Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-05-01

y
the silvery echoes reached the ears OF
Michael Corrlgan. who lounged on the
front veranda.
"By George" he chuckled to him
self as he rubbed his hands in the
manner characteristic of him, that
young man is making progress!"
In the evening when Mr.. Renwyck
came up from the city Mr.. Corrigan
took him aside and related the days
experience with the tramp, suggesting
that detective be employed while the
valuable lot of diamonds was in the
house. The two gentlemen. as has al
ready been stated, never got on to-
gether peaceably. If one of them Of
fered suggestion the other found rea
son to combat 1t vigorously. and In this |
case Mr.. Renwyck took the opposite |
side with a vengeance, poohpoohing |
the possibility of theft from start to
finish.
"Why. my dear Michael" he said In
a tone Of undisguised scorn. what you
say is nonsense. pure and simple. The
house is equipped from top to bottom
with perfect system of burglar
alarms, which set myself each night.
Unless there is collision with some
person on the inside | not only defy
any light fingered gentleman to enter,
but l give him cordial invitation to
try. No, sir! If you want to put q
Calling gun in your own house. do so
by all means. In mine | have no room
for artillery or an army of Pinkertons.
Now. don't you see how absurd you
are?"
"All right" assented Mr. Corrigan.
"I've warned you, and that's all I've
got to say. They're not my diamonds"
, "Just wait II moment. Michael" said
Mr.. Renwyck. walking after him. II
8 want to show you what an idiotic
stand you have taken. You say the
man has cast in his eye. Very good;
I'll admit that. but | venture to say
that In the state of New York there
e are from twenty to thirty thousand
: people with casts in their eyes. You
I. claim that it is a mark of rascality.
don't agree with you. My own father
! had cast in his eye
a Don't doubt it in the least" snapped
, Mr.. Corrigan. That explains it. I've
often wondered"-
Come. come" laughed Mr.. Rem
: wyck you gain nothing by being per-
o sonal But listen You saw man in
q the train-though you confess you
|. only glanced at him-and Immediately
+ recognized him as bristly murderer
4 who has committed the crime of being
: hungry. Did you see murderer No. l
!. get off the train? No. of course not.
He is probably dining in the bososi Of
r his humble but honest family while
!. you. my dear sir, are aching to clap
O him in the penitentary." Mr. Rem
wyck paused to laugh. Really. Mi
= chael. you amuse me. Age is respon-
sible for bad eyesight perhaps. but 1t
= is your poor old brain that troubles
l, me. You have developed into a fussy
u old woman-Miss Michaela Corrgan,
% spinster sixty-one and afraid to say
boo to a bat"
!. The old lawyer paused suddenly In
u his walk and thrust the ferrule of his
- cane deep into the gravel path.
Jacob" he said in tone of sup
&c pressed anger. that will do. You have
g gone Just little too far. | told you
y what ! thought without any wish fol
30 an argument. and now I'll tell you
L something else. don't care whether
+ you lose your diamonds and plate OIL
n not What's more. hope you will
~ Good night"
~ He had intended staying for dinner
~ but changed his mind and swung rap
idly away, while Mr. Renwyck looked
- after him. laughing merrly.
ie "Oh, | say, Michaea.' he called
-, Don't forget to look under your bee
- tonight. You might find burgla
10 with a cast in his eye"
~ For once Mr. Renwyck had got tn
better of his brother-in-law and tn
~. fact pleased him immensely.
40 THE poor old granny" he muttere'
=, as he went into the house. Upon m
~, word, I'm astonished at him."
1t may I've stated that. contrary I
~ Mr.. Corrigans fiat denial. that gentle
man did take further interest in tn
Nv possible burglary. if only to prove hi
=" own theory. On the following nigf
~. three private detectives came out
Irvington and stole separately to tn
lawyers house. About IL O'Clock, a.
"u companied by Mr.. Corrigan in person
-" they concealed themselves at variou
- points of vantage on the Renwyc
no place and awaited developments. TT
N night was damp and gloomy-mo
excellent weather conditions for
W. HOUSEKEEPING party, but with disa
vantages for amateur detectives at II
advanced age of siXty-one. Beyond
leu touch of rheumatism Mr.. Corriga
'ou bagged nothing, and the mornir
found him II very disgruntled old ge
the ,Ian,o, However there was bumo
ok 80 ,ido 80 tho ,,gil and with This II
" Jus SiNS ~ ''-N - ~
old lawyer consoled himself.
leu "Lordw he chuckled. The jokes
mo this time but | wouldn't hive j