Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-09-18

night.
On the seventh night he had an
agreement to meet DR. Squires at his
office. and, feeling worn ont with my
unsuccessful vigils, | retired early and
enjoyed Il sound nights sleep.
That night n big robbery was com.
mittcd not five miles from the house.
and the following morning everybody
was talking about 1t. When | heard
the news. terrible suspicion seized
me. My master was using his alleged
appointments with the doctor as n
means to throw me off the track. I
tried to trace back the dates of the
various robberies, and I imagined that
I could establish coincidence be-
tween them and Mr.. Goddard's visits
to Or. Squires.
All that day my master was ndo-
lent and worn ont, as usual. and | in
stantly attributed it now to his work
of the preceding night and not to any
poison which the doctor was admins
terins 20 him.
When this light da wned clearly upon
my mind, | knew exactly what 20 do.
l slept soundly and peacefully during
the next few nights. but about ten
days later when my master announced
that he had another appointment with
DR.. Squrcs | prepared to spend the
night following him.
lie left the house about g o'clock.
To my surprise. he did not take his
horse, but walked leisurcly down the
road toward the old haunted mansion
that the doctor had so long occupied.
| followed him at respectful dis.
tancc, but he did not seem nervous or
at all suspicious. He walked careless
ly along, without once looking behind
him.
lie reached his destination about
half past 3 and walked lightly up to-
ward the house and entered. This did
not astonish me. for | supposed that
he really did 90 to the doctors and
probably submitted to some sort of
treatment. His midnight marauding
would begin after he left to 20 home
| cautiously approached the house
and tried to get glimpse of the in
terror, but the blinds and shades We're
so closely drawn that / failed to got
glimpse of even the light. | con-
tented myself with examining the bur
glar alarm, for at some future time
might find it useful to unfaston ii from
a window without giving an alarm.
The minutes passed slowly. Not a
sound or movement from inside could
be heard. Accustomed to waiting in
patience for long time, l did not find
my vigil so difficult. entertained my
self in various ways to keep from fall
ing asleep. A few moments of sleep
might spoil everything for me.
1t must have been shortly after mid
night when | heard the front door
creak on its hinges. l was concealed
behind some shrubbcry at the time
where l could command good view
of the entrance to the house. The door.
l knew, was opening, but no ray of
light streamed through the crack. The
whole house was. in fact, wrapped in
darkness.
saw the shadows of two men on the
front porch, and by their general out
lines | knew that one was my master
and the other DR.. Squires. Neither
spoke for some time. Then heard the
doctor say in low, mutfled voice:
"Now, Charles, the house is three
miles below, and you ought to reach it
in half an hour
"Yes; I'll reach it in half an hour
you must be extra cautious, for
there are many detectives around" the
doctor continued.
II shall be very careful"
"Then 90 and return as soon a. pos
sihlc."
They separated. The doctor stole
noiselessly back into tbe house and
my master walked stealthily dow n the
gravelly drive toward the main high
way.
His manner had completely changed.
Every movement he made indicated
suspicion and alertness. He was not
nervous, but every faculty was strained.
He was now the professional burglar
on the scent. The slight breaking of a
twig or the clinking of pebble, l
knew, would arouse and alarm him.
My prey was not an easy one TO fol-
low. He would stop and turn upon his
tracks in the most unexpected way.
His ears and eyes appeared gifted
with wonderful powers of sensation. |
had to increase the distance between
us to avoid detection.
l managed 10 keep him In sight for
about a mile, and then he suddenly
gave me the slip. In some incXplica-
bic manner he had lodged away from
me and disappeared as completely as
If the earth had swallowed him. Cha
Erlncd at thus being thrown off the
track, put all my energies at work to
regain the lost trail. For two hours |
wandered around, vaiuly trying to
catch glimpse Of the man. became
so reckless that ! would have exposed
my person 10 him if it would have dis.
covered his whereabouts to me.
Finally l gave it up in disgust.
seated myself under tree near the
highway and reflected. Certainly |
was bafiied for the night, | was on
the point of returning home when the
words of Or. Squires required to me-
The two We're evidently engaged In
the same criminal practices, and they
would probably meet again that night
With this thought uppermost in my
mind l cautiously retraced my steps to
the doctors house. Once | thought