West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-24

Wnen Olmstead, who WAS wakeful
heard sounds IN the lever regions OF
the house. He was ono OF those nary-
Gus Yankees who fear everything ex-
eept danger. A hundred petty anx-
feties assaiied him. including the dread
or taking cold. as he grumblingly made
his way downstairs.
In the lower hall he listened he
yond doubt there was some one in the
library. olmstead opened the door
and entered. The room was dark save
for feeble, fiuttering- light which
suddenly settled upon olmstead with
a brilliancy that surprised him.
Throw up your handsr' said n
voice.
"oh. nonsenser' said olmstead. and
he felt about on the wall for tho but
ton that controlled the lights. The
burglars lantern revealed Il 10 him.
and he instantly made the room bright.
Seeing that Olmstead had no weapon
the burglar did not retreat. but took
some steps forward. holding his re
volyer ready In one hand while with
the other he clasped the ebony Jewel
box as football player holds the
ball.
When they were quite close Ohm.
stead sprang upon the man so sud.
denly and with such skill that he
caught his right wrist and held the
arm straight up I'm the air. The bur
glar let fall his weapon. which made
a loud noise on the floor. Olmstead
hurled him backward and stopped for
the revolver. whereupon the burglar
drew another from the side pocket OF
his coat and fired with n considerable
coolness OF aim from a distance or
about ten feet. The bullet struck
olmstead on the upper edge OF tho
left eyebrow and glanced or. He was
stunned. but only for a few seconds.
When the servants came running at
the noise of the shot their master was
already on his legs again and feebiy
attempting n pursuit or the marauder.
The case was Immediately reported
10 the local authorities. The suburb
OF Marchmont has a chief OF police
and twelve patrolmen.
The chief and ten OF his men turned
themselves loose on the trail OF the
olmstead burglar. with no result
whatever. The eleventh man remain
ed In charge OF the station house.
The twelfth man patrolled old March.
mont village and caught a thief In the
bakeshop Of Mrs. Sophia Nicely, where
there was the sum OF 81 In the TIL.
He had effected his entrance through
the adjoining barber shop OF Gustav
Swartz, where there was no money.
Three days later my services were
requested by Mr.. Olmstead, who was
walking about with some plaster over
his eye and not much the worse for
his adventure.
After hearing his story was able to
give him hope OF the rascaPs capture,
for the description furnished to me
was excellent. Its most salient fea-
ture was a reddish, brushlike mus
tache. The burglars hair was dark
brown, but his mustache was unde-
niably red and not false In Ohm
stead's opinion.
Singularly enough. this description
perfectly fitted the only suspicious
character then known to exist within
tho limits OF Marchmont, except the
petty thief above referred to, who was
smooth shaven. The suspicious char
acter was Gustav Swartz, the barber.
Swnrtz had borne an excellent repu-
tation until about a month ago. when
some silver, stolen from a Marchmont
residence, had been found In his shop.
The barber said that the parcel con-
tanning the silver had been left with
him by a customer who was to call
for It and that he himself did not
know what the contents were, but the
story had obtained no credence.
Upon hearing Olmstead's description
the local police Immediately exhibited
Swartz.
"Swartz looks very much like my
burglar" said Olms tead, except that
he has a good eye. The other fellow
had bad one. don't believe swartz
Is the man."
The case stood thus when took
hold. That evening, while was talk
Ing with Miss olmstead and her
brother and Mr.. McRellar in the H.
brary. there came a loud, sudden rap
at the window. Olmstead, who was
naturally nervous. nearly jumped out
OF his skin, but he was the FIRST man
to reach the window. He raised the
curtain and the sash. and by the light
that streamed out from the room he
saw the ebony box lying on the We.
randa. The person who brought It had
escaped.
Olmstead was overjoyed. AS the
box showed no mark OF violence the
diamond stomacher must be In II, and
with the anticipation OF seeing this
treasure again 0Imstead's hands shook
so that he was fifteen minutes opening
the cnsket He did not let us sec
how he did IL. The casket was empty
/ l Will not enlarge upon the mysteries
Involved in this performance. There
wns no reason why anybody should
have returned the jewel box except
upon the belief that the diamonds were
In It. was doubly convinced Of this
fact after / had persuaded Olmstead
to show me the trick Of opening the
casket.
Somehow my suspicious rested upon
Swartz, and made a searching in.
vestigation OF the man. discovered
that he had q brother who was a pro
fessional thief, no doubt tho man who
had left the silver with him. This
brother was unknown IN Marchmonl
except to Swartz himself, and ! could
not trace him up untll a sudden ln
spiration came 20 me.
The petty thief captured in Mrs
Neely's bakeshop had entered swartz's
shop FIRST. The police believed that hs
had done so 10 steal and had then
passed on to Mrs. Neely's. had .
different theory. / believed that the
man hpd broken into the BARRIERS shoT
to shave and. being alarmed. had Aed
through to the other building. not ID
steal. but TO escape.
With this idea In mind I took Dim
stead TO see the thief. Olmstead could