While Will stood looking in admiration at this contrivance two large stones were pushed back into the hole, fitting it closely, and leaving Will again in darkness.
“It’s a good dodge, but if you ain’t sold I’m a Hoosier!” was his only remark.
The stores of Mr. Leonard and of Brown and Felger opened upon a narrow street, deserted at night, save that occasionally a passing policeman gazed down its dark depths.
On the night of the robbery, however, the three men Will had seen stood conversing just inside the rear door of Brown and Felger’s establishment, the door standing ajar.
“Don’t move till near morning,” said one of them cautiously. “The police may have been warned, and we will need to be wide awake. Wait till the milk-wagons and market-wagons are on the street.”
“All right. Joe can play butcher,” was the reply.
“I will be off home now,” said the first speaker, “and leave you two to finish the job.”
The door was closed behind him as he left the store and carefully made his way along the street, seeking the deepest shadows, and keeping in close to the houses.
He stepped out more boldly after he had reached a main street. Late as the hour was, the street was not quite deserted. A few people were moving.
One of these, in fact, was moving quite closely behind the burglar, and seemed to be following him.
The latter was utterly surprised when a heavy hand was laid on his shoulder, and a voice sounded in his ear:
“What does this mean?” he cried, turning round in great indignation. “Who are you that dare molest a quiet traveler on the streets?”
“Save all that,” said the other. “I know what I am doing, and am going to put you in safe keeping for to-night.”
The other continued his remonstrances, but was forced along by the officer, who still held him by the shoulder, and refused to make any further reply to his remarks.
In five minutes he had him within the strong walls of the station-house, and safely locked up in a cell.
Daylight was faintly showing in the east, and the occasional rumble of wagons had been for some time audible in the streets, when a light team stopped at the rear of Brown and Felger’s.
For ten minutes the driver, and the two persons inside this establishment, were busy in removing rolls of goods to the wagon.