Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-07-15
into the front parlor and went up


man came down. There was some
thing about him | didn't like at all.
He had the craftiest face and eye on
him OF any man | ever saw. | had a
blank book In my hand and. opening
It preparatory to taking down replies.
asked him such questions as are usual
~ asked by census gatherers. learn.
ed that his name was Laurence Girard.
that he lived In the house with his
niece, who would come of age in a
few days. and that he and she were
the only persons living there except
the servants. whose names / took
down with pretended care.
Having asked all the questions l
dared, shut up my book and depart
ed. One thing l had decided on-that
/ / wouldn't trust that man to relm-
burse me for any information | might
give him without security. As | was
descending the steps man turned to
enter at the basement door.
do you live herei" | asked.
"Yes. sir; I'm the butler"
I'm taking the census. Let me see
IL have your name"
looked in the record had taken
and found the mans name-Richard
Coyne. Then l engaged him in con-
versation. found him uncommuni-
cative asked him what kind Of a
man his master was and received an
evasive reply. But when l mentioned
HE t,aocfars, ,,tana ta xrarnood So. 4, hIt
miss Edith is lovely GIRL" he said
at 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 n mystery con-
nected with tho premises. shifted
my theory from n 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. II any
thing did happen. But l despaired Of
framing any plan that would enable
me to do 50. Then considered the
expediency of breaking In. As soon
as | 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 could get into
the back yard of the house In question.
Going to my room, took 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 saw the last light turn.
ed out. examined rear baNment
window-not in the hall where tue box
was-and, finding that could take
out pane of glass and unlock the
window, did so. After passing inside
and listening sprung my electric light
and found myself in the kitchen. Go.
ing through door into the hall.
located the box from memory But
didn't go near It. sat down In the
kitchen and waited.
An hour passed without sound
Then heard screw turning. After
several such raspings / heard board
probably from the top OF the box
| laid gently on the floor There were
more screw turnings; then after anoth-
er board was removed heard sounds
indicating that some one was getting
out of the box. In few minutes more
footsteps indicated person coming
stealthily toward the kitchen door.
| Drawing revolver always carried.
pressed the key of my electric light
and it fell full on mans face.
He was nothing like n burglar. but
a well dressed young man about twen-
ty-one. He was very much startled.
"Come in here" said. and. taking
him into the kitchen. shut the door.
Tell me what this MEANS"
First tell me who you are" he re-
piled
told him OF my accidental discov-
cry OF his entrance into the house.
! Then he unfolded 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
tuut. 1ue young uluh WIS ueT lONeT.
He was ignorant Of what plan her
uncle would adopt TO remove her and
get her property. to which he was next
I'm 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 | sympathized with his OBJ.
ject and offered TO help him. lie 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
lily to the room he sought. and when
we reached 1t 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" I said. and. getting