light of an oil lamp burning just i'll front of the entrance to the grounds. It was no difficult matter for the detective to steal in among the trees without be- ing seen. He made himself certain ear Her in the day that there was no dog about the premises, so he had nothing to fear on that score.
 He had secured a position which gave him a view of one side and the front of the house, including the portion lit up by the smoking lamp across the street. Posting himself thus. he was prepared to wait several hours if necessary-an or deal for which the successful detective must always be ready.
 He would have given good deal had he dared to light one of his delightful cigars while thus waiting, but that would have been inexcusable imprudence, for the odor was liable to betray him to any one approaching the dwelling.
 Fortunately he was not kept long in waiting. Less than half an hour had passed when he discerned the outlines of a man coming along the lonely street and entering the dim area of illumination thrown out by the lamp.
 As the figure came more plainly into view and turned to pass through the open gate, the watcher identified it.
 Its Dr. Maidhoff, sure enough" he muttered, with thrill of pleasure and expectation that his surmise had proved correct. He has come in answer to that summons of Miss Glider"
 The physician walked briskly up the path, stepped upon the broad porch, his footsteps sounding distinct in the still ness of the night. Before he could move forward to sound the heavy brass knock CT the door was drawn inward, and by the light of the lamp in the hall beyond Simpson saw the form of Miss Glider.
 Beyond a doubt she was waiting for him. and his call was not professional one, since he would not have waited so 1 long after receiving the letter of the young lady.
 The two did not enter the house at once. The partly open door showed the dark figures on the threshold, where they talked for some moments in low tones.
 If Simpson could only catch few of the words which now reached him in an almost inaudible hum, they were certain to be of the highest importance so much so indeed that he was on the point of stealing forward among the trees, though the attempt was almost hopeless one, when, to his chagrin. they passed inside, and the door was closed behind them.
 He heard the click of the lock and the sliding of the old fashioned bolt. "They don't mean to be interrupted" was his conclusion, "a1d I don't think there is much danger of their being over heard"
 The attempt. however, which he in tended to make ill the direction was | frustrated in an unexpected manner.
 He supposed they would seat them selves in the lower sitting room or par 1 Tor, but they did neither. The sudden | faring of light ill the upper front room | (which had evidently been occupied by the late invalid) showed they had gone bn of Cr7-ao for 1,YivocX The scheme, therefore, of creeping up beneath the window and listening. in the hope of catching word or two, was nipped in the bud.
 The detective passed among the trees | back and forth until he had surveyed the two front and each of the single side windows. The former were impenetra- bly, screened by curtains, as was the one on the left, but the one on the right had | its curtain raised about half way to the 1 top. Whether this was an oversight or whether it was done to assist ventilation, since the sash was also lowered few | inches, was question of no importance. Simpson moved silently back among the trees until he was several rods from the side of the house. The change of po- sition did not give him glimpse of the occupants nor of any recognizable article of furniture.
 There is only one thing to be done," he reflected, and that is to climb that treo which grows near the building. I can hardly hope to overhear their con verSatiOn, but may see something worth knowing-good heavens!'
 Well might the eavesdrOpper be star tied. for at that moment he made the discovery that he was not the only indi- vidual moving among the trees and seek ing to penetrate the mystery of the Liv- ermore homestead. There was another person engaged on the same errand. Indeed the backward movement of | Simpson, in his effort to gain a glimpse of the interior of the upper room, was all that saved him from discovery by this second intruder, who came upon the scene as nOiselessly as a shadow.
 The same obstacle which shut off his prying attempts caused him to do as Simpson had done only a minute before. He moved toward the boundary fence in the effort to inspect the window whose | curtain was partly raised. This took him so far from the dwelling that hi7 head and shoulders were thrown partly in relief against the faint light, the out lines, however, being so indistinct that they were barely distinguishable, and only proved that it was man that had appeared so unexpectedly on the scene and complicated matters.
 While the detective was debating with himself what he should do, if indeed he could do anything. the head and shoul- ders vanished. The stranger was ap- preaching the house again, having found that nothing was to be gained by stay ing where he was.
 The officers senses were strung to that tense point that when, minute later, he caught Q soft, faint scraping sound he read its meaning.
 "He is climbing the tree near the win