The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-11-05
THE MISSING PICTURE.

THE MISSING PICTURE.
mot far from the City of Oxford
there is princely dwelling occupied
by the collateral descendants of ia
nous General whose title of Duke the
head of the family still bears. The
Duke to whom refer was one of the
best of men, without particle of pride,
and devoted to the welfare of the peo-
pic among whom he lived. He had a
fine gallery Of pictures, and among
them many of great value. One of
these was Claude Lorraine, and be-
tween a Saturday evening and the fol-
lowing Monday morning it was cut
from the frame and removed. was
sent for, and the task of discovering
the thief or thieves was imposed upon
me. The picture was hung the second
from the entrance to the gallery on the
leftrhand side. Saturday evening the
Duke himself, accompanied by his Sec
rotary, went through the gallery and
spoke of some alterations which ne
contemplated. This very picture was
specially alluded to as one that ought
to be removed to better light. The
gallery was locked and the keys were
deposited in the Dukes desk in the IL
brary. The following Monday evening
the Duke again visited the gallery, and
the first thing which struck his eye was
the empty frame. The Duke very wise
ly communicated the fact of the theft to
no one until he saw me. / found that
the only person who could have had ac-
cess to the keys of the gallery was the
secretary, Mr.. Stanley. The Duke told
me he was the son of his old tutor, and
an exemplary young man. He was
the sole support of his mother and sis
ter, who lived in Argyle square, Lon
don.
AT dinner that night I took a good
look at Mr.. Stanley. There was some
thing about his ways did not like.
Though was introduced as lawyer
from London. come to consult with the
Duke on important business, I could
see that Mr.. Stanley regarded me with
what seemed to me suspicion. A strange
misgiving respecting Mr.. Stanley was
floating in my mind After dinner he
engaged me in conversation, saying
that he was intended for the legal pro-
fcssion, but had taken orders instead,
only to find that bronchial affection
from which he suffered was to preclude
his ever speaking in public.
"A thing occurred which was Just
what could have wished. The Duke
suggested that he and should retire to
the library, and requested Mr.. Stanley
to light the lamps in the library, add
ing that he should not require his SER
vices again that night. The thought
struck me ut once that Mr.. Stanley
would be anxious to know what the
Duke and l were to talk about. Some
thing seemed to say to me, He is the
guilty mamie will wait, and hide,
and listen This thing so filled my
thoughts that l heard nothing the Duke
was saying until he reused ME by In.
viting me to the library. 1t was n
large room, with two screens and q
door in the further corner. / already
knew that the door led to small study,
from which private stairs assembled to
the floor above. The door was ajar,
and was as certain that Mr.. Stanley
was on the other side of it as though l
saw him there. Purposely. spoke in
full, distinct voice, so that he could not
fail to hear if he were listening. had
already made up my mind what to say
and do.
THE Duke handed me q cigar and
took one himself, and we smoked. After
some conversation said:
% i have made n very important dis
covery, which may lead to the detection
Of the thief
{" Indeed?' said the Duke; what is
itp'
Ion the door of the picture gallery
j have discovered the mark of a hand
a mans hand, said.
That is poor clew,' said the Duke,
is it notP'
'.Not so poor in this instance l re-
piled, for the fingers and the palm of
the hand are so clearly marked that
can infallibly tell the hand that left the
imprint if once see it.
That is remarkable said the
Duke
"'Now, what want is this, said. Il
want to examine the left hand of every
person who was in this dwelling be-
tween that Saturday night and the
Monday following
you shall do So the Duke said, aft
er pause.
Then the thought struck me that if
Mr.. Stanley were listening, rs 1 felt no
was, he would at once quit his post by
the private stair, and very likely de-
scend to the main hall and take q
glance at the door of the picture gallery.
I stepped to the library door and opened
it 1t was Immediately opposite to the
door of the gallery, which was in the
shade. tstN
Il had hardly opened the door when
Mr.. Stanley descended the stairs and
walked across the hall, glancing at the
gallery door as he did SO. had no
fear that he would go near the door, for
members of the family and servants
were passing and repassing all the
time. and. moreover. porter and two