Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-05-22

my Nlslt.
 But fortunately he was absent, and the trick served me. She was impressed and made no further protest But simple hearted and honest as she was, she showed a cunning that sur prised me. Having stated that had en- tered tho wrong room, she led the way to another apartment, whose windows opened Rt the rear of the house. That. too. was an occupied bedroom, but the furniture was much plainer than in the other decided that it was tho 1 one used by herself and husband, while l tho other belonged to MT. and Mrs. | Howard.
 Now We shall see what We can 1 learn,' 1 remarked ill businesshke way, stepping 10 one of the rear win dows, raising the sash and examining the window sill and the stones beneath. Nothing here" l quickly added. ''The gentleman lift no trace that can l be of any help to me. Let's try the oth- er'
 This sash was also rais, q, and mato \ a prolonged and minute examination of | the interior and outside. Nothing was to be noted, and 1 knew such would Do | tho fact the moment l crossed tho \ threshold, Fur although this was n rear room it was not til" Cu" which tho East 1 Indians had attempted to enter. That was to the left aId could ho reached only by passing out again into the hall.
 Still 1t served ny purpose not to let | her know for tko moment tha: saw tho clever trick she had played on me. I ! | the window raised ald rIy h, ad partly out, turned quickly toward her: ''Is this the window which tho bur l glar tried to enter
 Well, that i>-did,,'t tell you I l didn't sec any of 'oEI: Ireprcssrd the enilo that rugged at my l mouth. Here was an old lady 50 conSci- l cntious that she would rot tell a false hood to save her life, vet n,ith,r would she betray those wHom she hyhevrd it her duty to protect. Instead of answer ing mo she parricd rly question.
 Come hero ono mu:n,nt," said kindly.
 Sho obeycd timdly and stool at my side. drew back my head. leaving tho sash raised, and replaced my derby. | Noe, it doesn't look reasonable to mo that two or three burglars would have tried to get ill this window when they had no means of doing SO. Of course >lu havo ladder about tho | premises. but they diI not Ilakn Us,' If | it.
 "I don't think th,y did, fer ii is in tho barn, where it has lcrn for weeks. !" l Exactly. Then how could they get F,.,
 How many of them was thpre?" sho asked in turn
 "Wo understand thCro wcro three. ."
 Well, couldn't ono of them stand on the other head and then lot the third climb up on his head:" she demanded triumphantly, as though her answer solved the question.
 | Under the circumstances it WAS an ingenious reply, and my respect for her clevcrnesS rose.
 "I declare I did not think of that. but how t!D you account for tho fact that they left no signs behind thcm:"
 I'm not counting for anything. You pretend to be an 0sSifCr of tho law. and if you arc as smart aS you think you can answer tho question yourself My eyes ain't as good as they used to bo, but mCbhn l can see where you can't. -
 And. stepping forward, the 'Aaod gray E,Ai" leaned Uut Cf the window anl pruyud through h,r sptrtAclr; at the old stuno wall and the lrdSG as If she expected tO discover q written ,N- plantation of the W!'c!c mystery.
 No; only that. but l saw her chip a piece Uf mortar with Lvr thumb nail from between the stores just below the ledge
 Some one must have done that. she remarked, SCrutinizing the mark with interest. What tin you think of it:'
 II think it was removed hv your thumb-in fact, l saw it donc-though, of course, you did not know it.
 "Is that true" she asked as innocent ly as a child Well, I must bo more careful. They could have come in this winder the way I said, couldn't thcy?''
 Probably they could, but l don't think they did"
 "Why not?"
 That isn't tho way with burglars. ''
 "Do you know much about such folks?"
 Madam. my business brings mo ill contact with them. I remarked, with all tho imprcssivcncss could assume. "and it is my duty 10 study their ways.
 That's the way you learned. oh?'
 Exactly, and i'll no other. an con vinccd that neither ono of those crimi- nals attempted 10 enter this room by the means you name.
 It was quite clear that sho meant tc keep mo from entering tho right one anG I was determined that neither she nol
 any one else should do that. lowered the window and slowly walked across the room and out of tho !, door leading to the hall. My lead wa:
 bent as if in troublous thought.
 Wait, sho interposed, hurryinS t,
 place herself i'll front of nc. It would o bo more polite if you would let III,
 lead
 . II must beg your pardon again. bu = wiSh to relieve you of all tho labor
 can"
 |, "The best way to do that is by lcav ing the house. "
 . "I will bc glad to do so when III,
 work is completed. Itwas no fancy this time that hcart [. 8 soft footfall and saw tho door opcnini - to tho room slightly ajar. Some on
 was on the other side, stealthily watch ', ing us and listening to our words. Tn ]: ]: ]: 7a4=7ssI<{Ff