The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-08-02

coed.
then thought | would play my own
detective. and having put my money in
the drawer, as | always did. watched the
movements Of every one with closest cir
cumspection, although not appearing so
careful as usual Before going to lunch
each day, | counted the money, and again
when | returned but no result, until one
day, on making up my daily accounts a
little before three o'clock. found myself
one thousand one hundred and thirty-two
dollars short. almost jumped in aston.
ishment from my seat, for the abstraction
must have occurred within three.q quarters
of an hour. and with myself in the room
all the time. This was staggering and
serious, and at once lost faith in my.
self Here were four thousand four hun.
dred and seventy-three dollars gone, and
not the. shadow of clcw. After another
consultation with my partners, it flashed
across my mind to hunt up oneB--,
who in his day had been celebrated as a
detective, but Of whom had not heard
of for years, and if he were still alive. to
submit the matter to his judgment The
Directory gave me his address. and in an
hour was with him. b was inter-
ested but he had retired from business :
rheumatism was the only thing he detect
ed. and that to his sorrow. lie. however.
would recommend me to gentleman who
if he would take the job, could nnravel it,
II it were to he unraveled by human skill,
and he gave me letter to the doctor. or
Robert Blaisdell, NJ. d.. as he strangely
directed the envelope. Before went to
bed that night | found Baisdell, and not
only engaged him, but, as could see, in-
terested him, and he agreed to meet me
the next morning at the office. and so con-
duct himself that there would be- no sls.
picion Of his business.
lie was there promptly, and opened
mattels in the hearing of the clerks by
talking coffee, and proposing to see car
90 of Rio to arrive. He never appeared
to look at any of my people, but with his
pencil, as he was supposed to he comput-
ing quantity and price, asked several qucs.
tions and in few minutes communicated
to me his belief that the clerks were all
right. That was relief. opened the
drawer, freely handling the money, and
giving him every opportunity to see its
working. He was bothered. saw that
by his face. He asked me if the clerks
could be sent out and we could be alone
for haitian hour Yes, at lunch-tlne, in
an hour, all would 60 but Mr.. Conway,
and | would contrive an crrand for him.
Blaisdell went away, and returned at that
time, and we were alone.
"This thing is done by somebody ont.
side of your clerks sir, but by whom or
how puzzles me. Let me examine that
drawer" said Blaisdell Have you any
mice about ?'
There had been stray one seen once
in Il while.
" Because You know such things as
mice have been using the soft paper of
bank-notcs to make their nests. No." he
confined after close examination of the
drawer-75'',HHY@ 5'HHY@ Y@,,wy ycG""., md berplvrwabe
into the opening. " II seems to 90 chock
up against the wall, and to lit too close
for even mouse to get in."
examined, and found he was right :;
but in a moment saw his face tighten
up, though | could not see at what.
Again he peered into the depth that the
drawer was taken from, and Slipped it
back quietly to its place. Then he got
up abSently, took a survey of the room,
looked out of the window, and saying, 81
will be back in a few minutes" walked
into the street, and returned in less than
five, said:
You had better 90 on to-day the same
as usual, and, after business hours | shall
want to come in here, with friend of
mine, and be entirely alone with him for
a couple of hours"
This, of course, | agreed to. and went
on using my drawer the rest of the day,
but all came ght. At five o'clock my
self admitted Baisdel and his friend,
who looked to me like locksn.th, and
left them. The next morning at ten o.
clock Blais'lell handed me the KEY of nv
drawer, which had lciI with him the
night before, and open the drawer. said,
pointing to piece Of white paper pasted
in the bottom
lou will please not disturb or touch
that but lay your money carefully upon
it. ! shall be in and out every halt
hour or so, TO Src how the thing comes
out"
How the thing comes out" rather
puzzled me, but as was IA the doctors
hands, obeyed orders and said not a word
Balsdel came in and out, aud talked
coffee closely and knowingly, and had
some trouble, once or twice, to persuade
myself that | was only going through the
the motions, and not really buying a car
60 Of Rio of him. All was quiet, and my
accounts right, Blaisdell declining to
lunch with me, saying in an otf-hand way
that he would foot up his ireight-accounts
in my absence, if would permit him ia
sit at my desk half an hour | was
back, and the moment | entered saw a
peculiar expression on Blaisdel's face
an expression Of intense listening. lie
did not get up from my chair, but put his
finger on his lip. The office was perfect.
ly silent, with exception of Conway's pen
he always used quills-when, suddenly
these was sharp noise and Il struggling
within my desk. Blaisdell Jumped to hi
feet excitedly, and called
"The key Quick quick BY George
we've got him !"
handed him the key in an instant
completely astonished, as was old Con
way, for he tumbled right off his stool
aud Blasdell unlocked the drawer. |,
was not so easy to open it, for it took our
combined strength.
The first sight that met my eye, When
that was done, was human hand, which
Blaisdell seized with grip like vice
and in an instnnt had handcuff on it
] saw, at II glance, il was "A hand without