The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-06-23
iece of metal. It subsequently an.

piece Of metal 1t subsequently ap-
peared. however, that he did see me
take it, and that his actions were strong
~ influenced by tho ideas this trif1ing
incident suggested to him.
AS it happened, I found no opportu-
nifty to approach the window again. and
I went home with tho bit of metal still
In my waistcoat pocket.
That night an attempt was made to
rob DR.. Van Schoonhoven's house. the
burglars entering by the very window
from which had removed the burglar
alarm They did not succeed in secur-
ing any plumber, but We're frightened
away before any yaluables were found
Now, this attempted burglary was
similar to several others which had
taken place at some of the finest resi-
dences in town, in each case following
only q day or two after II reception to
our ball similar to that at DR.. Van
Schoonhoven' s house. AS it happened.
in every instance but one had been q
guest at the entertainments, and I had
almost begun to fear lest the people who
had invited mo should regard me as a
bird Of evil omen and cease to request
the honor of my presence at their
houses.
Probably you are thinking of Major
Hoffman in connection with these rob-
berries? :
l must confess that did not, though
l had occasion afterward to associate
him, more or less directly, with all of
them. had met him but once and for
q chnrf fsy,,n 0y,1x- 49,
occur to me until two weeks later, when
Senator Cox's daughter was married
AT the reception in tho evening met
the major again. suave, polite, bat, as
before, suggesting Mephistopheles,
encountered him dozen times that
evening, on the back vernnda, in tho
conservatory, i'll the garden. till I be-
gan to regard him as my evil genius.
Particularly did he hover in the neigh
borhoOd Of the roomful of silverware
and jewelry which comprised the we'd
ding gifts. Though 1 did not SEQ him
touch them or hear him speak of them.
it seemed as if some irresistible fascina-
ton held him in their vicinity 1 think
others noticed it as we'll as /. for saw
them looking at him and relnarking
upon his actions among themselves.
When 1 left the house, the last person
L saw was the major, who went out
with me and left me at the corner be-
low, turning down the side street with
wave of his hand and CHEEKY Good
night, Vance"
saw the major again that night, and
1T happened i'll this wise: The moon
had gone down. and it was nearly
o'clock in tho morning when. with two
friends, 1 stood i'll the garden i'll the
rear of the senator's house under the
shadow of Il large bush 1 still wore
my evening dress, but L had soft hat
pulled down over my eyes and wore
dark overcoat. In my hand held re-
volver, as did my two companions
In pursuance Of my project, it was
only minutes work to quietly open
the door at the rear Of the house and
the glass door at the head of the stairs
within. Two minutes later we were in
the room with the wedding gifts A
dim light burned i'll the chandelier, and
at the other side of the room the figure
OF man lay upon IL sofa l slipped over
to his side, and with my revolver close
to his temple signalcd to my friends to
begin their work
AT the first soft clink of the silver III
the bag. into which they were guarded
ly slipping the wedding gifts, the room
was suddenly flooded with light, and 1
heard AL oath from one of my coinpan-
ions. l turned quickly, to see Major
Hoffman and three policemen standing
Ill the doorway covering us with rcvolv-
ers. had time only to see the major
smile triulnphantly and nod in my di-
rection before my arms We're seized from
behind, my pistol wrcnchcd from my
hand, and with two sharp clicks of
locking handouts l was prisoner. The
major flung back his coat so that I could
see the police badge shining n his
waistcoat us he remarked:
Hardly expected TO meet again to-
night, eh, Vance? You tried that bur
glar alarm dodge once too often, let me
tell you. Gentlemen, you are my pris-
o1nrs. "
As before remarked, am now tax
ing rest from my social duties l
shall stay ut this institution somewhat
less than IL years, and there are eight
indictments, am told, waiting to be
attended to When leave. John Palm
CT Gavit in Montreal Herald.
Dogs That Love Music.
dogs have most acute ears in de