The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-01-13

JACK Green was reporter on Lon
oon paper, and in that capacity he
solved the riddle of the celebrated
sykes robbery case. The story was
printed from one end of the country
TO the other and it made hero of
Green, especially as he received a
slight wound from a stray bullet in
the fracas that took place when Sykes
and his cCnfederates were arrested.
Green was modest and Self-re-
strained young man. He knew in his
own heart that pure chance and the
instructions of the editor were respon-
sible for all that he had accomplished
In fact, the experience had convinced
him that he had neither aptitude nor
appetite for detective investigation.
The reputation that he had gained
alarmed him, fer he felt that he must
inevitably sink to the depths OF dark
disgrace.
His injury won him months Vaca-
ton, which he resolved to spend at
his home in Kent. Ashford was not
very lively place in the winter, but
Green was not looking for recreation.
What he wanted was a place Where
crime was unknown, and Ashford very
nearly, answered that description.
Also, he wanted to see Ethel Watson,
who lived in that village, and was,
in Jacks opinion, the sweetest ana
smartest girl in the world.
Ashford gave him joyous welcome.
His fame had preceded him. All his
old friends shook him by the hand and
talked about crime. Even his mother
took occasion to remember when I'm
Gle Williams house was broken into.
AS for Ethel, he told her point
blank that he was wild, preposterous
accident and lions skin stuffed with
straw, but, of course, she didn't De-
lieve him. But that was what Joe
SAWYER, who also was in love with
Ethel. believed in his heart, though
he didn't dare say so openly Joe
was a lawyer, and the only one IN
Ashford who had any practice.
On the afternoon of his seventh day
in Ashford, Green drove up to the Wat
son house to take Ethel for drive.
There had been fine fall of snow the
night before. Ethel was standing by
the gate talking with Joe Sawyer.
Hello, Sherlock Holmes" said the
lawyer. Have you heard the neWs?
mo" answered Green sourly.
'I'm really surprised" said Sawyer.
"You should have deducted it from the
state of atmosphere and the price OF
potatoes"
81 haven't" responded Green.
Justice Hawking's house has been
robbed" said Ethel "And | think it's
positively providential that you're
here"
Green took off his hat and famed
himself, though it was as cold as
Chilcoot Pass. He looked at Ethel
and he saw that she expected him to
perform great miracles. He looked at
Sawyer and saw something quite diff
ferent.
Get in here, both of you," said
Green. "and we'll see what we can
do"
They drove to the Justices house.
It was a big, square edifice, standing
on the top of hill at the head of the
main street and overlooking the town.
A walk so yards long and lined with
trees led from the gate to the door In
the winter the house was unoccup1ed,
for the Judge and his family used it
only as summer residence. Green
knew that some fine old silver plate
and MANY other articles of value were
allowed to remain in the house during
the winter.
The robbery had been discovered by
old Mrs. Gubbins, life long depend
emf of the judges family, who went
through the house three or four times
q week to see that all was well, but
did not live there. She had reported
the case to the local police-a day and
a night watchman-and these func-
tionaries we're present, with a dozen
If the neighbors, when Green and his
oonnanions arrived. The lawyer in
troduced Green into this assemblage
nc wittily as he was able, and in
way to make the reporter feel as I'M
comfortable as possible.
"He will solve the case in twenty
,,,nutes." the lawyer concluded, TAX
ing out his watch with a flourish.
Green also consulted his watch, and
.non he slowly walked into the hall,
where the old fashioned safe built into
the wall gaped emptiiy. he glanced