The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-10-04
CAUGHT 5
BY Clifford Trepbly.
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Ohm, I'm sure I heard some one

u
Nonsense, Mary! You heard the
wind blowing the vines against the
house"
ut sounded like breaking glass. L
wish you'd 60 down, John"
"Oh, pshaw!"
1T may be burglars"
"Well, let them help themselves; I'm
too sleepy to raise objections"
Mrs. Arnold listened intently for
been mistaken, she, too, dropped
asleep.
EARLY the next morning the worthy
couple were awakened by vigorous
pounding on their door.
"Mr. Arnold" called the servant.
"Mr. Arnold, come down, quick! Some
thing dreadful has happened"
Mrs. Arnold was on her feet in
moment. what is it?" she called
through the door.
Robbery! aud everything in the Ii
brary turned upside down."
It was strange sight that met the
eyes of the family as they entered the
little library, which was usually so
tidy. Chairs were overturned. books
and papers scattered about in wild con-
fusion, and large plate glass window
was smashed into fragments. Mr.. Ar
nold's desk was opened, the contents
of the various drawers were scattered
about the floor, and the box containing
his private papers was missing.
II told him SOL" said Mrs. Arnold,
They were the first words that had
been spoken since the worthy couple
entered the room.
II wish l had needed YOU" said Mr..
Arnold, ruefully-
II don't" said his daughter Ruth.
You might have been shot"
IT would have risked a great DEAL"
replied Mr.. Arnold, rather than have
lost the papers which that box con-
tanned"
"Your deeds and insurance papers,
were they not?" asked his wife. "The
deeds are properly registered, and the
insurance papers can be readily du-
plicated. There is no great loss"
but that was not all, interrupted
Mr.. Arnold. Il had sent $4,000 to VIII
liams. in New York, to invest in govern
ment bonds, and last night while you
and Ruth were out calling, l received
q package from him containing the
bonds. | placed them in that box for
safekeeping. l don't see why l could
not have thought of them, last night,
when you awakened me-"
Father" said Ruth--the only one
in the family who had retained her
presence of mind-"the police must be
notified at once. Leave everything just
as it is, and I'll telephone to the sta
ton"
In short time the chief of police
and his lieutenant were carefully in
vestigating the scene of the robbery.
you know no reason for the rob
bery?" questioned the officer, except
the value of the papers taken?'
None, whatever" replied Mr.. Ar
mold.
The robbers evidently took their
time. 1t is strange none of you heard
them come through the window"
"My wife did hear"
"Dut they did not come through TIE
window, interrupted Ruth. THAT was
used only for an exit after the robbery
had been committed.
The officer looked II as Qnshment al
the pretty girl before him.
Miss Arnold" he said, smiling, "the
detective field is before you! May !
ask you your reaso ns for believing that
the persons who entered this room
last night did not come in through the
window"
1.-THE window was broken from the
inside, sir. The glass is on the porch,
not in the room
The officer looked at the window,
gave a low whistle, and then smiled.
you are right, Miss Arnold, he said,
then, turning to Mr.. Arnold, asked:
"What about your servants?"
eve have only two, and they have
been with us for years. | cannot
think of their being connected with
this crime
But the person who committed the
robbery was evidently let into the
house by some one
"Then why did not that some one
also let them cute" asked Ruth
Another good point" said the Off
Ger.
"They evidently did not enter by the
doors or windows on the lower floor"
said Ruth; Il believe they came in
through tne sllylight 1t is not diff
fcult matter to reach the roof by way
Of the back porch and the eavespipe.
I've seen brother do it often when he
was home"
"But why did not our burglar leave
the house in the same way he en-
tered?" asked the officer, smilingly.
Because, in shutting the door after
he had entered the room. the catch
was sprung, locking him in. When
he got ready to leave he broke the
window my means of that chair and
made his escape"
You speak as if there were but
one"
81 believe, upon thinking of it, that
there was but one" replied Ruth.
Had there been two, they would have