The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-06-02


prised when in about an hour he re-
turned and asked my uncle to be
allowed n short private conversation
with him. My uncle seemed startled
at this request (and so, by the way, did
Lily, but after short pause he led
the way into an adjoining apartment.
The conversation which ensued, as
we subsequently learned, was as fol-
lows:
81 am about, sir" said Mr. Gregory,
'to refer to your private affairs to an
extent which will surprise you, but |
hope to be able to render you a SER
vice which will be an ample excuse for
my intrusion. You are, believe, re-
turning to town to. morrow
"Yes."
"The cause of your return is, /
believe, connected with the forgery of
certain check in your name"
"Sir, how can you possibly know
that7'
"That check was brought to you for
your inspection three days ago by one
of the clerks from the bank, Mr..
Smith, and it is now in your possess
ion"
My uncle was speechless.
"Hear me further The accuracy of
my statements hitherto may claim Gre
dence for what am about to affirm.
Unless am greatly mistaken, there are
now in this establishment two persons
who have been employed to regain
possession at all costs of that forged
paper. They suspect that you have it,
and already your room and your
daughter and your niece's room have
been searched, and it only remains to
search your person
My uncle turned pale.
at is known that you are leaving
to morrow morning, and the attempt
will be made between now and then.
Will You allow me to offer you my
advice?"
| will not attempt to describe my
respected uncle's condition Of body
and mind at this part of the interview,
suffice it to say that the proffered ad-
vice was ultimately adopted.
On that evening my uncle declined
to accompany us when, an hour after
dinner, the house emptied on to the
promenade. Mr.. Gregory also was
missing, and had not appeared at din
ner The Rev. Mr.. Briggs took us
under his care. My uncle was already
nodding in his chair as he went out.
Twenty minutes afterward two of the
company softly re entered the room.
This had from an eyewitness. Their
names were Mr.. and Mrs. Grice. Mrs.
Grice stood at the door, and her hus-
band advanced gently across the floor
to where my uncle lay back in his
chair, snoring audibly, his handker-
chief over his head, his coat thrown
open, and pocketbook just showing
in his breast pocket.
Mr., Grice crept up to him, abstract,
ed the book with practiced hand, put
it into his own pocket, and turned to
60 Now, as he recrosssed the room
he had to pass before a large lounge,
with long hangings in front, and as he
was, perhaps, somewhat surprised to
find his ankles seized in the firm grip
of pair of hands thrust out suddenly
from under the lounge AS he fell his
amiable partner turned round-into
the arms of detective officer. At the
same moment Mr. Gregory entered
through the window from the balcony
This is your pocketbook, sir" sale
one of the detectives
"Thank you,' said my uncle. 81
has nothing in it, but l am glad t.
have it back again"
Mr.. and Mrs Grice were removed a
once to another public establishment
in the neighborhOod, where the com
pany was very select, the hours regu
lar, and the maintenance very cheap
style of establishment which it wa
subsequently proved they had frequent
ed in more than one part of tn
country.
Amid considerable excitement W
promenaded late that night. Nj,
uncle said:
"You have rendered me a service
sir, which lays me under the deepes
obligation to you. have no doub
that the original delinquents, of whor
these creatures are only the tools, wi
be brought to justice. Finding tina
we were on their track, they hav
made this effort to destroy the proc
of their guilt, and prevent us frol
submitting it to experts. Thanks t
you, they have failed. can only sa
how welcome will be any opportunit
of making any return to you, howeve
slight"
81 shall certainly take you at you
word, sir" was the answer,
Sand now, Mr.. Gregory" continue
my uncle, "will you pardon our curio
ity if we beg you to tell us the mear
| by which you were able to divine tn
intentions of our departed friends'"
ooh, Mr.. Gregory" cried Lily, "yo
must tell us. We are on thorns t
know, and will do anything in til
world you like to mention if you wi
tell us,
son those terms | consent said h
with curious look at Lilly, which mac
her suddenly blush very much, as
, could see even in the moonlight.
"Iou may have noticed began NJ
Gregory, "that | am somewhat dea
! and | have been much more 50. In co
sequence of this ! have acquired the al
= which believe almost any one can a
quire, of reading the movements of Il
lips in the same way that the deaf al
dumb are taught to do, so that | CO
, always understand what people say
only they are within seeing distanc
and my seeing is very acute, ne,
) hardly say that | avoid overseeing co
versation, if you will allow me the e
preston, as much as | would overhea
ing it; but frequently see people spe,
a few words on accidentally glancin
at them. think that what has pu
zled you will now be plain.
4 'Perhaps | ought to confess that
have yielded little to the template
0 of mystifying the company during Il
last week, especially in the case of NJ
| BripoS. who has. ike MANY naonlo wi