The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1902-12-18

4 NEVER SAW ANYTHING so LOVELY"
colonel and his wife, the oldest daugh-
ter, girl of fifteen. and the coloners
private secretary, William Winter
This is the window they got in at
the first night said Winter. pointing
to bay window on the ground floor
leading out of the dining room. And
this is the one they got in at the other
nights pointing to another big win
dow that was in the staircase hall
alongside the front door
why didn't they always enter at the
same Window" | asked carelessly.
That's what bothers me-" said
Winter, but you can go see for your
self that they didn't" pointing to tram
pied places under both of the windows.
You see it was this way" said the
colonel. I'VE were greatly alarmed the
first night when the silver was taken,
and we set watch over the things.
From that night to the present this
house has been steadily guarded from
the inside every night, from dark until
daylight. And yet we have had three
robberies during that time. 1t is the
strangest thing | ever saw, and I'd
give $500 to catch the burglars"
Are they operating anywhere else
in RidgewoodY
Yes" said Winter promptly, they
tried to steal some things out of the
church last night, and a week ago they
broke into the office of the gas com
pany."
Are you familiar there | asked.
Yes" said Winter.
zone thing more colonel, before
CO." l said will you tell me the
name of the person who was ON guard
in your house the last three nights"
81 was the person." said Winter.
"All right, colonel | said. II am
going back to the city today TO stay
about a week, but | will be back
Christmas eve, and then | will look up
your thief for you. And, by the way
you might get ready for your Christ
mas tree. for l expect TO give you all
your things back in time for your
Christmas celebration"
The colonel looked skeptical and Win
Ter sHook nlS neau sadly.
Don't you think you had better stay
here if you are going to look for himY'
asked the colonel.
NO" l said. 1T isn't necessary.
Good day, you can look for me Christ
mas eve"
said goodby, but / didn't leave
RidgewoOd after all ! only went
away far enough to hide myself in q
certain little hotel in the little town.
and there | waited and watched-did
as slick detective work as | ever did
in my life, even in a big city on the
biggest robbery l ever had.
} Christmas eve found me. not in the
colonel's home, but out in the cold,
frosty air. looking into the window of
a little cottage. The cottage was the
end one in row of wooden houses.
each with q grass plot around it. Ii
belonged to William Winter. private
secretary to Colonel Payne: and in the
cottage lived Winter and his wife and
Winters wife's mother; also six little
Winters varying In age all the way
from four to twelve years
Il never saw anything so lovely in
all my life, papa the oldest Winter
girl was saying as ! pressed my nose
against the glass and pecred in through
the narrow strip between the window
sash and the easement.
There inside of the room stood
little Christmas tree upon big box,
and upon the tree and all around the
foot of II stood dozens of beautiful
Christmas gifts Such n Christmas
tree you never saw, There were little
things in silver-spoons forks, after
dinner coffees and knives. and there
was a rocking chair. also several little