Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1904-03-01
A RANDOM SHOT
fOriginal.l


tective at Chicago one night about III
o'clock scrap of paper was left at my
door on which was written in WON
ans hand, Barney Redfeld, who rob
bed the -th National bank of Denver,
will be at No. - R avenue tonight.
/ had never seen Redfield or his pic
ture and knew nothing about him ex-
cept that there was reward Of 5000
offered for his capture. knew moth
ing of the house in R avenue. All
could do was to go there and be guided
by circumstances.
l found the house brilliantly lighted
and guests entering under an awning.
! walked in with the rest. Though !
was not in evening dress | had on an
overcoat, so this did not matter for tn"
entrance. was shown up to the gen.
tlemen's dressing room, where | re
manned without taking off my oyerc0at
till the others had gone down. Then !
resolved to look about me for apparel
suitable to the occasion. Going to the
floor above. which was deserted, | ran
sacked closets and drawers, finding
nothing till ! came to room in whic''
d dress suit, shirt, collar, cuffs and 4
pair of black silk stockings were spread
out on the bed, while a pair of low
shoes were on the floor. Evidently
some one was expected for whom they
had been made ready. I put them OH
and went downstairs
I ran great risk, for. though / could
grove was a detective, ! had actually
stolen a suit Of clothes and was prom
enading in them 1t would be inferred.
to steal other things. Going down n
winding staircase and seeing the host
and hostess receiving guests in the
drawing ROOM | turned into the IL
brary. strolled about, keeping an eye
on every one met. but saw no inklinS
to lead me on. 4 young lady who prov
ed to be the daughter Of the host sat
for long while in window seat with
a handsome young fellow with a very
restless eye, but plenty Of people have
restless eyes, and Barney Redtield
would be more likely to spend his time
looking for jewelry or silverware than
spooning After spending an hour
lodging the members Of the family |
concluded to 60 upstairs, when | heard
q gentleman say:
There's been robbery. Frank
clothes were laid out for him upstairs
and when he arrived just now he found
they were gone"
For a moment my heart stood still,
but, regaining my assurance and re-
membering that if Barney Redtield
were in the house and knew that the
family were alarmed he would imme-
diately make an egress, l said to the
speaker:
81 would suggest, sir, that the exits
be watched to prevent the thief's es
cape"
"You are right" he replied and de
parted to see that my suggestion wa!
carried out.
It was soon evident that the matter
Of the loss of the dress clothes Of Frank.
whoever he might be, had got out
among the guests, and had it not been
that / was absorbed in watching for
some man to show some anxiety, there
by indicating that he was vulnerable,
l would have felt the unpleasantness OF
my position. AS It was, was not dis
concerted till | saw the host coming
toward me, his gaze fixed upon NE
10
followed by several others, all men.
81 beg pardon, SIR" he said, "but I
do not recognize YOU"
twas cornered. What should l say:
What should / do? l stared at him
without speaking.
IF you cannot give reason for your
being here, l shall send for the pc.
lice"
Don't stop for him to invent an eX'
cuse," said a guest, the man who had
been attentive to the hosts daughter
THE fact that he is unknown to you
and a suit has been stolen should be
sufficient. Here's Frank"
Frank" in business clothes, stepped
up to me and after scrutinizing me tooh
hold Of the lapel Of the dress coat |
wore, turned 1t up and displayed a
pearl stick pin.
That's my suit" he said. 81 got
that stick pin as cotillon favor last
week and put it in there"
Now, while this had been going Or
my observing faculties had been work
Ing. / took especial notice Of the mo
lions and expression Of the young maj
I had seen with the young lady. H.
seemed unduly excited, casting hui"
ried glances at me, as If to make sure
be had never seen me before. l mus
decide upon a plan for at least tenn
porary use. Turning to the host, I said
coolly:
MAY ask a private interview? YOU
don't wish disturbance, I'm sure"
Don't 90 Off alone with him." said