Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-04-15

ment.
The conversation which ensued, as we
subsequently learned, was as follows:
am about, sir, said MIR. Gregory,
Z" to refer to your private affairs to an ex-
tent which will surprise you, but hope
to be able to render you service which
will be an ample excuse for my intrusion.
You are. believe, returning to town to-
morrow"
eyes"
"The cause of your return is, I be-
lieve, connected with the forgery of
certain check in your name"
Sir, how can you possibly know
that?"
"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 possession"
My uncle was speeches..
Hear me further. The accuracy of
my statements hitherto may claim Gre
dence for what I am about to affirm
Unless am greatly mistaken, there are
now ID this establishment two persons
who have been employed to regain pos
session, at all costs, of that forged paper.
They suspect that you have it, and al
ready your room and your daughter and
nlece's room have been searched, and it
only remains to search your person."
My uncle turned pale.
1t is known that you are leaving to-
morrow morning, and the attempt will
be made between now and then. VIII
you allow me to offer you my advice ?"
will not attempt to describe my re-
| spected uncle's condition of body and
mind at this part of the interview. SUI
flee it to say that the profered advice
was ultimately adopted.
On that evening my uncle declined to
accompany us when, an hour after din
ner, the house emptied on to the prom
enade. Mr.. Gregory also was missing,
and had not appeared at dinner. The
Rev. Mr.. Briggs took us under his care.
My uncle was already noddipg in his
chair as we went out. Twenty minutes
afterward two of the company softly re-
entered the room. This I had from an
eyewitness. Their names were Mr.. and
Mrs. Grice. Mrs. Grice stood at the
door and her husband advanced gently
across the floor to where my uncle lay
back in his chair, snoring audibly, his
handkerchief over his head, his coat
thrown open, and a pocket-book just
showing in his breastpocket.
Mr.. Grice crept up to him, distracted
the book with a practiced hand, put it
into his own pocket, and turned to go.
Now, as he re-crossed the room, he had
to pass before large lounge, with long
hangings in front, and he was, per
haps, somewhat surprised to find his
ankles seized in the firm grip of pair
of hands thrust out suddenly from I'M
| der the lounge. AS he fell, his amiable
partner turned round-into the arms of
detective officer. At the same mo-
ment Mr.. Gregory entered through the
window from the balcony.
"This is your pocket-book, sir" said
one of the detectives.
"Thank YOU" said my uncle. "It
has nothing in it, but I am glad to have
it 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 it was subsequent
ly proved they had frequented in more
than one part of the country.
Amid considerable excitement we
promenaded late that night. My uncle
said:
You have rendered me a service, sir,
which lays me under the deepest obliga-
ton to you. I have no doubt that the
| original delinquents, 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. 1 can
only say how welcome will be any OPP
portunity of making any return to you,
however slight"
I shall certainly take you at your
word, sir, was the answer.
"And now, Mr.. Gregory" continued
my uncle, evil you pardon our curiosity
If we beg you to tell us the means by
which you were able to divine the in
tentions of our departed friends ?"
"Oh, Mr.. Gregory, cried Lily, "you
must tell us. We are on thorns to know,
and will do anything in the world you
like to mention if you will tell US.
con those terms consent" said he,
with a curious look at Lily, which made
her suddenly blush very much, as I
could see even in the moonlight.
"You may have noticed" began Mr..
Gregory, "that I am somewhat deaf,
and I have been much more so. In
consequence of this I have acquired the
art, which believe almost any one can
acquire, of reading the movements of
the lips in the same way that the deaf
and dumb are taught to do, so that I
can always understand what people say
if only they are within seeing distance;
and my seeing is very acute. I need
hardly say that avoid overseeing con-
versation, if you will allow the express
sion, as much as I would overwhelming
it; but I frequently see people speak a
few words on accidentally glancing at
them. I think that what has puzzled
you will now be plain. Perhaps 1 ought
to confess that 1 have yielded little to
the temptation of mystifying the COM
pany during the last week, especially in
the case of 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 (1rioas IN cro0d aorDocf r ,,-o. ,,o~,x