Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-03-06
A PERFECT TREASURE.

am not the man to have hobbies
but what like is plate, good service.
able gold and silver. 1t is whispered
by malignant persons that would moi
give so many dinner-parties, if it were
not to exhibit these | am not con.
scious of such motive for my hospi
tally, but if it exists it need not surely
be objected TO; it is | who have to pay
for the weakness, and not my friends
Last Wednesday we happened to have
rather large dinner party; l had been
dining out q good deal at various clubs
lately, and of course it was necessary
to invite my entertainers in retur n.
The dinner had gone off uncommonly
well. The ladies had retired to the
drawing-room. and had just passed
the vine-leaf claret jug to Col. Twan-
kay, when Bowles stopped down and
whispered in my ear that person
wished to sec me in the hall upon bust
ness.
ASK him what it is" said L. at is
impossible that leave my guests"
Il did ask him, sir, and he refused
to state, replied Bowles confidentially.
at is my opinion he's begging-letter
impostor; but he says he must see you
in person." was upon the point OF
saying, Tell him to leave the house, -"
when something or other in Bowles'
manner struck me SO decidedly that /
resolved not to do so. Perhaps placed
rather too much confidence in my but
Ter. Actuatcd by n vague presentment
of disgust and danger, | arose from the
table, made hasty apology to my
friends. and went with Bowles into the
hall A shabby-gentecl sort of person
was standing by the umbrella stall.
what is il you want with me, sirp"
said in q magisterial tone.
Zone minutes private conversation
with you," he replied, with glance
at the butler.
"You may leave us Bowles," said /,
and he withdrew accordingly, although
l am bound to say, very unwillingly.
The thought flashed across me ike
lightning, "Bowles has something to
fear from this mans disclosure, and
the next words of my visitor confirmed
me in the suspicion.
II am member of the detective po-
lice force" said he, ''and / came to
warn you that there is something wrong
in your house"
Nothing to do with my plate, L
hope?" said | with considerable anx-
iety.
VERY much to do with it, SIR" re-
turned he grimly. "There is n thief
harbored here and by this time to-mor-
row YOU will not have silver spoon
in your possession, unless l find him
out. must see every soul you have
got under veur roof. :"
"a thiefr' said L; ''imposs bile, l
never nave even so much rs n strange
waiter That butler has lived with me
for ten years, and my two footmen
even longer. / will answer for their
honesty"
LET me see 'em sir; that's all ]
want" was the decisive reply.
ut is not Bowles?" said /, appeal
ingly; don't say it's Bowles; but, al
though it agitated me beyond measure
to think that should have TO trust a
new butler with all my plate, confess
that / had a horrible idea that it was
Bowles.
Il think not" said the detective
quietly. LET me see the other men"
1 tnrned the gaslight over the door as
high as It would go, and called them
into the hall.
at is not Them" said he. What
other men have you in the houseP"
None but my guests, said /; "here
in the dining room"
DO you know them all very well,
sirp Are none of them mere acquaint-
ances or neichborsP"
"Well," returned / with hesitation,
and feeling very glad that Mrs. Mat
cnam was not third party to this in
terview, II know some, of course, bet
ter than others"
"Just So" said the detective, quiet
ly; ''then l must see them"
This was a shocking proposal, and
made me feel hot all over; but still
was not going to run any risk with
those shield-shaped salvers. Major
Pinkey i now remembered, had express
ed n great wish to examine them and
perhaps that fact had had some weight
in my inviting him to dinner. Who
the deuce Major Pinkey was-except
that he belonged to my club certain
ly knew no more than the detective
and perhaps n great deal less. Still,
it seemed very base thing TO open
the dining room and let this fellow
scrutinize my guests. in hopes TO find a
scoundrel among them.
upon my life," said l, 'Mr. De-
tectivc, can't do il.
very right, sir-very natural, re-
piled he. smiling in his quiet way. ut
would never do, would itp But, look
you, sir; I'm waiter, hired waiter.
Who is to know that have not BUSH
ness at your side-board. In one minute
| could run my eyes over the whole
lot, and spy my man IL he's there"
did not like even this arrangement;
but sending for Bowles / arranged
with him the plan of the proceeding,
and then returned to the dining-room.
After a period of anxiety no measure
of time could indicate, the supposed
waiter took his departure.
you've got n new man | see,"
said DIR. Twistle, carelessly, "With so
much plate about, hope you are salts
fed about his honesty"
was exceedingly glad to find old
Twistle was honest, and had not been
taken by the shirt frill, and walked off
to Bow street, but of course / did not
tell him that.
please sir. you are wanted again."
whispered Bowles as he brought In
another bottle of claret. 1 once more