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

with the Duke, during which he assured
me should have his help in any
scheme proposed, quilted the library
and went towards my own apartment.
On the way met Mr.. Stanley. and on
the spur of the moment invited him to
my room, saying that had some good
cognac and cigars. He accepted and
we set talking together until nearly
midnight Then he babe me good
night and went to his own room. /
stood in the corridor and saw him en-
ter. i put on pair of list slippers,
prepared dark lantern. and waited
until the last sound should die away in
the palace.
This was my idea If Stanley was
the guilty man he had hidden himself
in the room off the library and over
heard what had said, and would cer-
tainly during the night find an oppor-
tunity to visit the gallery door, examine
it for fingermarks. and obliterate them.
1t must be my business to watch and
identify him; and for this purpose had
resolved to take up position in the
hall behind one of the pillars of the
stair, where could see all that passed
for lamp burned all highland at
the same time be completely concealed.
"As soon as all was quiet opened
my door. The key grated in the lock.
AS stepped into the corridor l heard
the rush of hasty feet, and the sound
stopped just where knew the door of
Mr.. SANKEY'S room to be. felt that l
had disturbed him on his way to re-
move the fingermarks, that he would
not attempt anything more that night,
and so l went to bed.
''Of course need not tell you that
the story about the fingermarks was all
moment to decoy Mr.. Stanley. and l
should hav> succeeded but for the graf
ing key. Since then The first thing do
when am in business is to oil the lock,
and handle, and hinges of my door.
"Next morning 1 heard that Mr..
Stanley said he had received notice of
his mothers serious illness, and that he
was going to London by the II o'clock
train. went to my room, shaved off
my beard, and dressed myself as a
clergyman. When showed myself to
the Duke he thought that some digni-
tary of the church had come to visit
him. When disclosed myself he was
greatly astonished and then amused. l
told him might be away for few
days.
How about the marks on the door?'
They have faded out replied.
II walked from the palace to the
town on q street of which the main
gates open, and, hiring cab. was
driven to the station. Soon Mr.. STAN
ley arrived in drag. We took the
train and travelled to London together,
though not in the same carriage. Why
didn't arrest him at oncep o, that
would never have done. He might
have sent the picture away. 1t was a
most unlikely thing that he had kept it
about him. wanted to get him with
the picture in his possession. On reach
ing London l followed him to No. -
Argyle square. After short stay there
he went to Great Queen street and en-
tered n hatter's shop, in the rear of
which man was at work. In the
meantime, 1 must tell you, had tele-
graphed for my assistant, and we met
before Quilted Argyle square, and he
accompanied me to Great Queen street.
After Mr.. Stanley quilted the hatter's
my assistant kept him in view, and l
went into the hatter's and got meas
ITed for new tile in regular clerical
shape.
Il never made hat for dean be-
FORE said the man, though l have
made some curiously-shaped ones
''After quite long talk l said: DO
you happen to know where l can buy
any valuable old pictures or china?'
"Lor', no, sir, said the man in I'M
mistakable establishment.
80, WE'LL said, excuse me, but 1
thought l saw well-known picture
dealer in your shop just before l en-
tered
"'What, that man?' he exclaimed: Il
don't know what he is, but do know
he ordered the funniest hat ever heard
Of
:" Indeed said I, what was 1t likep'
"'Well, was the answer, it's to be
nn inch higher than the ordinary and
be double. First of all, there's to be
hat shaped this way
''And he drew on a piece of paper
the figure of hat.
Now said he, in that there is to
be the entire hat, which is to lit the
broadcast part and have round the bot
tom, next the brim, the hat band; so
that there is to be space of three
fourths of its hight and the outside is
to be movable SO that he can take it
off and put it on rs he desires
What is the object of itp' l asked.
"'That's none of my business he re-
piled; 'he pays good price for it and
that's all care about
81 went away, thinking about the
new-fashioned hat. What did it meanp
If Stanley had got possession of the
picture it was worth small fortune to
him. But it would be pretty hard
thing for him to dispose of it, even in
London, without ultimate detection.
Il went toward Argyle square and
unused as / went. The hat was to be
done next day at 6 p. M; so Stanley
was safe, thought, until that time
The picture was thirty-six inches by
twenty-five. / went down with Hol-
born and bought piece of artists can
vas that size. / took it home, folded it,
and found that it would just about fit
info tho cpaca which vvoe IN Inc left be-