The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-11-27
ORIENTAL THIEVES,

Though it was in February, it was a
warm night in Bombay, and slept with
my window open. The window was
really door, opening on a balcony
which extended quite around the hotel.
Every story was provided with balco-
ny, and every room had window SINH
lar to mine. | locked my watch and
other valuables in my trunk, with the
exception of two or three dollars worth
of small silver that left in my trousers.
My bunch of keys was between the mat
tresses in the middle of the bed, and |
fattered myself that any thief who
wanted to invade the trunk would be
obliged to wake me and ask for the kew
before he could get it. The moon was
shining, and when | went to bed strong
breeze was blowing from the west and
rushing Pleasantly in at the window.
The day had been weary one and re-
tired soon after nine o'clock, and | was
not long in falling asleep.
Dreaming that | was having strug-
gle with brigands on one of the noun
tain roads of India, ! walked suddenly
about eleven o'clock and raised my head
slightly from the pillow. The foot of
the bed was toward the window; my
trunk stood against the foot of the bed,
and my clothes were lying upon the
trunk. Something white was huttering
between me and the window; l thought
it was the curtain agitated by the wind,
and fell back satisfied that my dream
was without a cause No, l was not
quite satisfied, and taking a second
look, discovered that what | had
mistaken for the curtain was the fig
ure of man clad in the white
frock which is the universal garment of
the native servant in India My waking
had disturbed him, and he was making
for the window. l endcavorcd to catch
him, but he had the start, and, beside,
was impeded by the mosquito netting
that surrounded the bed. By the time
| reached the window he was out of
sight around the cerncr, and l realized
that pursui. was hopeless. He could
have led me around the hotel as many
times as | chose to follow, and | might
as well have tried to catch him on race
course as on that balcony. Furthermore,
nc had the advantage of climate, knowl-
edge of the balcony, possibly of youth
ana lleXlbility of limb, and certainly cf
avoirdupois. So returned to my room,
struck light and investigated.
The rascal had thoroughly gone
through my garments. Every letter in
my coat had been opened in his search
for bank notes; the little odds and ends
of things traveller carries in his pockets
were scattered on the floor near the
trunk, and silently thanked him for
leaving those trifing articles, which,
though useless to him, were valuable to
me. Pocket scissors, pincushion eye
glasses, cigar case, pencil toothpicks,
all were there, and also box of anti
fever pills, as he had disdaned to take
mine. The small silver was gone, and
so was my pocket knife, and my loss was
Of little consequence.
The second room from mine was occu-
pied by captain in her majesty's service
II India, and had previously seen that
hls native servant slept on the balcony.
The captain stayed late at his mess,
generally reaching the hotel after mid
uight. thought of the servant, and,
after finishing the inspection of my
;lCthes, returned TO the balcony. The
captain had not come home, as the light
Of the full moon showed his room to be
empty. The servants bed on the bal
cony was tenantless, and as | looked al
t saw some white spots on the dark
hooring by the side of the bed. Exami,
cation revealed several coins, and
gathered from the spot al, or nearly all
my missing silver, but found no trace o.
he knife. Satisfied thad | had ascer
tanned the thief, returned to bed and
slept soundly. The next forenoon | tOlC
the captain of my adventure. lie listened
with great attention, and then said:
"lf you are positive it was my servan
I'll discharge him at once. Eve had hin
six years, and do not know that he ha
stolen anything from me; but those In
liam servants will be entirely homes
with their employers, and protect then
from robbery, while perfectly ready t.
steal from anybody else. We trust then
with everything-money clothing, jewel
~ and all else. IL they steal at all fror
is it is only in small and regular sums
say rupee or two a week, and it is yer
rarely that you hear of servant all
sconding with his masters money in
lump. But while my man is faithful t
ne, I've not the least doubt he wOul
rob you, and if you say it was he that en-
tered your room I'll discharge him, as
said before"
"But that | cannot say" l answered
"My case is one of testimony withoc
evidence. | can only declare it was
native, in native dress. I've hardly bee
long enough in India to distinguish III
individuality of these people at hast
glance, especially under the circumstal
ces. can't identify the man, and yo.
servant can remain undsturbed in place
"Thank YOU said the captain. =
should regret losing him Sunnose "
take peg to better acquaintance"
A "pc1 i'll he IN 20 indian yocabl