Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-07-17
CONTINUED

Mr.. Corrigan was the first to give
his evidence. He explained about the
tramp with cast in his eye and told
how he had first observed the man on
the train coming from New York, then
how the same man had come to Rest
brother-in-law a thousand dollars to
five hundred that the cock eyed fellow
was the robber, but Mr.. Renwyck cold
ly declined to take the wager.
Mr.. Corrigan described the appear
ance of the man with enthusiastic mi
nuteness, at which the foremost OF
the detectives smiled an oily smile.
"Well, by CAD" he exclaimed indeli-
cately, 'if that doesn't hit Jack Bibbs,
then I'm a Dutchman! II Jacks got
your sinners, Mr.. Renwyck, you'd bet
ter whistle for EN-"
"Why?" asked Mr.. Corrigan.
Because he's the slickest crook In
seven states" returned the sergeant,
nodding vigorously. Hes 4 hundred
and fifty miles away by this time,
sure"
"Umw said Uncle Michael IF you
had listened to me, Jake, instead of
trying to be humorous. YOU
"Oh. shut up, will your" growled Mr..
Renwyck. This Is no time for recrim-
nation. You'd argue the sun, moon
and stars out of the sky together If
you found airy one to listen to you"
Now, who ever saw sun, moon and
stars in the sky at the Same timer
Queried the irrepressible Michael
There you CO." retorted his brother
in-law. your story Of the tramp Is
Just as absurd now as It was in the
beginning. Come; let's get down to
business. Gail everybody In. These
officers will question every inmate Of
the house. Gentlemen" he said, turn
ing to the detectives, you have my
permission to proceed in any manner
which seems best to you We are en-
tirely In your hands"
"All right. sir" answered the de-
tective sergeant whose name was
Flint "We1l take the servants first"
Richard was crossing the hall In
vain search for Harriet when he
CHANGED to overhear this last remark.
His heart went down again II Wool
sey Bills were questioned It would
mean far more than turning guilty
villain over to the authorities. He, the
master, would be forced to explain
also, and. taken in conjunction with
his own meeting with Mr.. Renwyck In
the library. the outcome would be
CHASTITY. to say the least. Yet he must
act ON tho detecive's suggestion at
once.
"Shall l send for my mar? p he asked
of Mr.. Renwyck. who at that moment
came out into the hall.
NO" said his host; well take my
own servants nrst. James," he called
to a sphinxlike butler In the hall, tell
all the servants TO come into the libra
ry-all of them Underestimate"
Eyes. SIR" answered James, with a
solemn bow. and departed on his mis-
sion.
Richards heart went 10 again He
had a slight rsprievs. 1t would last
perhaps twenty minutes. yet much
might happen In that span of time.
He wondered Idly If they would put
handouts on him, but dismissed the
thought in his determination to pay
FOR the stolen dtamonds, inasmuch ms
he felt responsible for Woolsey Bills.
When the time came he would confess
like a man and take his medicine. He
would be denounced 1t would be
dramatic. IKE the play OF the Man
and the Bird" only the name would
be changed II would now be the
Man and the Jailbird." How simple
to have opened that library window.
while Bills went out into the night.
boarded a freight and deposited the
plumber in New York! The Texan was
innocent, OF course. but would other
people think so? Yet she would. There
was comfort In that. If she believed
In him, nothing else mattered very
much
AT this stage Of the proceedings there
was quite commotion on the front
porch, due to the arrival of several
visitors. Harriet and Imogene went
out and greeted Miss Sempton nerv-
ously, explaining the state of affairs
briefly. while Mr.. Renwyck also came
to the door. impatient at the unlocked
for interruption.
Sir" questioned the pompous Eng
fish gentleman, who had arrived few
minutes after the lighter footed youn
lady, "am l correct In assuming tina