The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-03-26
A PERFECT TREASURE.
It's sweetness lend
BICDERMOTT.
STORY OF A DETECTIVE

! am not the man to have hobbies,
but what | like is plate, good service
able gold and silver. II is whispered by
malignant persons that ] would not give
40 many dinner-parties, II it were not 10
exhibit these costly articles. am not
conscious Of such n motive for my hos
pitaity, but if il exists il need not surely
be objected to; it is | who have to pay
for the weakness, and not my friends.
II was not looking Mt my gold and
silver plate, I suppose, which made my
mother-in.law bilious; she might have
stopped n long time at some other houses
j could name, without getting the DUAL.
ity, or even the quantity, OF food that
would lIoduce an indiapostlon Of that
kind. Mind, don't blame her; she
gave way TO an amiable weakness Git was
truflles)
Last Wednesday We happened to have
rather large dinner party; had been
dining out n good deal Mt various clubs
lately, and Of course it was necessary to
invite my entertainers in return.
The dinner had gone Off uncommonly
well. The shield shaped SAVERS had
been very much admired, and 30 had
my new tureen. The ladies had retired
TO the drawing-room, and | had just
passed the vine-lcaf claret.iug to Col.
Twankay, when Bowles stopped down
and whispered in my ear that person
wished TO zee me in the hall upon very
important business.
"Ask him what it is" said |. at is
impossible that can leave my guests. I"
81 did ask him, sir, hut he refuses to
state" replied Bowles, confdcntinlly.
at is my opinion he's II begging-letter
imposter; but he says ho must See You
In person."
was upon tho point Of saying, "Tell
him TO leave the house," when some
thing or other in Bowles' manner struck
me 30 decidedly that | resolved not to
do 80. Perhaps | placed rather too
much confidence in my butler. Actuated
by vague proseniiment Of distrust and
danger, rose from the table, made
hasty apology TO my friends, and went
with Bowlcs into the hall. A shabby
gentecl sort of person was standing by
the umbrella stall.
"What is il you want with me, sir ?"
said |, in magsterial tone.
"One minutes private conversation
with you," he replied, with II glance at
the butler
"You may leave us, Bowlcs," said i;
and he withdrew accordingly, although,
am bound say, very unwillingly. Tho
Thought flashed across me like lightning.
"Bowlcs has something to fear from this
mans disclosure" and the next words
of my visitor confirmed me in the sus-
plcion.
81 nm member Of the detective po-
lice force" said he, and come to warn
You thar there il something wrong III
your house"
"Nothing TO do with my plate, |
hope ?" SAID |, with considerable mx-
iety.
every much to do with it, sir" re.
turned he, prinly. "lherc is thief
harborcd here; and by this time to-mor-
row you will not have silver spoon in
your possession, unless ! find him out
i must sec every soul you have got
under your roof"
"a thicfp said !; "impossiblol |
never have even so much ny strange
waiter. That butler has lived with me
for ten years, and my two iootmen, even
longer. L will answer for their hon
esty."
"Iet me see 'em, sir that's oil l
want" was the decisive reply.
at il not Bowlesp ?" said !, appealing.
ly; "don't say it's Bowles;' but,
although it agitated me beyond measur,
to think that should have to trust I
newbutler with all my plate, | confess tina
/ had horrible idea that 1t was Bowles
81 think not" said the detective
quietly. "Let me see the other men.
turned the gaslight over the door NJ
high as il would go, and called then
both into the hall.
at il not thcm," he said. "What
other men have you in the house?'
"None but my guests, said "here
i'll the dining-room.
"Do you know them all very well,
sir? Are none Of them mere acquaint-
ances or neighbors 2"
"Well," returned T. with hesitation,
and feeling glad that Mrs. Matcham was
nota third party to this interview, 81
know some, OF course, better than
Others"
"Jnst so," said the detective, quietly !;
"then must zee them"
This was shocking proposal, and
made me feel hot all over hut still
was not going to run any risk with those
shield-shaped salvers. Major Pinkey, I
now remembered, had expressed a great
wish to examine them, and perhaps that
fact bad had some weight in my inviting
him to dinner. Who the deuce Major
Pinkey was-except that he belonged t.
my club--I certainly knew no NOR,
than the detective, and perhaps n grea
deal less. Still, it seemed very base
thing TO open the dining-room door and
let this fellow scrutinize my guests, in
hopes to find scoundrel among them.
"Upon my life" said /. "Mr. Dotec-
tive, cant do it.
Every right, sir-very natural" re-
piled he, smiling in bis quiet way. at