The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-01-28

subject. Her watch went as did the
timepieces of all the others There
were four others in the coach-twe
bankers and their wives
All of the eight had declared they
had placed their watches under their
pillows that night. and in the morning
the watches had disappeared. That
was all. The little brown man made
the most fuss over the loss He talked
about it continually and only consent
ed to speak of other matters when the
conductor told him that there WAS ii
detective on board the train and that
the man would do his utmost to recov
er the stolen property before they
reached the next station. If he didn't
we'll the whole train would be search
ed that was all.
Dinner was served in the coach in
steud Of the dining ear and proved to
be gloomy meal. for no rne talked
much except the bankers and their
wives. and as they had plenty Of
money Or appeared to have and as
they seemed to consider that there
were plenty more watches where
theirs had come from they got up a
table Of bridge aud were very com
Portable indeed
The clergyman and his wife and
Mrs. Biggs and the brown Inan sat in
moody silence in their respective
chairs.
Il, tho ho.rcrorro ,a, rho oondnator
was talking to the detective
YOU'RE the doctor" said the train
man impatiently Use any method
you choose. only try and clear the
matter up Well be getting off in
thirty minutes now
Then I'll just ask you to go along
with me and"
mo, indeed" calculated the conduc
tor I'D show up fine running along
behind you with my hands held high
In the air What?"
"Oh, very we'll | dare say can get
along all right alone soothed the de
tective. rubbing lean brown hand
along his shaven chin. He was a sharp
eyed chap, well dressed. with certain
springiness when he walked that show
ed he might be fleet of foot If he had
to pursue quarry In that manner
Then I'll go 1t alone!" he asked. toss
ing away his cigar and tensing his
muscles as if for business.
you'll have to. I've put the mat
ter In your hands. and it's up to you
to recover the watches for these peopli
or at least collar the thief"
Provided be didn't make a getaway
in the night after he hooked EN-" re-
marked the detective dryly.
"Not with US going the gait we was
that night. protested the conductor.
"All right here goes Ill have to
drop down to the ground and get on
from the outside to make it more real
Istic, you know. Just go down and I'M
lock the gate to that coach. will you,
old MANI
The conductor numbered through the
train. stopped here and there in his
course by the anxious inquiry of inn
patient passengers. but he was able
now to promise them a start in ten
minutes and there was a renewed
cheerfulness on board
As the conductor quietly unlocked the
gate to the last car he heard the faint
clank of metal and his ear was instant
ly alert
whats thaty' he muttered into the
darkness.
Nothing but the clank of your gate,
old man." treasured the detectives
voice from the step.
Il thought it sounded different" re
marked the conductor as he went back
through the train and left the rear
coach In the hands of the detective.
1t had been planned that the detec-
tive should array himself like bandit
and hold up the passengers of the last
coach, thus forcing them to give up
what Jewels they had. hoping thus to
discover the thief II he was among
the eight passengers in the last coach
Ten minutes afterward, just as the
engine shrieked warning blast that
they we're once more in running order
and the air was filled with the sound
Of rushing steam. the door of the rear