The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-12-01

nchru niln Vne neNJ mtnuJo fhbrlking a
light. M
"Mr. Richard Dereham,'' called Mr..
Twcshoes, gently over the balusters, a
minute or two afterwards, "will you oblige
me by stepping upstairs P''
Wondering greatly, Dick complied,
though not without some hesitation. Mr..
Twoshoes was slowly rubbing his chin with
one hand as Dick entered the room. His
eyebrows were contracted, and there was
perplexed look on his face, such as Dick
had never noticed before.
e." Are you aware, Mr.. Dereham, that dur
ing my absence this afternoon my room has
been rifled of various articles belonging to
me-among other things, Of set of gold
studs, silver lever watch, and porte
monnaie containing two five-pound notes9"
"Ri1ed ~ gasped Dick. "Really was
not aware ofitv'
81 don't suppose you were. But are you
aware whether any one, not an inmate of
the house, has had access, either directly
or indirectly, to this room while have
been outs"
"As far as my knowledge goes, there has
only been one person here beyond the Or
dinary inmates of the house."
"And who may that one person have
beenP"
Inspector Jibble, of the London po-
lice."
Inspector Jibble And what might be
the fellows business in my room?"
"Why, to tell the truth, he said he had
got warrant out for your apprehension,
and came up to search the room for some
document OF other which he wanted"
Mr.. Twoshoes gave long, low whistle.
"And where were you, Mr.. Dereham,
during the time this person was in my
room?"
He looked very grim as he asked this
question, and Dick quaked in his shoes as
he replied, "Outside the housekeeping
watch, in fact"
Just SOTO prevent his being disturb
ed. Neat, by Jove uncommon neat! Per-
haps it will be as we'll to see how you your
self have Jared, Mr.. Dereham. Oblige me
by taking the light, and leading the way
into your own ROOM"
Dick complied in fear and trembling !;
and on looking round his room, found that
a ring and breastpin had vanished-the
only available property there.
"Then you have contrived to save your
watch ?' said Mr.. Twoshoes.
t..
the story of his meeting with Captain Ju-
Illus, and how he had taken more wine than
was good for him, and had had his pocket
picked as he came home through the
crowd.
"And served you right, toor' was the
comment of Mr.. Twoshoes. "Here comes
Mrs. Startling. 1t will be as we'll to inquire
whether she has lost anything"
Search was made downstairs, which re-
suited in the discovery that our few silver
spoons and forks had been taken; as also,
sorrow of sorrows 1.-THE silver teapot, my
rich uncle's wedding gift.
GA tolerably clean sweep" remarked
Mr.. Twoshoes, when the search was ended;
"and-I say it again-an uncommon neat
stroke of business ! AS for you, Sir" turn
ing to the disconnected Dick, "like the
man in the play, you may ask your friends
to write you down an ass. You have been
most transparently duped, and if you had
been the sole sufferer, it would only have
taught you a useful lesson. Your particu-
lar friend, Captain Julius, was without
doubt member of the swell mob; he it
was who took your watch and the impu-
dent rascal who came here tonight was
probably instructed by him, and will
hand over to him fair share of the plum
der.''
81 see it all now What fool / have
been p groaned poor Dick. "But you,
SIR" turning ON Mr.. Twoshoes-" -"had it
not been for your mysterious going on
had you only acted like any other reason
able man-this would never would hap
pened."
$50 long as my good friends, Mr.. and
Mrs. Startling, are satisfied with their lodg-
er, do not recognize your right to interfere
in my concerns. AS, however, my busi-
ness in this neighborhood will be over in
few days, will at once give Mrs. Startling
that explanation which, under the circuni-
stances, she has right to expect; and
which you, Mr.. Dereham, are at liberty to
listen TO, ify you think we'll to do so. Know,
therefore, all persons whom it may con-
cern, that !, James Twoshoes Though
whether that Is my real name or not does
not In the least NATTER, am member Of