The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-04-29
An Arrest
By JAMES 3. BARsTow

to do with In all my term Of service
vn the police force. She must have
belonged to well to do family or had
t--talent for languages. for she could
IOsc as native of any civilized LAID.
(. One day my chief told me that he
had reliable information Of this accom-
plished confidence lady; that she was
living In apartments and he wished
me to 60 and arrest her. go in plain
clothes he said, "and keep your wits
about you. She Is very slippery and
will elude you II you give her the
slightest opportunity"
/ started out with the intention Of
being thoroughly on my guard. l knew
that fathouses are apt to be conven.
lent for those who wish to light out
suddenly and took with me suficient
force to watch from every direction.
Having stationed Q man in front, in
rear and on the roof of the adjoining
building, ! rang the bell at Mrs. Bur
RACES door. The summons was an
swered by a maid dressed in uniform
"a black dress. apron and cap. She
held q silver salver In her hand for
card.
But was not there for q call. nor
did It suit my purpose to send in my
name. brushed past the maid and
passed through the living room to q
bedroom, where found lady in dis.
habille.
"what are you doing hereT she
asked. betraying foreign accent
II have come. madam, to ask you to
make call upon the inspector"
"The inspectorI What does this
meanT
"That you are under arrest"
She pretended for awhile to be be-
wildered at the idea of being arrested,
but when she found would listen to
her no longer she agreed to accom-.
pany me without urging II would per-
init her to put on costume suitable
to the street. After examining the out.
lets and seeing no possible way Of her
making an escape I consented. The
room was at the end Of the suit, on the
fourth door. and no Hre escape within
reach There was no possibility Of her
getting out except through the living
room. So l retreated to that apart
ment, but insisted that the door be-
tween the two rooms should be sui.
dciently ajar for me to hear, though
not to see.
There was but one door opening
from the suit to the hall. and at this
door had stationed man with orders
to let no one pass. On one side Of the
dat passageway was the living room.
on the other the dining room and kitch.
en-. But what interested me was the
bedroom In which ! had the prisoner
cornered. could not for my life see
how she could escape me.
Mrs. Burrage, or whatever her name
was. took her time about dressing. I
listened for every move. and she made
enough Of them for me to know by the
sound that she was still there. This
was gratifying, for. though ! saw no
way for her to escape me. would have
felt uneasy at any lengthy silence.
When n quarter Of an hour had passed
and sire did not appear ! asked her II
she was not ready She replied that
she had no one to hook the back of her
dress. told her that had often per.
formed that service for my wife and II
she would come into the living room
would accommodate her. She said she
would prefer that come In to her.
Resolved not to grant anything she
proposed. told her to come out to me,
which she did with evident reluctance.
hooked her dress for her, and when
she went back to her bedroom to put
on her coat and hat nung tho door
wide open. so that she could complete
her toilet under my observation. She
was SO slow about 1t that finally told
her that ! would give her ave minutes
by my watch to finish. She got into
her wraps within the time and said
that she was ready to accompany me.
But she must ask me to go through
the rooms with her-if would not
permit her to 20 alone-to sec that
they were In ,order for locking up.
consented. and we passed through the
other betirOoms and 6nally entered the
dining room. My prisoner passed
through II to q pantry between It and
the kitchen and. opening door.
looked down lift used for sending
up supplies. Thinking she would at.
tempt to escape through II. I caught
her skirt.
She turned toward me and smiled.
"You may take me to the inspector
II you choose" she said. ''but I am
not the person you are after. am the
maid. My mistress you passed At the
door, She got word Of visit By the
police aud immediately changed clothes
with me. When you came 70 me che
made up for . man. went down on
this lift 70 one OF the apartments b.
low and has doubtless passed out
through the main entrance have
been delaying you 10 order to give her
tho needed time. Here" pointing 70
the servants room. "ars her maids
| clothes" l
did not take her 10 the inspector.
| went back 20 him myself and rot