The Society news. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-18??, 1883-10-13
A Cool Hand.

class, and will show how little we detectives
have to go on, and from what slight evil
dence we sometimes have to act. With this
short prelude | will begin my story.
One morning the chief called me into his
office, al ! saw at once by the look OF his
face that he was somewhat troubled.
"Fox," he said, "here is q very nasty
piece of business on hand. You know Wis
count Lorimer"-I need not say the names
given here are false ones-"M. P. for -,
and in the ministry"
''Yes; / should think did. One of the
incest fellows that ever lived" said |.
swell, there has been q most daring rob-
berry committed at his house at Park lane,
but from what can make out from his
lordship's hurried letter and his Wallets
statement--he sent the note by the valet
the whole affair seems wrapped in the great.
est mystery"
"That is just the case like" replied.
"Ah, ] thought SC" said he,with laugh,
81 only hope you are not too confident. His
being SO high up in power might make 1t
rather awkward if 1t became public and we
did not find it out. Those newspaper fell
lows like to get hold of thing like that
1t is capital to them"
''We all have our little faults" laughed,
"and think, as rule, that they are very
good fellows"
lu61 may Dts DuO you udu DeLbtF De Oh
at once, for, from his lordship's note, /
should think that the matter is serious"
] said no more but jumped into a cab and
dashed off TO Park lane, and was instantly
shown into the library, where l found his
lordship engaged in earnest conversation
with his brother in-law, the Hon. Colonel
Malverton, the brother of Lady Lorimer,
the viscount's wife.
81 am glad you have come, Sergeant Fox.
You have heard of my loss"
81 have heard that your lordship has had
loss; but how you came by it have not
heard"
"The amount" lie began, when stop
ped him at the same time drawing out my
note book.
"Wait moment, my lord. Now, just let
US go through the matter in regular form.
In the first place should like you to tell
me what you know of this matter. l ask
|. you to pardon me, my lord, but the fact is
I Chat have to discover the thief and recover
the property, and therefore must think more
of means than manners"
'tBy Jove, the fellow says truly" cried
the colonel. "Come, George, tell him all
aboutit."
"You must know sergeant, that last night
the-bill came before the house, and the
discussion was very long one, and owing
to the absence OF some of our party had
to take long and unexpected part in it,
On returning home this morning ! was
thoroughly exhausted, drank some light
clai.et, and went to bed"
tY'our valet!" l inquired.
az dispatched as soon as possibly could,
giving HIN orders not to wake me, or even
to enter my dressing room, in case he should
disturb me, until I rang my bell. This he
punctually carried out, for waking earlier
than thought, rsprang out of bed feeling
wonderfully well--far better than thought
I should alter SO long debate, and being
glorious over my pafty's triumph. Wrap
ping myself in my dressing gown, leaped
out of bed and hurried into my dressing
room, when began to write some letters
which were of great Importance. While
doing this | noticed that the things in my
dressing room were in the same state of
confusion in which had left them. | know
am somewhat eccentric, but the slightest
noise wakens me. Hence my having
ordered James to leave them where threw
Ghem.p
81 see. pray you, my Lord, go on"
'tWell, the letters finished, | rung for
James. He came with the usual chocolate,
and so forth. / sent him with the letters
for footman to post. While he was gone
1 had occasion to go to my trowseFs pocket
for something. My purse was there, but
empty"
"Humph Was there much in it!"
''About seven or eight pounds, some
silver and two flve-pound notes. No
more"
Sand is that all you have missed" !
inquired. "0f course, it is hard and dan
gerous thing for any gentleman to have
dishonest person about him; but the
loss of that sum is SO little to your lordship,
that"
'But it is not the loss of that sum. The
keys OF my private safe had been removed.
Hastily dressing myself, | hurried to the
library and examined the safe, the key was
in it, and on searching, found that coupons
and papers of great value had been stolen.
One-a letter, which by accident, / brought
home from the otfice-was most important
1t must be kept private at any cost"
"Come, come, my lord; do not speak SO
loudly-there may be listeners" said 1.
"Was anything else gomez"
"Not thing"
"The family plate-that on the sideboard,
your jewel case, and her ladyship'sW
mot thing touched"
"Any way you found out how the thief
broke inf" was my next question.
"Only my fanlight over the pantry door
the door leading into the garden-that has
been cut out and removed. That must be
the way the thief came in"
''Perhaps so, my lord. VIII your lordship
give directions for your Valet-Mr. Jones, I
think he is called-to show me the house!
That is want so see your dressng-room and
bedroom. The safe"
"The safe is here" said Lord Lorlmer,
opening an oalSen door, on which had been
fastened number of backs OF books, so as
to make 1t seem part of the library.
Behind this was the safe, and there was
nothing to be discovered there. His lord
ship declared that no one knew of the safe
but himself, and he found the missing key
in the door of the safe, and soon after dis
covered that the papers had gone.
$50 much for the sate," said /. "Now
my. lord, If you will be so kind, would
like to be shown over the place by your
valet"
h "You cannot suspect him." said Lord