Rock Island Argus., 1911-05-15

evasTve reply But when 1 mentioned
his masters niece he warmed up a bit.
Miss Edith is lovely GIRL" he said
cit must be lonely for her here liv-
ing with an old man." remarked.
The man made no reply to this. but
there was evidence of something pass
ing in his mind.
When left him had made up my
mind that there was a mystery con-
nected with the premises. / shifted
my theory from a hiding burglar.
though L couldn't form any other. l
was seized with an uncomfortable de
sire to pass the night in the house and
see what happened-that is. If any
thing did happen. But despaired Of
framing any plan that would enable
me to do so. Then 1 considered the
expediency of breaking in. As soon
as i was convinced that every one in
the house except the person in the
box was asleep / went into the alley
at the rear and found that by climb
ing over high fence 1 could get into
the back yard of the house in question.
Going to my room. took a burglars
Jimmy. some skeleton keys and an
electric hand lamp. and about IL
o'clock went back to the house, con-
cealing myself in the back yard. Half
an hour after l saw the last light turn
ed out 1 examined a rear basement
windOw-not in the hall where the box
was-and. finding that 1 could take
out a pane OF glass and unlock the
window, 1 did so. After passing inside
and listening sprung my electric light
and found myself in the kitchen. Go
ing through a door into the hall,
located the box from memory. But
didn't go near 1t. / sat down In the
kitchen and waited.
An hour passed without a sound
Then 1 heard a screw turning. After
several such raspings 1 heard a board
probably from the top OF the box
laid gently on the door. There were
more screw turnings; then after anoth-
er board was removed l heard sounds
indicating that some one was getting
out of the box. In a few minutes more
footsteps indicated a person coming
stealthily toward the kitchen door.
Drawing a revolver 1 always carried,
1 pressed the key Of my electric light
and it fell full on a mans face.
He was nothing like a burglar. but
a well dressed young man about twen-
ty-one. He was very much startled.
Come in here" 1 said, and, taking
him into the kitchen. 1 shut the door.
''Tell me what this means"
First tell me who you are" he re-
Piled.
1 told him of my accidental discov-
cry of his entrance into the house
Then he unfolded a diabolical plot OF
the master of the house to make away
with his niece. who, at eighteen, would
be in possession of an immense for.
tune. The young man was her lover
He was ignorant of what plan her
uncle would adopt to remove her and
get her property, to which he was next
in line of Inheritance, but the servants
had told him that the young lady was
kept a prisoner. The maid and the
butler were in the lovers secret, which
was to release the girl
OF course 1 sympathized with his OBJ
ject and offered to help him. He had
been informed as to the room the girl
was confined in. She knew of his pro-
jected attempt and was waiting for
him. ] followed him upstairs stealth
we reached it he put his hand on the
knob to open it. He failed to do 80.
Turning to me with despair on his
face, he whispered:
IT'S locked"
"Let me try" / said, and, getting
out my skeleton keys, l opened the
door.
Giving place to him. my eyes were
good enough to see that he was Joined
by a woman. Without a word all three
of US passed down the staircase. but
found every door locked and the keys
removed. / led the lovers to the win
dow by which l had entered. and. pass.
ing out, we two men helped the girl
over the fence. From the alley we
entered thoroughfare which at that
hour was deserted | was about to
leave them when the young man said:
"Come with us to.a clergyman. We
need you to witness our MARRIAGE"
That was my start. | didn't prevent
a burglary of money. but l effected an
abduction OF a girl. The young man
declared that without my assistance his
attempt would have been futile. The
day after their marriage the wife fell
heir TO n million, and they made me
a handsome present. with permission
to call on them whenever / needed
funds.