The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-12-29
was ultimately atloDtcd.

was ultimately AHOplcus
On that evening my uncle declined to
accompany III whom, III hour after lin
ner, the house emp'ied on to the prom
enade. Mr.. Gregory also was missing,
aud had not appeared at dinner. lie
Rev. Mr.. Briggs took us under his care.
Nv uncle WIS already noldiag in hi,
chair IL We went ont. Twenty minutes
af.crward two OF the company sattiy re-
entered the room. This had from M
eyewitness. Their names We're Nr. and
Mira. Grice. Mr.. Gricc stood Mt the
door and her husband advanced gently
across the floor 10 where my uncle lay
back in his chair, snoring audibly, his
handkerchief over his head, his coat
thrown open, and pocket-book just
showing III his breast-pocket.
Mr.. Grice crcpt up to him, abstraetcd
the book with practiced hand, put il
into his own rocket. nni turnei to 90.
Now, rs no rc-crossed the room, he lad
to pass before large lounge, with long
hangings in front, and lie was, pr
haps, somewhat surprised to find his
ankles seized III the firm grip Of pair
Of hands thrust ont suddenly from tn
der the lounge. As he fell, his amiable
partner turned .rannd..into the arms OF
3 detective officer. At the same mo-
ment Mr.. Gregory entered through the
window from the balcony.
This is your rocket-book, cir, said
ono Of the detectives.
"Thank you," said my nncle. 1T
has nothing III It, but ! am glad to have
il back again.
Mr.. and Mrs. Grice were removed at
once to another public establishment in
the neighborhood, where the company
was very select, the hours very regular,
and maintenance very cheap "a style Of
establishment which il was subsequent.
~ proved they had frequented in more
than one part OF the country.
Amid considerable excitement We
promenaded late that night. Ny uncle
said H., -, ....;,,, :.
which lays mo under the deepest obliga-
ton to you. / have no doubt that the
original delinanants, Of whom these
creatures are only the tools, will be
brought to justice. Finding that we
are on their track, they have made this
effort to destroy their guilt, and prevent
us from submitting it to experts.
Thanks to you, they have failed. l can
only say how welcome will be any OPP
porrnnity Of making any return to you,
however slight"
Il shall certainly take yon at your
word, sir, was the answer.
"And now, Mr.. Gregory" continued
my uncle. twill you pardon our curiosity
if we beg you to tell us the means by
which YOU were able to divine the in.
e.>e<. 4 Al er,nr.l. 90
"Oh, Mr.. Gregory cried Lily, "you
must tell us. We are on thorns to know.
AMI will do anything in tho world you
like - mention ii Won will tell us.
d those terms consent" said he,
with a curious look ut Lily, which made
hcr suddenly blush very much, rs /
could see even III the moonlight.
"You may have noticed" began Mr..
Gregory, .that l am somewhat deaf,
and | have been much more SO. In
consequence OF this / have acquired the
ars, which believe almost any one can
acquire, of reading the movements OF
the lips i'll the same way that the deaf
IN dumb are taught to do, so that l
can always understand what people say
il only they are within seeing distance !;
and my seeing is very acute. / need
hardly say that / avoid overseeing con-
versation. If Won will allow the express
sion, rs much as would over-hearing
1t: hut l frequently see people SPEAK a
few words on accidentally glancing at
them. 1 think that what has puzzled
you will now be plain. Perhaps ought
to confess that have yielded q little to
ihe temptation Of my,tifying the COM
pany during the last week, especially IN
the case If Mr.. Briggs, who has, like
many people who have lived good deal
alone. = habit Of talking to himself as
he goes along, which he is scarcely aware
Of. This afternoon, however, watched
the Grices in good earnest. l was very
much astonished ut what ! saw. Your
sudden departure had disarranged their
plans, aud they had full discussion of
past and future operations. 1t was not
at all bad idea tc hold their delibera-
tions before your very eyes, SO AZ to
kaepap their watch on your movements
and disarm suspicion, bnt they had taken
no precautions against being overseen.
The rest you know"
But how about the purchase of the
hair-Masl, that sad proof OF occult art ?"
said.
"Oh, that had nothing to do with il.
was in the shop, being shaved, and !
saw the transaction in looking glass. /"
Later still, when my uncle had gone
in. / heard him quietly say: $50 you
will d. whatever l like to mention p
But these words were not addressed to
me. and judged it best to fall into the
rear, and, having no gifts Of clairvoy-
ancc myself, 1 cannot tell you
the rest Of the conversation.
can only aid that our re-
turn was postponed, and that shortly
after these events Mr.. Gregory again
requested a private conversation with
my uncle; that he had again some
revelations 10 make concerning a con-
sp.racy Of two. male and female, in
tins case also; and that shortly after
the first pair Of cnnspirators had been
sentenced tor life" hy one Of her
Maiesty's Judges. similar sentence
was pronounced upon the other pair
10y the Rev. Mr.. Briggs.