The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-05-20
II Born
Defec1i1e

IOrfgtnai,l
"a story Of my profession? Well, I'll |
tell you Of the most puzzling and the |
most important Of them all"
The listeners drew up their chairs. /
and the detective proceeded:
"a Mr.. Towner came to me one day /
to employ me. He had missed yalu-
able diamond from a safe he kept in /
his house, the combination being |
known to no one but himself, not even
to a member Of his family. The safe
was an old one, with a letter combina-
ton. He was about to tell me the
word the letters spelled when
stopped him. / wanted to see il l
could pick TIE lock myself
II went with him to his house, a new
one and fitted with a number Of mod
ern contrivanees. Only the safe was
old fashioned. failed to pick the
lock. While It was old, It was very
good one. told Mr.. Towner that
some one except himself must have
known the combination, but be told
me that he had got it from his father
on his deathhed, and his father as
sured him that be alone knew it. The
son had never revealed it.
II was absolutely without clew. The
only thing could do was to take up
my quarters III the house and look out
for a pointer. | was introduced By
Mr.. Towner as an old friend from
Australia and treated as a guest No
one had seen me working on the lock,
OF course, as this would have been "a
tai to my investigation.
.sMr Towner was a widower with sew.
eral children, the younger being under
tine care Of a governess. / soon became
suspicious of this young woman, for
no other reason than that found she
was suspicious OF me. / often caught
her looking at me critically, and as
much as to say: You're no friend Of
Mr.. Towner. You're a detective. At
any rate these are the words supplied
from her expression.
'eThe safe stood in a closet on one side
OF a hall, and my sleeping room was
directly opposite. / could look at the
safe from my bed. am a very light
sleeper; besides I remained awake sew
eral nights till early morning. BY my
bed kept a long dressing gown and a
pair Of felt slippers to slip on in case
of need. did not keep light in my
room nor in the hall, as this would have
defeated my purpose.
some night was awakened by hear.
ing footstep overhead. Some one Is
astir, / said. T. must be ready.
However, / remained in bed for half an
hour, then, since no one came to tampei
with the safe, got up, put on my gown
and slippers and CROPPED softly around
the house. 1t was very dark, but haC
taken note of the rooms, doorways
etc, so l got on very well. Suddenly
L heard the scratch OF d match, and di
rectly before me stood the governess.
~ beg your pardon / said. I came
down for biscuit. When / can't sleep
usually put something into my stom
ach to start digestion and draw tbs
blood from the BRAIN
"'Will you excuse me for saying tina
/ don't believe your storyT she replied
"She smiled as she spoke. She was |
pretty girl and looked all the prettie
from a flannel robe she wore trimmed
with lace and her hair in a thick brail
hanging down her back. The mattel
was burning out, AID / was about t
step to an electric button to turn o.
the light when she stopped me.
81 am investigating something sh
said, that is going on in this hous
that has long puzzled me. If you tur
on the light, you may spoil my chanc
to discover it this very night
"She was certainly very clever.
had failed to catch her in some theft
and she had the presence of mind t
avert suspicion by pretending to be O
the lookout herself. 1t was plain tha
the game was up for the time.
"T have no wish to interfere wit