The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-13

The reader Will doubtless wonder how
my chum came TO fix SO decisively upon
followers" as the active agents In the
robbery with such slight evidence 10
guide him. and by no one can this wonder
be more emphdtically echoed than IL was
by myEelf When the circumstances
were narrated 10 me thus far, / remom-
ber distinctly saying To myself that not
a follower" would appear in the case
"a thought now entertained I doubt not,
by the reader: but ga this ! was COM
plctciy mistaken. That NJ Sweeny was
right, however. was more TO be account
ed for on the ground that rare strokes
OF fortune fall To all detectives alike,
than from the weight OF evidence point
ins ia that direction.
The next Gay was stormy and blust-
ering, with occasional showers Of slcet
and rain but as soon as II was dark
that Is, shortly after four o'ciock-M-
SWeeny, provided with the KEYS which
had been sent for his use, went out 10
Viewforth and got quietly in at The back
gate OF Rose Mount Villa. closing and
locking II after him. and then very thank
fully seeking the shelter OF the hen-house
"a vile-smellng den OF brick and wood,
with wired-in cage I'm front through
which he could watch the fitting lights
In the house and general evidence Of
the stir and hustle OF preparations for
cab stopped at the front gate. and WAS
soon driving away. containing Mr.. Mid
dleton and his wife and the three child
rcn after which Mfweeny's watch would
have been rather irksome and monoto-
nous, but for the restless movements Of
the single servant left In charge of the
For some reason the girl had not drawn
down the blind OF the kitchen window.
and MSweeny could watch her every
movement by peering out at the door OF
his cage. First. she got out her pastry
board and roller and pot of jam. and
proceeded TO make n tempting looking
puff cake, which she placed in The oven
a neat little steak pie. Just "A nice size
for two" as M'Sweeny remarked to him
self with watering mouth, soon followed
the puff cake into the oven; and then
Jeanie disappeared. and returned with
some beautifully painted tea china, which
she busted carefully and placed on
tray ready 10 carry out OF the kitchen
The ci.ina was the best IN the honse. Il
NJ Sweeny was not slow to note that cups
and saucers we're laid for two only
BY and by her work became less ardu-
Gus. and her peeps into the oven were
varied by constant trotting 10 the
kitchen window and peering out. with her
nose and cheeks fattened on the pane. in
tho direction of the heck gate.
"Bathersshon, i wish had not locked
the gate was MSweony's comment;
hut sure thrue love laughs at locks. and
II he's partic lar anxious 10 get nice tea
and rice chat. Il won't be a shut back
dure thatli keep him out.
Scarcely had "a Sweeny uttered the
comment when the difficulty was solved
i'm an unexpected manner Jeanic. evil
IDENTIFY grown impatient appeared al the
Kitchen door, with a little shawl thrown
lightly over her head 10 protect her from
the driving snow, and tripped lightly
down the walk 70 the back gate, inserted
a key in the lock, opened the gate. and
stood long looking In an easterlv dirco-
ton. The looSed-for did not appear: ana
merely pushing 10 the gate without fas-
tening IT, the smart servant lass return
ed 10 the house to have another peep at
her oven, and then whlsk out OF the
kitchen with her trayful OF pretty china.
Almost simultaneously With her disap-
pearance, the front gate was softly push
ed open. and NJ Swocny was just in time
to catch a glimpse OF mans form NOV
Ing away IN The direction OF the front
door.
Now. or never" was MSweeny's ex-
cited exclamation. "l'll go round by the
other side OF the house, and the mint he's
in al the front dure I'll run in an collar
him"
He left his hldlng-place and passed
along the back of the house, intending to
pause at the end till the bell rang; but
Just as he reached the corner, STOPPING
low and moving rast To dodge the wind
and sleet. he bumped his head full into
the stomach OF the intruder M Sweeny IN
the darkness could only see that the man,
though respectfully dressed wore a legit-
innate ''keelie cap" OF double peaked cloth,
and he put out his strong paws and
clinched at once. NJ 'Sweeny was himself
muffled to the ears, but the intruder
needed no invitation to the encounter. but
opened the fray by delivering a tremen-
dous kick on my chum's shin bone. at the
same time putting forth all his strength
in n adden attempt TO strange him.
NJ Sweeny replied promptly by tripping
up his assallant. and falling heavily on
him, so as to drive as much as possible
OF the breath from his body, and was
following this up by vigorous pounding
with hts hard knuckles. when n kind OF
familiar tone i'm some of the prostratel In
truder's smothered ordinations induced
him To start and peer more closely into
his features. The INTRUDER at the same
time appeared 10 recognize the towsy red
head OF M'Sweeny-from which the hat
had now tumbled-and was the first. to
exclaim--
"oh. why couldn't you look before you
hit outg"
"Begorra. it's Mr.. Middleton HIMSELF"
cried the crestlallen NJ Sweeny helping
UP the man he had fallen on, and ohse-
quiously busting his coat for him. "Nho
ever would thought & was you?"
Some whispered explanation followed,
from which it appeared that Mr.. Middle
ton had no sooner seen his wife and chill
dron comfortably 60 the party than he
slpped on an old cloth cap and muffler
he had found I'm the hall and run back 10
have a look at his house. and. II possible.
sec If MSweeEy was making any discov-
cries or captures OF Importance
With many reproaches for al but spoil
ing his case M Sweeny hurried his en-
p'oyer out OF the place, telling him TO
keep away az long as he could. or take
the consequences; and. having thus di-
vcrted Mr.. Middcton's attention from
<okn Cyr7 <<M (A EEY