New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1903-01-14
PROFESS SIGNAL
BRET HREN
BY GEORGE e. WALSH 4!
Copyright. 1909, by +. NJ. Buckles & Co. 81
NeaD Fork Gl s3 5
'[coNTINUED.lFI
!. CHAPTER XIV.

< II
YNa MI was naturally inclined
N XXI to lay all the blame.
~ upon him, arguing that
he had misled my
master in some way or that he held a.
price over his head and forced him to
do his will. | took this view Of the
question for several days, unfolding
my master. and reviling the doctor, at
atributing vail sorts of evil things to
him. Certainly he was as great a
criminal as Mr. Goddard, and If one
was 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 Z
knew that DR.. Squires would suddenly
leave the neighborhood, and my mas
ter would be left to suffer the penal
( ties of their mutual crime. Incidental
ly decided to prevent any such I'M
just punishment by being on hand
when the doctor found the place too
hot for him. I knew enough about
their partnership to have him SEN,
fenced to the state prison for a good
long term. S..
My old hatred of the doctor returned
with double force. had more tangible
reason for disliking him now than
when first suspected him of attempts
to kill my master with poisons. ny
suspicious 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
ises in spite of all opposition.
Thereafter I coolly but deliberately
went to work to effect an entrance into
the old house. and it may be remarked,
incidentally, that when professional
burglar of my standing makes up his
mind to enter building no locks, bolts,
bars or electric alarms can keep him
out. Moreover, 1 felt that had justice
on my side this time, and, REINFORCED
with quiet conscience. made spe
cially good plans.
It was three nights later that found
myself on the premises again. This
time I was prepared for work that
had become second nature to me-
Leaving my shoes in clump of bushes
in the woods, proceeded to approach
the house with catlike treads. I reach
ed the front porch without mishap.
There was no moon out and the place
was extremely dark.
: When satisfied that everything was
quiet, climbed up the largest piazza
post and drew myself noiselessly upon
the upper porch. Here l rested mo-
ment and then crawled along the side
80 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 I deftly swung myself up
on the slanting roof of the third story.
On the top of the house was round
cupola tower inclosed in glass, and
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. I
reached the cupola in safety and after
resting a few minutes proceeded to
work.
In few minutes 1 had cut out
small piece Of glass from the window
pane, and then, inserting my hand
through the aperture, l easily I'M
fastened the catch. took the pre-.
caution, however, to be sure about a
burglar alarm. There was none at
tached to the window. and so far I
was safe.
Once inside the cupola, l flashed
bright ray of light from my dark Ian
tern and inspected my surroundings.
It was small circular room with the
accumulated dust Of many years gath
was perfectly bare of articles Of fur
niture, and, as judged, had not been
visited by any one for years.
A trap in the floor opened into, hall
below. l tried this door and found
that it was locked on the inside. An
ordinary lock is easier to pick than a
paddock attached to a staple on the
opposite side of two inch board.
However, I was prepared to encounter
all sorts of difficulties.
I could work in comparative safety
in the cupola. So took a cold chisel
and softly pried up the ends of the
staple driven into the door from the
opposite sides. When had straight.
ened these out, forced them gradual
~ out of their holes. They fell back
with a little clatter that startled me.
Would anybody hear the noise?
waited breathlessly for q full half
hour. squirting my eye through the
small holes to detect any ray Of light.
But apparently nobody slept in that
part Of the house, and the noise had
4 done no harm. I tried the trapdoor.
1t stuck a little at the corners, but by
/ prying it up with my chisel managed
to raise it without creating any noise.
An old ladder led from the trapdoor
Z to the hall below. tested it with my
feet before venturing my whole weight
on it, for I was not certain whether 1t
was strong enough to hold me. Then
quietly dropped down into the hall