Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-09-25

.,WfH y FL was naturally inclined
f"%L/,EEs1l to lay all the blame
"'~----tDi1 upon him, arguing that
he had misled my
rooster in some way or that he held a
price over his head and forced him to
90 his will. l took this view of the
u.cston for several days, uphoding
MY master and reviing the doctor, at
trfDuting all sorts of evil things to
Linn Certainly he was as great
criminal as Mr.. Goddard. and if one
us ever caught in the act of robbery
the other would have to be implicated.
felt that the doctor was accepting
the easy part of the job staying home
to receive the stolen goods while my
master ran the risk of capture and
even Of being killed.
In the event of the latter's arrest I
knew that DR.. Squircs would suddenly
leave the neighborhood. and my mas
ter would he left to suffer the penal
tics of their mutual crime. Incidental
IT, ! decided to prevent any such UNI
just punishment by being on hand
when the doctor found the place too
hot for him. | knew enough about
their partnership TO have him sen
need to the state prison for a good
! - term.
Ny old hatred of the doctor returned
with double force. | had more tangible
reason for dSliking him now than
When first suspected him of attempts
to kill my master with poisons My
suSpicions that he was not all above
board in his lonely life in the haunted
mansion were now confirmed. | would
make it a point to investigate the prem
Uses in spite Of all opposition.
Thereafter | cuolly but deliberately
went to work to effect an entrance into
the old house. and il may be remarked,
Incidentally, that when professional
burglar of my standing makes up his
mind TO enter a building no locks, bolts,
bars or electric alarms can keep him
ont Moreover. | felt that | had justice
cu my side this time, and, REINFORCED
with quiet conscience, l made spe-
Cially good plans.
II was three nights later that found
myself on the premises again. This
time ! was prepared for a work that
had become q second nature to me.
Leaving my shoes in a clump of bushes
in the woods | proceeded to approach
the house with catlike treads. | reach
cd the front porch without mishap.
There was no moon out and the place
was extremely dark.
When satisfied that everything was
quiet, I climbed up the largest piazza
post and drew myself noisclessly upon
the upper porcn. Here l rested mo-
mcnt and then Crawled along the side
50 as not to make any cracking noise
with the timed roof. | gained the dark
side of the house, and by placing one
foot upon the staples which supported
the blinds | deftly swung myself up
OH the slantiug roof of the third story.
On the top of the house was a round
cupola tower inclosed in glass, and l
judged rightly that no burglar alarm
would be attached to these windows
and that noises made there would
hardly be heard by the doctor and his
old servant in their rooms below.
reached the cupola in safety and after
resting a few minutes l proceeded to
work.
In a few minutes l had cut out a
SuldI piece OF GlaSS from the WINDOW
pane ana th'n' inserting my hand
through the aperture, | easily I'M
fastened the eaten. TOOK the pre-
caution, however, to he sure about
burglar alarm. There was none at
thched to the window, and so far
was Sa1e.
once inside the cupola, | flashed a
bright ray OF light from my dark Ian
tern and inspected my surroundings.
1t was ii small circular room with the
accumulated dust of many years gath
cred on the window sillS and floor 1t
was perfectly bare or articles OF fur
nture and, as | judged, had not been
VISITED by any one for years.
y trap III the floor opened into hail
below. | tired this door and found
that 1t was locked on the inside. An
ordinary lock Is easier to pick than
paddock attached to a staple on the
opposite side OF two inch board.
However, was prepared to encounter
all sorts OF diincultleS.
could work in comparative safety
IN the cupola, so took a cold chisel
ana softly pricd up the ends OF the
staple driven into the door from the