Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 171, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1910 — NELLY’S ROBBER [ARTICLE]

NELLY’S ROBBER

The telephone office at Bound Brook closed at midnight. After that hour the villager who wanted the doctor, or the fanner who wanted to inquire what the price; of potatoes would be next day, had to depend on other resources. Miss Nelly Hampton, daughter of a widow whom everybody in the village knew and respected, was one of the two operators employed. One week she Would be on day duty, and the next week at night. The telephone office was opposite the post office, on the main street of the village. After ten o’clock veryfew persons were astir, and there were so few calls that the night girl could put in most of her time with a book or her fancy work. On this particular night, the month was June, the weather balmy, and the moon made the street almost as light as day. It flooded into the office until ,there was no need of a lamp. Miss Nelly turned out the light and sat by the window. After half past ten o’clock the village grew so quiet that she became drowsy and might have Indulged in a cat-nap had not her halfr closed eyes suddenly lighted on a man walking in the middle of the street. He had rubbers over his shoes, and moved as noiselessly as a ghost. leaning out of the open window, the girl saw the stranger pass along for a block, and after a halt of three or four minutes turn and retrace his steps. She drew in her head and moved back a little and presently she saw him at the front door of the post office. It was the village post office and grocery combined, with its windows defended by wooden shutters. The man left the shutters alone and gave all his attention to the door. It was certain that he was a robber, and the girl found herself trembling as she watched. There was no watchman in the village, and the constable had no telephone in his house. The county sheriff was at Medina, eight miles away, and even if the girl called him up he would be too late. The fellow had the door open in five or six minutes and had disappeared inside. The night was so still that the ring of a telephone call would reach his ears, in which case he might come running out and take revenge. He had only to come up an outside stairway to be in the office. On a table in the room sat a glass bottle in which the other girl had brought cold tea for her lunch. Miss Nelly promptly picked it up and hurled it through the open window half way across the street. It fell on the gravel and made a great smashing noise. The sounds reached the robber’s ear, and he came out on the run and was soon out of sight. He had had no time to steal anything, as an examination next morning showed, but the sheriff came over to see about it

Dick Strothers was not yet thirty. He had started in law, but the reformers had nominated and elected him sheriff almost against his will. It was necessary for him to -interview Miss Nelly and when he found her so pretty he secretly congratulated himself on having this opportunity. It took onlyfifteen minutes to obtain all necessary information, but still he lingered. The girl had described the robber’s height —his prying open the door —his panicky departure and her own feelings, but the sheriff looked as wise as an owl as he said: “Very clear —very clear, but we must not neglect the slightest clue, you know. Did you notice the color of the man’s eyes?” "He was too far away.” "Just so. Did he have a limp?” "I can’t say that he did.” "And you are sure that he was a stranger?” “I didn’t recognize him; but it may have been some resident of the village in disguise.” “Just so. Miss Hampton—Just so. You have been very lucid in your descriptions, but I may have to see you again.” When he had departed. Miss Nelly wondered why he would have to see' her again and the thought was rather pleasant than otherwise. In a couple of days he brought a lame old tramp over for her to identify. The Weary couldn’t have run a rod to save his neck. No; he was not the man, and he was turned loose and told to go west and found a town! This was not all, however. “Would you say that the robber had had the Idea in mind for some time?” blandly asked the sheriff. Miss Nelly couldn’t be sure. "Did he have on goggles or only plain spectacles?” She couldn’t positively say. “Did he have a finger or thumb missing from either hand?” He might have had. "His eyebrows? Did Miss Nelly notice them particularly? If the right mart, with -the —right —eyebrows, be brought before her could she identify him and them?” She was doubtful. “Very well, Miss Hampton. You have given me many valuable clues, but it is possible that I may have to call again. I must compliment yeu on your coolness and bravery.” Why should the sheriff want to come again? The girl asked herself the question, recalled what a manly man he was. and then looked Into the mirror and blushed a trifle. Then she ■aid to herself that It was his duty to

By DONALD ALLEN

get all the information he could to lead to an arrest; and it certainly was her duty to aid him. Two days later, the sheriff appeared again. He had heard of a mysterious man on horseback. Did this robber first appear mounted on horse or mule? Did he dismount and hitch his horse to a post like an honest farmer? Did he mount again when departing? Miss Nelly was sure that he arrived and departed on foot. She was so sure that she smiled at his question. Did she think he belonged to the Black Hand, or was a straight-haired American, working the job on the American plan? —-- - Really, now, but come to think it over, there was something in his gait to remind her of a highland Scotchman, but she didn’t feel like saying that he was one. No —of course not; but the detail was valuable. Would she say, from the robber’s gait, that he had ever suffered amputation of the toes or heels, on account of frost bites? Did he have a cough? If so, was it an asthmatic cough, and perhaps he was the criminal. Miss Nelly thought there had been no frost bites, and she had taken no notice of a cough of any sort or kind. She would go over the incidents in her mind again, and if she could recall a cough or a frost bite the news should at once be forwarded by telephone. Mr. Strothers was thankful —so thankful. He intended to devote ail his life to the capture of the redhanded criminal and anything in the way of a clue wduld arouse his lasting gratitude. He would call again and let her know how the case progressed. It was a week later that the sheriff made good his word. He told Miss Nelly on the quiet that he had had three deacons,, two eldprs, one minister, two poets and a doctor under surveillance, but couldn’t say that any one of them was guilty. Could she remember whether the robber wore a celluloid or a linen collar? Were his finger nails polished or only scraped? When, he came rushing out of the place did he give utterance to any remark —an appeal to his aged mother—a profane ejaculation—an expression of surprise that anyone had bottles to waste? Miss Nelly had beenu wanting to laugh for some time. Now she gigled and added: “Mr. Strothers, do you really believe you will ever catch my robber?" “Well/ n-n-n-po,” he slowly replied as he stroked his chin and looked at her with admiration. “No, Miss Hampton, Ido not. If I catch you Instead I shall be a very happy man.” And it was not long before Miss Nelly Hampton resigned from the telephone business for a better situation.