The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-04-26
fault with his reasoning thus far, and
we all acquiesced by silent mods. He
Turned IN us sharnly

fault with his reasoning thus far, and
we all acquiesced by silent mods. He
turned to US sharply.
LAS I have said before, the door
locks are Of such character that
they could not have been picked or
opened with a skeleton key. Now,
who have keys to this placer"
My uncle gulped and placed his
hand upon his swollen throat and l
put myself in the breach. IF there Is
no objection will answer for him. 1t
will save his strength, and he and
Mira. Tebbets can listen and correct
me or add anything whenever they
choose"
Grufhy the policeman signifled that it
made no difference who spoke so long
as all the facts were made known.
One by one answered his questions,
watching him as he committed them
to black and white with the painful
effort Of a schoolboy struggling with
a composition. All three of us CORE
sponded perfectly in our statements,
Mrs. Tebbsts merely adding that she
had been awakened by loud sound
in the night, but thinking 1t was thun-
der, had gone to sleep again. That
the noise was the explosion there
seemed no room for doubt, and the
policeman congratulated her that she
had remained IN bed, as the burglar
undoubtedly was watching her room
at the time. At the end of half an
hour he thrust the memorandum
book into his pocket and pursed up
his lips. Then he arose with vibra.
ton Of his ponderous frame that sent
the ashes which had accumulated in
his lap In his combined effort to keep
pen and cigar going at the same
time, flying as water flies from the
shakings of a wet mastiff.
II will make another careful inspec-
ton Of the premises inside and out
and then put my men to work. have
theory and you will hear from me
later. I think the criminal will be
in the clutches Of the law very short
ly. If you learn anything of impor.
lance, communicate it to me-Captain
Donnell Of the Twelfth precinct"
Down the stairs they went, and from
the window I watched them as they
dumped around on the grass beneath
in search Of tell-tale clews. Perfume
torily they passed around the house
and then clambered into the wagon.
III this matter Is ever solved, I
don't believe 1t will be by them," I
unused as I recalled the stereotyped
and formula-like questions of their
leader. There is too much intelli.
gence back Of It for them. They will
shell the woods aimlessly in the faint
hope Of driving out somebody; cast
the dragnet and bring in score of
habitua criminals whom they will
question and then turn loose, after
which they will resume the even tenor
Of their way along the trail Of some
other rogue. OF course they may
stumble upon something that will give
them straight tip, but l don't be.
lieve it." I turned again to the bed
where Uncle Abner was threshing
about like a fish out of water as he
berated the thief without stint, and
myself as literally because had not
been at home to act as buffer be.
tween the intruder and his wealth. It
was exceedingly trying to me, and
the housekeeper having Strengthened
out his own bed, l was delighted to
give him what assistance he needed
to get into It. That done, l left him
there in Mrs. Tebbets' care. Doctor
Courtney still fingered, and returned
to my own apartments to discuss the
peculiarities Of the affair with him.
Perhaps half IN hour had passed In