The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-10-13

during the previous day. The man said
that vas impossible, as he had been from
hon nd The door had been locked. "Then
the window was open," said Careme, conf.
denll1. Sure enough the window had been
open. The house had been entered and an
old-Gshioned gold watch, the gift Of a form
er employer, stolen from a bureau drawer in
the little bed room. Johnson, the owner of
the watch, now joined Careme in the quest,
and he gnz d with open mouth at the queer
performance Of the rhabdomancer an his
whlrling sticks. The track led to Fast
Hampton. and to diapidated looking hut
In that place. The sticks rotated violently
~ they approached the door and knocked.
WheIia voice inside cried "who's there ?"
Carenie was 50 much agitated that he near
ly faiuted The door was opened; the thief
stood before them. Secure the man." said
Careme, "it is he" The fellow, after the
most positive DENIAL, was finally overcome
by his superstitious fears and con fessed the
burglaies. The clothes and the watch we're
productl and on the thief's promising fu-
biNN iN''l 'adVl'Ii, VIVA tCdlS III HIS eyes, ne
was MOI given up to justice.
On the llth of June last past a wealthy
family in Ilicksyillc, Long Island, missed
from the family safe a quantity of valuable
jcwelry, consisting of diamond rings, gold
bracelet, watches, chains, etc, to the value
of over $1,000.
The safe was intact. The lock was
perfect. The key was in safe keeping.
1t was evidently no burglars work :;
nor could the servants, of whom there
were two have had any hand in the robbery.
No one could have opened the safe unless
they knew the combination. There were
only four persons who knew 1.-THE father
and mother and the son and daughter. both
the last named of whom have attained their
majarir. George. the son. il steady, re-
Iigious young man, 4 strict teetntaler and n
patron Of Young Mems Christian Associa-
tons. lie had free access to the safe and
its contents at all times. So had his sister.
They had no inducement for ahltyacting
by stealth what they could have possessed
themselves of openly. Besides, the key of
the safe had been locked up in the old gem
tlemans writing desk for three weeks, and
had been last used in the presence of the
daughter, when placing bracelet that had
been recently repaired, in the safe.
A private detective of some experience
was consulted. lie was greatly perplexed.
His suspicious not unnaturally fell upon
some one of the six inmates of the house.
He finally dismissed the theory as untena-
Bile. ''Some of the family must be somnam-
bulists," lie laughingly suggested. He could
discover no trace Of the jewelry in any OF
the New York or Brooklyn stores where
such valu,bles were likely to find their way,
and he assured the family that it was IA case
which time and perseverance alone could
solve. The subject meanwhile was kept a
profound sec ct. The two servants were
placed under strict espionage. George, the
son, had been to Sag Harbor on business on
the first day of the current month, and he
casually heard some of the details of Car
emes discovery of the stolen clothes and
watch. He determined to see the rhabdo-
mancer. He beheld quiet little man, with
soft, violet eye and haxen hair, with small
artistic fingers aid neck like a woman
lie spoke English remarkably well for
foreigner, but was unwilling to enter into
details respecting his own performances in
Germany and Belgium. He said it was IL
divinely impaired power, and therefore, not
subject for seli-gorifcation. The story of
the mysterious safe robbery was told. Careme
listened with interest. IL cannot tell. but
perhaps ] may be able to assist in some
way" That night he slept in the Hicksyille
mansion. After breakfast next morning he
was conducted to the scene Of the robbery,
with the rods placed between his two ex-
tended palms. There was no motion as he
traverscd the corridor ard asceuded the stair
way. But when he reached the small safe,
the rods rotated tremuously and the mans
pulse could be plainly perceived 20 rise as if
he had an access Of fever.
The same motions and symptoms mani
tested themselves as he proceeded down the
back staircase used'by the servants. Then
the trail led through a window anu into the
garden. The rebber had come from with
out! The trail led by an eccentric circuit
to the railway station. The burglar had left
by train. Three lines of railroad centre
at lIicksville; which had he taken? Car
eme said he would have to try this by expe-
rimeu. III must travel every line and get
out az every station until he recovered the
track of the fugitive. His skill had never
been before confronted with the difficulties
of railroad, and he was confused. lie
travelled to Syosset Cod Spring and North
port on sleeveless errand. Then he tried
Westbury, Mineola, Jamaica and Brooklyn
where he recovered the scent. George, who
accompanied Careme on this extraordinary
quest, laughed incredulously. 1t $ emed
mere midsummer madness. But the sticks
rotated and Careme's face was flushed with
excitement. They came to Fulton Ferry,
crossed, and again the trace was lost. Car
eme was troubled and perpexed. Just then,
however, strange thought flashed across
the young mans mind. "Come with me-"
said he, and they proceeded to the corner of
Broadway and Wall street. Again the sticks
began to violently rotate Careme led the
way down Wall street. passed Broad and
still continued onwarls. At the door of a
certain building he stopped, and proceeded
up stairs, George was so agitated that his
knees could scarcely support him. With
fatal precision the door of room was
reached and entered.
The young Tan's dearest friend was the
only inmate. 'This is the man" said Car
eme. A wild, exciting and painful scene
followed. "Why you have not been at
HicksvilIe in two years." said George. "Yes
l have" was the guilty confession. The ex-
citement OF the gamblers table, heavy loss
es, betrayal of friendship-these were the
GA linnt nntnfs nf tho story He hoI laarnal