St. Landry democrat., 1885-02-14

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Sir George, I said, 7 am an init
mate friend, whom you were expecting,
and my name is - Brooke
"'That will do capitally, Sir George
replied, and l was shown to room.
There put on my dress. suit, and after
brief talk with my host, who explained
all as have already related it, | went
down and was introduced to the guests.
Lady Nj had received the cue and
saluted me as an old friend, as did also
the daughters.
81 looked around among the guests
who by the way had been kept in
complete ignorance of the robbery and
took stock of them. That night I
didn't sleep much. l lay awake think
ing. Sir George had put me in posses
sion of all the facts and | had quietly
inspected Lady M. s apartments and all
their surroundings. / regretted that I
had not brought with me a young
Scotchman named Watson, who had
been my assistant for two or three
years, and was very shrewd, intelli-
gent fellow. Next morning | tele-
graphed for him in cipher, and instruct
ed him to come on as my servant He
arrived the same afternoon and soon
| made himself at home in the servants
hall, where he admirably sustained the
character he had assumed.
ssNow, as you may well understand,
had no easy task on hand. | had
been subaltern in regiment of foot,
and served in India, so that it was no
trouble to me to associate with the class
of persons [ met at Sir Georges. |
| made myself as / have reason to know,
very agreeable, and was soon on ex-
cellent terms with everybody in the
house. There was no doubt in my
mind that the robbery had been per-
petrated by some one in the dwelling.
1t was equally clear to me that it had
not been accomplished by domestic.
My instructions to Watson were to be-
come intimate with the servants of the
visitors, and to learn as much as he could
of the antecedents and habits of their
masters.
'tNow, let me go back and tell you
something which happened the first
night was at Sir Georges. ! am
naturally as well as professionally of an
inquisitive turn, so when all had retired
and the house was still | arose and
opened the door of my room. may
tell you that the first thing / did on be-
ing shown to my room on my arrival
was to oil the lock and hinges, so that
the door would open without noise. I
had pursued this course ever since one
of the best laid schemes | ever con-
cocted was frustrated by the grating of
a key in a lock. Well, | opened the
door noiselessly and looked out. The
long corridor reaching from the central
gallery to the left wing lay before me;
very faint light was flung from lamp
at the head of the stairs. AS I gazed
without any particular object, wonder
ing, however, behind which door the Sc
cret Of the robbery lay concealed [
was certain that some one of the visit
ors was the thief-a white figure
emerged from a room between me and
the gallery. | stepped back and closed
the door. Then listened. Some one
approached my door and paused. [
could hear the soft footballs cease. Nay,
| could hear the breathing of the person |
who paused and evidently listened at
my door. Then the footsteps departed. |
opened the door and saw the figure in
white walking with downcast head to-
ward the gallery. 1t vanished in the
doorway from which [ had seen it come
Was / suspected, and was this the thief?
Had she come to reconnoiter and find |
out what was about? Had her rest
less and guilty spirit intuitively fixed |
upon me as the one being in that dwell |
ing whom it had to fear2
Next morning tried to select the |
door out of which the figure had come,
and through which it had disappeared,
but in VAN. At breakfast I glanced
around to see whose face gave signs of
disquiet or anxiety, but all appeared
gay and careless.
after breakfast I went into the
smoking-room and conversed with one
and another. Then 1 went to my
room, having, as already said, tele-
graphed for Watson. After an hour
spent in thought took stroll through
the park. The air was frosty and
bracing. The sun shone bright, and
was beginning to collect my thoughts
and decide on some course of action.
Where to begin was the ques-
ton. AS sauntered down the avenue
heard a footstep behind me. It drew
near, and presently found Miss Ger
trude, or more properly Miss NJ,
Sir Georges elder daughter, alongside
If me. | bowed and made some re-
mark about her being alone.
oh she said, I am going to visit
TWO or three of my pensioners, for
whom | have few small presents.
II observed that she held leather
bag in her hand. After few further
remarks between us, she excused her
self and fastened on. Whom did she