Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-05-15

evas1ve reply. But when L mentioned
his masters niece he warmed up bit.
Miss Edith is lovely girl" he said.
sit must be lonely for her here liy-
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 1 left him I 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.
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 1 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 I went into the alley
at the rear and found that by climb
ing over a high fence l 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 II
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 / examined a rear basement
window-not in the hail where the box
Yas-and, finding that 1 could take
out a pane of glass and unlock the
window, did so. After passing inside
and listening 1 sprung my electric light
and found myself in the kitchen. Go
ing through a door into the hall,
located the box from memory. But l
didn't go near it l sat down in the
kitchen and waited.
An hour passed without a sound
Then 1 heard a screw turning. After
several such rasptngs I 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 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 TWEEN
ty-one. He was very much startled.
Come in here" l said, and. taking
him into the kitchen, L shut the door.
Tell me what this means"
First tell me who you are" he re-
Piled.
I 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 hel
uncle would adopt to remove her anC
get her property, to which he was mex
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 CIR
was confined in. She knew OF his pro
jected attempt and was waiting fol
him. ] followed him upstairs stealth
lily to the room he sought. and wher
we reached it he put his hand on the
knob to open it. He failed to do so.
Turning to me with despair on his
face, he whispered:
ITS locked"
Let me try" l 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 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 a thoroughfare which at that
hour was deserted. l 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 | 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 a million, and they made me
a handsome present. with permission
to call on them whenever l needed
funds.