The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-13


1 Hello said Buckford when he saw
this. Looks as IL some one had got the
best of the watchman and rified the
| pockets for sou"
From this room Buckford stepped into
| still another.
lie stopped short on the threshold. and
! n cry OF horror burst from his lips which
| had turned white
This room was fitted up as an Office,
Near the window stood desk. AT this
desk sat a well dressed elderly man,
dead.
His drawn face. his staring eyes, ex-
pressing terror; the position OF his body
/ all spoke OF violence
Buckford stepped to him and made a
hasty examination.
There was a wound in his left side
| pentrating undoubtedly 10 the heart. II
was the only wound 10 be seen. Scarcely
any blood had flown. The knife with
| which the foul blow had been dealt lay on
the floor by the dead mans chair.
MY Cod! exclaimed Buckford. 81 go
from one horror 10 another; | seek safety
! wit ha man and find him corpse. What
under the sun OF heaven am l going to do
| now?"
Meantime the four WHO had been left
TO watch had waited for the drunken
| whistler TO come up.
| well" said one Of them as he drew
| near. ''rhe fellow can give us but little
4
| See haw he takes the entire sidewalk?"
| Come, Bibbler! said another. step
! ping out 10 intercept the whistler which
way have you come? Did you see
young man running away?'
'Eh---ehw stammered the watchman.
"Young-man! I see young mani Who
are YOU my friend?'
'Ill show you who ! am II you don't
answer"
The watchman was not so drunk but
what his senses were alert with sudden
suspicion
"Who are you. and what do you want
here?" he asked. Where is that man |
left In my place?"
"Hol What Left in your place! The
man you left In your place! What do
you mean?"
"Policer yelled the drunken watchman.
"Police have been robbed"
What kind OF fool Is this?" angrily
asked one OF the four. Come. idiot. We
are not going TO rob you"
"No. but my keys! Where Is that fell
low-your fellow robber. / believe"
Hold on! Don't shake the life out of
him. exclaimed one of the four who
had -yet-speken. This -feliew-has
an idea Let us get at in quiet way
Come now. my friend Who are you,
and what brought you here?
who am /! What brought me here
Wen. that is good. / suppose ] have a
right 10 come, messleurS, since L am Nj.
de Bullion's watchman."
'Watchman! Are there two of you
then? oh. you are that other fellows re-
lief Now begin to see. Well he went
20 find you. He said you frequently
stopped at M. jacques. He went there
10 look for you
lie went lie said what He is a thief,
tell your!
"Who is a thief? This Is bewildering
We found "A watchman here. lie said
that his relief had not come and went TO
look for him. You must be that relief"
Fl? oh, no. | am no relief. / am
the watchman. A fellow came from
the cellar and said he was pursued by
n mob. He gave me five francs to drink
his health, and | loaned him my leather
Jacket and slouch hat. And now please,
where Is that fellow? For my five
francs are gone and | want my leather
jacket and slouch hat"
Curse you, your leather jacket and
slouch hat" roared the leader of the
four Here we sat an hour with the
man we wanted within arms length of
us. oh, I've "a mind to kill you in his
stead"
Rather" said the cooler speaker, "let
us hurry 10 join our comrades. 1t can
not be difficult to trace a leather Jacket
and slouch hat tonight"
They hurried away, leaving the watch
man much relieved
But now he was I'm terrible stew.
Not only had he lost his leather jacket
and his hat, but his keys were gone.
There was no doubt i'm his now half
sobered mind that the rascal had paid
him five francs for no other purpose than
10 obtain his keys and go through the
buildings under his care.
Mon Dleu! Mon Dieu! NJ. de Bullionr
he groaned.
With all sorts of horrors coming up
-. ~
on run To intercept a policeman. He
cried out as he ran and at a nearby
corner almost stumbled into the arms
| OF a sleepy guardian OF the peace who
was almost ready TO club the watch
man for disturbing his calm and hap
| py meditations.
"Oh. come with mel" walled the forlorn
watchman. "A thief has robbed me of
| my leather Jacket my slouch hat and
| my bunch of keysW
"Well. that Is loss indeed" growlcd
| the officer Did this successful thief
| take a shoe lace as we'll perhaps a
| buckle from your walstcoat3'
"Oh. indeed this is no jesting natter"
| groaned the poor despoiled watchman.
lie Is a rascal, and with the keys can
| so through all the new houses OF NJ de
| Bullion. Even NJ de Bullion himself Is
| I'm danger for he sleeps i'm his Office to-
night with money to pay his workmen to-
morrow
The police officer was no longer asleep,
| nor did he feel like Joking lie sprang at
| once into alortness and agility. He blew
a whistle and then started on "A run for
| the new buildings with the watchman
| putting In agony at his heels
First TO the rooms OF NJ. de Bull
! lion,' said tho officer.
| Here. herel' groaned the watchman.
| up these stairs!'
| A horses hoofs were heard A mounted
| officer had heard the whistle and gal
| loped 10 the scene
The three excited men swarmed up the
| stairs.
This door-this doorl" said the watch
| man
| They tried the door II was locked
! M. de Bullion NJ. de Bullion!" shouted
| the horse gcndarme. open this door
There WAS no answer.
Mon Dleul lie IL already murderedr
| walled the Waterman.
The two officers and the watchman put
| their shoulders 10 the door and with
|