Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1906 — Luck and a Woman [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Luck and a Woman

...By FRED MEERS...

Copvrlght, 1906, by P. C. Ecutmtnt

“Close it up soon if you can,” said the manager. “We have put some of our best men on the matter, but they can tell us nothing. If we do not man-, age to locate the cause of these robberies we might as well go out of business.” “I’ll do what I can,” promised Dan vers, “but If Symes and Taylor have given up the case I don’t see where 1 get off.” “Neither do I,” admitted the manager frankly, “except that you seem to have fools’ luck, and sometimes that is better than good detective Instinct.” Danvers bowed at the doubtful compliment and took himself off. There might be something in that luck theory. Since going to work for the burglary insurance people he had more than once stumbled against a clew that developed Into a conviction. But this promised to be a harder case than usual, and after he had Interviewed the watchmen who were on the

THB FAIR ÜBTtTRNBD, PUSHING BEFORE THEM A WHEELBARROW. night job and the men who had been working on the case it seemed hopeless. The burglary insurance Included the services of a night watchman and a burglar alarm system. Nothing seemed to be the matter with either of -these, and yet the block on Seaton place had been repeatedly robbed. Of late a special patrolman had been assigned to the block, and all night long he had tramped from one end of the short street to the other. Beaton

place was only a block long, a fashloaNßle residence block that offered rich returns to the men who had systematically looted the houses. None had seen them go in or out though strict watch had been kept. Once they had even placed a man in each back yard to make certain that no one could enter through the rear, and yet during that week of special precaution three of the houses had been robbed. The owners were of the ultra English set, who seldom came to town fnyn their country places until after the opera season set in, and already the company stood to lose the better part of Its capital in paying off its losses. Danvers, looking about for a coign of vantage, hit upon a theatrical boarding house at the rear of the block. Here he obtained a rear room, and for several nights he kept vigil. The moon was In its last quarter, and It was not always easy to keep watch, but he sat peering Into the dusk, looking to see some one Jump the line of fences and attack the houses from the rear. That entrance was effected from the rear he was certain, because the watch from the front was too strict to he evaded. It was the fifth night that, happening to look up, he perceived a shadow crossing the sky line of the houses. He rubbed his eyes that were drooping with sleep, but he still saw the shadow advancing toward the opposite roof. “They can’t have a flying machine,” he muttered to himself. “If they have it’s no wonder the boys couldn’t locate them. I guess I’ll go up on the roof and have a better look.” He stole out of the room and up the stairs to the roof. The trap was left open in pleasant weather to ventilate the stuffy halls, and as he climbed softly through the scuttle hole he almost lost his balance. Standing on the edge of the roof was a second mnn. and even as Danvers looked he stepped out over the edge of the roof and glided toward the opposite side. There was a third figure, a woman’s, and Danvers waited a moment to see If she, too, would essay walking upon the air, but she made no effort to follow her companion’s example, and at last the detective slipped through the opening and crept softly behind her. With a bound he was upon her and had dapped his hand over her mouth belSare she could make outcry. Even to the dim llghthe could recognize her as one of a tril&f acrobats he had noticed at the tames. More than once he had sought to attract her attention, for she was a remarkably pretty girl, but the two men with her resented even a look and kept such close guard over her that there had been no chance to make her acquaintance. “What are you up to?” he demanded roughly. “I am a detective.” “They thought you were,” she gasped as he raised his hand to permit her to reply. "Don’t let them catch me, will you? They have gone to rob the houses.” “But how?” he asked curiously. “They seem to walk on air.” "They used to be wire walkers," she explained; “but they tried tumbling afterward. They are walking on the telegraph wires.” “They won’t hold up,” he scoffed. "Yes, they will,” she persisted. “Qyep

one, you know. This gives just the right sag.” “Bat h;w do they bring the staff back?” he persisted. “Walt and you will see,” she cautioned. Danvers slipped behind a chimney, and presently the pair returned, pushing before them a wheelbarrow with a grooved wheel. One of them carried a Japanese umbrella painted black, with which he preserved their balance while the other pushed. They dumped their load on the roof and turned back. When they had disappeared down one of the scuttles on the other side Danvers stepped out again. “How long have you been with these men?” he demanded. “You don’t look like their sort.” “They were with a circus,” she explained. “I ran away with Jim; that’s the smaller one. He watches me so that I do not have a chance to get away from him.” “Is this a regular trick?” he demanded. She shook her head. “Business is bad this year. The boys can’t get work. They were fooling one night on the roof and found that the wire was strong enough to bear them. They used to carry mq. in the wheelbarrow in the show, ams they got the Idea of robbing the houses. They cut the alarm wire and can come and go as they please. When the men were watching they walked right over their heads.” “I’d like to get after them,” he said. “I could drive them down to the street where the j watchman Is.” “If you won’t tell I’ll take you,” she volunteered. “Don’t be afraid. I can do It” She caught up another parasol from the roof and spread It. “Ride pickaback,” she commanded. Danvers put his arms about her shoulders and raised bis feet clear. Slowly she adjusted her weight to the wire and began to make her way across. Somewhere he had read that It would not do to look down, so he shut his eyes and hung on. Once or twice the girl seemed to lose her balance aad for a moment worked the parasol violently while she regained It. Then she pressed on again, and at last, with a sigh, she stepped off the wire, and Danvers opened his eyes. They were on the farther side, and just beyond was the open scuttle. “Let me go back.” pleaded the girl. “They must not know that I helped you or they would kill me when you got out. You must never tell how you made the trip. Pretend that you saw them and climbed a fire escape. I am going to be gone by the time you get back to the house.” “But how can I reward you?” he questioned. She threw a glance at him. “I can get a divorce if Jim is convicted. My freedom is a rich reward.” She kissed her hand to him in imitation of the circus ring, and he watched with admiration as her lithe figure sped across the open. Then he dropped through the scuttle. “Bull luck, I suppose,” laughed the manager when Danvers reported the next morning. “Just that,” assented Danvers,” “bull luck—and a woman.” But he would not explain the latter part and the manager Imagined it to be the girl he married on the strength of his increased pay.