Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1860-07-20
THIEF TAXING IN LONDON.


THIEF TAXING IN LONDON.
From " Household Words"
Your wife discovers on retiring for the
night, that her drawers are void her toi-
lette-table is bare; except the ornaments she
now wears, her beauty is unadornrd as that
Of a Quakeress; not thing is left; all the
fond tokens you gave her when her pre-nup-
tial lover, are gone; your own miniature,
with its setting Of gold and brilliants; her
late mothers diamonds; the bracelets "dear
papa" presented on her last birthday; the
top of every bottle in the dressing case
brought from Paris by Uncle John, at the
risk of his life, in February, 184S (being
gold) are off-but the bottles (being glass;
remain. Every valuable is swept away with
the most discriminating villany; for no other
thing in the chamber has been touched; not
chair has been moved the costly pendule
on the chimney piece still ticks; the entire
apartment is as neat and trim as when it had
received the last finishing touch of the house
maids duster. The entire establishment
runs frantically up stairs and down stairs
and finally congregates in my Lady's Cham
Der. Nobody knows anything whatever
about it; yet everybody offers suggestion,
although they have not an idea "who ever
did it." The houscmaid bursts into tears
the cook declares she thinks she is going in
to Mysteries; and at last you suggest send
ing for the Police; which is taken as sus-
picion Of, an insult on, tho whole assembled
household, and they descended into the low
er regions Of the house in the sulks.
X 40 arrives. His face betrays shecpish-
ness, combined with mystery. He turns his
bulls eye into every corner Of the passage,
and upon every countenance on the premis-
es. He examines all the locks, bolts, and
bars, bestowing extra diligence on those
which enclosed the stolen treasures. These
he declares have been Violated" thus
concisely intimating, without quoting Pope,
that there has been more than one :" Rape of
the Lock-" He then notes the non-distur-
bance of other valuables; takes you solemnly
aside, darkens his lantern, and asks, in a
mysterious whisper, if you suspect any of
your servants, which implies that he does
He then examines the upper bedrooms and,
in the room of the female servants he dis
covers the least valuable Of the rings and
castof silver toothpick, between the mat
tresses. You have every confidence in your
maids; but what can you thinki You sug-
gest their safe custody; but your wife inter-
cedes, and the policeman would prefer speak
ing to his inspector before he locks anybody
up. ...t...5
Had the whole matter remained in the
hands Of x 40, it is possible that your whole
troubles would have lasted till now. A train
of legal proceedings actions for defamation
Of character and suits for damages would
have followed, costing more than the value
of the jewels, together with the entire execra-
ton Of al your neighbors and every private
friend Of your domcstics. But, happily, the
Inspector promptly sends plain, earnest
looking man, who announces himself as one
of the two Detectives of the x division. He
settles the whole matter in ten minutes
His examination is ended in five. As con-
noisseur can determine the painter of pic
ture at the first glance, or winchester the
precise vintage Of q sherry by the merest sip /;
SO the Detective at once pounces upon the
authors of the work Of art under the consid-
Grafton, by the style Of performance if not
upon the precise executant upon the 6 school,
to which he belongs. Having finished the
toilette branch Of the inquiry, he takes q
short view Of the parapet Of your house,
and makes an equally cursory investigation
Of the attic window fastenings. His mind is
made up, and most likely he win address
you in these words - n w sse
"An right, sir. This is done BY one Of
the Dancing School !" - 4el,st
"Impossiblei" exclaims your plundered
partner. Why, our children go to Mon
sieur Pettitoes, Of No. 81, and I assure you
he is . highly respectable professor As to
his pupils, -"
The Detective smiles and interrupts
:" Dancers" he tells her, /" is . name given
to the sort Of burglar by whom you have been
robbed; and every branch Of the thieving
profession is divided into gangs, which are
termed .Schools.' From No. 80 to the end
Of the street the houses arc unfinished. The
thief made his way to the top Of one ofthese
and crawled to your garrett"
But we are twenty houses distant, and
Why did he not favor one Of my neighborsf r
you ask.
Either their uppermost stories are not &c
practicable, or the ladies have not such valu.
able jewels y
"But how did the thieves know that ?"
By watching and inquiry. This affair
may have been in preparation for more thar
q month. Your house has been watched
| your habits have been ascertained. They
have found out when you dlne-how long
you remain in the dining room. A day d
selected; while you are busy dining, and
your servants busy waiting on you, the thing
Is done. Previously, many journeys have
been made over the roofs, to find out the best
means Of entering your house. The attic i
chosen; the robber gets in, and crceps noise
lessly, or dances into the place to b<
i robbed"
Is there any chance Of recovering ou,
property !? you ask, anxiously, seeing tht
| whole matter at gIancc.