The Unsolved Mystery of the 'Soft-Footed' Burglar

Our local burglar continues to furnish us with items of humor and greater length. Fortunately, a newspaper reporter never has goods and chattels that dishonest men can pilfer, and therefore he can chronicle the occurrence with ideal philosophy. At a very early hour yesterday morning, the house of Mr. Mitham, an expressman near Lake Union, was entered and ransacked without disturbing the inmates. A few dollars, some books, and a few articles of food and clothing were taken.

About 3 o’clock in the morning, the house of Mr. D. B. Ward, a real estate agent, was also entered. A hole was cut in the kitchen door near the lock, but in handling the key, the fellow dropped it. He then cut a large pane of glass out of the window and stepped into the kitchen. A little dog gave the alarm, and Mr. Ward got out of bed and started to go into the kitchen, when the door opened and a man stepped noiselessly into the room, at the same instant striking a match. Mr. Ward's son had just come home on a visit, and for an instant he thought it was the latter and spoke, 'Is that you, Oscar?' Instantly the man sprang backward out of the room and a second later through the window, disappearing in the darkness. Dressing hastily, Mr. Ward made a search about the premises but could find no further trace of the burglar. The pane of glass cut out was a large one, and had been carefully set down on edge in a place of safety. The alarm given by the little dog undoubtedly saved the loss of valuables, as there were watches and other portable property lying around, and as the prowler moved so softly that Mr. Ward could not hear, although he was awake, there is little doubt that the fellow could have gone all over the house in safety had the family been asleep.