The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-02-22
AWonan
Detective sStory
BY SADIE OLCOTT


making collections ostensibly for the
church. He was Aaron Burt-he pass
ed under other names-and at the time
was working in the town of Edgerton
| went there, learned that he was at
certain hotel. and he was pointed
out to me IN the reading room.
| / entered the room and, going up to
him, said:
THE Rev. Mr.. Burt, believe"
Il am" he said, rising and looking at
me suspiciously.
II have understood that you have
great success In raising money for
churches, and would like to know if
you would be willing to help me pay
Off mortgage on our church at Avon
dale"
Avondale was town not far from
Edgerton, and | had heard that one Of
its churches was under mortgage, which
the congregation desired to pay Off
But / intended this only as means Of
making Mr.. Burt's acquaintance.
| described to him the situation at
were well to do, but needed some per-
suasive speaker to wake them up. !
added that he would be paid for his
abor. proposing that he receive the
contribution himself and deduct one
third of 1t for himself. This | knew
would please him, for there would be
no difficulty In his deducting his third
or. rather. Of appropriating the whole
contribution. He manifested a will
llngness to undertake the work, but
protested against receiving so much
compensation as third OF the amount
collected. On no account would he
consent TO deduct more than 10 per
cent. He was ready to go to Avon
dale as soon as / said the word. / told
him that | would see the pastor and
the deacon and as soon as | could get
their consent would let him know.
| pretended to go to Avondale, but
really returned to the sheriff, who had
employed me. to arrange with him as
to when and where he should send the
force intended to make the arrest 1t
was agreed between us that he was to
send one picked man to Edgerton, who
was to pass himself as a commercial
traveller. This mans name was Larn-
ed, and | was made acquainted with
him, and we conferred together / told
him TO bring the largest sample trunk
he could find.
Returning to Edgerton, told Mr.
Burt that everything had been arrang-
ed at Avondale. but the evening select
ed for bis appeal for funds had been
fixed for the following Sunday. four
days hence. He was not pleased at
this, preferring that the work should
be done at once. The truth is he did !
not care to remain in the same locali- |
ty for so long a period | determined. |
however. to hold him II possible till | |
could spring my trap.
| laid myself out to please him,
spending a good deal of time with
him. ! knew that he was not inter- |
ested in matters of religion and did |
not talk on religious subjects | pre- /
ferred to choose other topics, In which
he would be more at home, my inten-
ion being when had gained his con.
hdence to give him to understand that
knew bis true character, that was
1ne OF the same kind as himself and
desired to assist him In plundering that
might share the plumber.
When l thought the time ripe re-
yealed the character | wished him TO
AXE me for by confessing that ex-
'ected share in the collection was
o bring about. / saw him start, but
lie did not take the hint openly. and 1t
vas some time before he consented to
lrop the parson and talk like the vii
ain he was. Then | told him that to-
'ether we might reap a rich harvest.
lie caught at the idea and grew enthu-
iastic over 1t.
Having won his confidence, | kept
olding up the rich hauls We would
make, l joining congregations and ar
angling for addresses, TO be followed
y collections. He would disappear, I
eaving me to repent having put con- |
dence in rascal. I
When all was ready for my scheme {
armed appeared at the hotel, and 2
ample trunk Of enormous size was 5
arried to his room. It was empty,
ut only Larned and knew that | |
Did Mr.. Burt that was bent on tax =
* money from the commercial tray-
lor and that ! was already engaged
! learning where he kept it. The
ext day | informed my pal that h
armed had gone out and left $500 be- .
yeen the mattresses of his bed. sug- +
esting that Burt 90 into bis room and a
ct It while | watched. The door was o
opposed to be locked, and borrowed p
skeleton key from Burt with which
} unlock 1t, though Larned had pur- n
Dsely left it unlocked.
took a position In the hall and after Q
offending to have watched for some
me called Burt and told him the coast u
as clear, and he went into the room "
II the money. He bad scarcely done :
} when / ran in and told him that =
e drummer was coming up to his Il
ON. ~
Get in the trunk" said. 1T is Il
'ur only chance" Il
/ raised the lid. and be got inside. f
clapped the lid down ON him and b
cked him in. Larned was waiting G
another room, and as soon as had Il
cured the prize / called him. o.