New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-11-19

standing by the umbrella-stall.
What IS 1t you want with me, SIR" said |, in
a magisteral tone. Il
"One minute private conversation with you y
replied he, With glance at the butler.
!" You E1ay leave us Bowles," said I ; and he
withdrew accordingly, although am bound to
say, very unwilingly The thought flashed across
me like lightning 'Bowles has something to
fear from this mans disclosure; y and the next
words Of my visitor confirmed me in the sus-
pcion.
al am member of the detective police force
said he, and come to warn you that there is
| wrong in your house"
Nothing to do with my plate, I hope?" said
| |, with considerable anxiety.
Every much to do with it, sir" returned he,
grimly. There is thief harbored here; and
by this time tomorrow, you will not have a
silver spoon in your possession, unless find him
out. ! must see every soul you have got under
your roof
" A thief! y said impossible! Inever have
even so much as strange waiter. That butler
has lived with me for ten years, and my two
footmen even longer. I will answer for their
honestly
Let me see 'em, sir; that's all 1 want" was
the decisive reply.
" It is not Bowles?n said appealingy; don't
say it's Bowles; but, although it agtated me
beyond measure to think that 1 should have to
trust new butler with all my plate, | confess
that had horrible idea that it was Bowles
I" think not,' said the detective quietly.
" Let me see the other men," | turned the gas.
light over the door as high as it would go, and
called them both into the hall
@ 1t is not them,n said he. !" What other men
have you gotn the house ~
None butt, my guests, said J. q" here in the
dining room.'
DO you know them all very we'll, sir? Are
none of them mere acquaintances or neighb0rs?"
"Wel,'' returned |, with hesitation, and feeling
very glad that Mrs Matcham was not third party
to this interview, 81 know some, of course better
than others"
Just So, said the detective, quietly; Then
I must see them"
This a shocking proposal and made me
feel hot all over, but still was not going to run
aty risk with those sheld-shaped salyers Major
PiDkey now remembered, had expressed great
wish to examine them, and perhaps thatfact had
4 had some weight in inviting him to dinner Who
the deuce Major Pinliey was-except that he be-
) longed 10 nv club certainly knew no more
c than the detective, and perhaps great deal
less. Still it seemed very base thing to open
t the dining room door, and let this fellow scru-
t tininise my guests, in hopes to find scoundrel
t among them.
Upon my life, . said I, ''Mr. Detective, can't
f do IT,
Very right, sir-yery natural" replied he,
e smiling in his quiet way, at would never do,
5 would III But look you, sir: I'm waiter, hired
4 waiter. Who is to know that have not business
6 at your sideboard? In one minute, could run my
| eye over the whole lot, and spot my man, if ne 5
! there, as sure as Texas"
did not even like this arrangement; but still it
i seemed the only thing to be done. So, sending
e for B0WlCs arranged with him the plan Of pro-
0 ceeding, and then returned to the dning-room,
It My feelings are not to be described, when lew
minutes afterwards, sitting the head Of my table,
6 heard the door open, andknew that the detective
+ was in the room He was much longer at the side
> board than he had promised to be and every hair
on nv head seemed to stand upright all the time.
+ Suppose lie should suddenly fall upon Major
y Piuiey, and cry: This is my man y Nay, sup
r The otfsaier seemed 5 to have lost ali confidence
& in nv fellow creatures Aftera period Of anxiety
no nc ny measure ssg o tine co. could indicate the supposed
II "..y, yo,,,'a sooA m Ll.t o''aL lure, o n,
+ tf III t,it ltVh ri, t5t L"r
It ~ ~ mitn mr ~ ~ ii4gn Pay
n you are SATISFIED ABOUT ms honesty,
4 "as ~ I Siau ~ anU olQ FL fii IL
il hoItst' 9 nau @ nJt peEn laNe py tH7 sti' n ~
y @ aau "1l'hG M w. ~ DIV 7le9H' Hut = 00lS9 Wy
loI % I5iaLa ITil I'M Gs1S o,oi, 7,fsnoro,
r le"se' slF you re- %aute4 asdlIt Mii9Peie1 f
,e isi % ~ Nv ~ az ~
l. have dined J obseryal t6e m3ioT' aood-humored
lv: tGif can be of any service Dray comman,
ID ,ae.
tn di7 mt yfor,, hin, what a rainf II was IN m
n tat a W. ,6f yantod bmt rer1arISin thatit wa
le oni[ littIn Iorgestic r,a+tnr onre T}Gre s0urh
Is tbp' i,9snector
er :, Fbe one I'm after is not among them. sir. S
G fG3, qs E002r observed This official Jerking h
lu tbun1b II +ho direction of thp dninr-ro0n Ar
ID Won snre thore are no more neIia your house be
sf,les those / have SEEM,
IA s.Yrs " eoif I .,there. arc no more ~
u .tThnn Tro,lst have ! lHoi; AZ tIIe ladies'
II ..,FrGa ladins ~ rrial arhast mt this rrOpoga
IN. you j0n.5 want 10 20 iato The drawingfo1n!
At yonl1 he Taore SATISFACTORY observed til
d. detective caoIlv. Myinf6rnatiouis yeryrvliubl
ry Bat at ali events, who is there p
sr well :, saii I 1mv wife is there for one: 70
have no Information against her, I suppose ?'
\ He nodded satisfaction 50 far.
) s.Tbpu there's The Honorable Mrs Matclam an
%, =, her danrhter,'
~ ~ Safei y reioined the detective checking thel
~ off on lis fingers
eo 5o Mrs Twis,c, of Regalia Square and Lady Bol
III III bington"
&t II suppose they're all right" !" remarked my il
ta quIsitOr douotlully. Are you sure there are |
ifh more 2"
Sc, There's my moher-in.law, but she's in her o"
lrs room, and exceedingly unwelo
of Very good observed the detective moons
er- quentiaily. There's plant somewhere in It, tn
he house. however; you may take your oath OF tina
md and very likely in the last place where you wou
In. ever look for it; so now must see the maids"
les 1t was astonishing to even myself in what cor
of plete subiugation this man had placed me. Ono
nv and once oniy, terrible misg7ing seized me
on was as full Of suspicious by this time as a pore
eat nine Of Guills and darted them in as many dire
err ttonsNtGat the detective himself was a ;'PIan