Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-10-29
THE MISSING PICTURE.

Not far from the city Of Oxford there
is prinCcly dwelling occupied by the
collateral descendants of a famous gen
erai whose title Of duke the head of the
family still bears. The duke 10 whom
refer was one of the best Of men, without
a particle Of pride, and devoted to the
welfare of the people among whom he
lived He had a fine gallery of pictures,
and among them many OF great value.
One Of these was a Claude Lorraine,
and between a Saturday evening and the
I following Monday morning II 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 en-
( trance to the gallery on the left hand
side Saturday evening the duke him
self, accompanied by his secretary, went
through the gallery and spoke of some
alterations which he contemplated. This
very picture was specially alluded TO as
one that ought to he removed to a better
light. The gallery was locked and the
KEYS were deposited in the dukes desk in
the library The following Monday even
ing the duke again visited the gallery,
and the first thing which struck his eye
/
wisely communicated the fact of the theft
to no one until he saw me. found that
the only person who could have had &C
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 sister, who
lived in Argyle square, London.
At dinner that night took a good look
at Mr. Stanley. There WAS something
about his ways | did not like. Though
| was introduced as a lawyer from Lon
don, come to consult with the duke on
important business, | could see that Mr..
Stanley regarded ire with what seemed to
me suspicion. \ strange misgiving re
specting Mr.. Stanley was floating in my
mind After dinner he engaged me in
conversation. saying that he was intended
for the legal profession. but had taken
orders instead, only 20 find that bron-
chial affection from which he suffered
was to preclude his ever speaking in pub
lie
A thing occurred which was Just what
could have wished. The duke sug
gested that he and ! should retire to the
library. and requested Mr.. Stanl Y to
light the lamps in the library, adding that
he should not require his services again
that night The thought struck me at
once that Mr.. Stanley would be anxious
to know what the duke and were to
talk about something seemed to say to
me, He is the guilty mamie will wait,
and hide ana listen" This thing So
filled my thoughts that heard nothing
the duke was saving until he reused me
by inviting me To the library. II was n
large room with two screens and door
in the further corner. ! already knew
that the door led to a small study, from
which private stairs assembled 10 the
floor above. The door was ajar, and |
was as certain that Mr. Stanley was on
the other side Of it rs though saw him
there Purposely. | spoke in a full.
distinct voice, so that lie could not fail
to hear if he were listening | had al
ready made up my mind what TO say and
do.
The duke handed me cigar and took
one himself, and we smoked. After some
conversation said: Il have made a very
important discovery, which may lead TO
the detection of the thief
Indeed said the duke; what is it,
''On the door of the picture gallery |
have discovered the mark of a hand-a
mans hand ! said
That is poor clew," said the duke,
lis it nOt:''
Not so poor in this instance" | re
piled, "for the fingers and the palm of
the hand are so clearly marked that can
infallibly tell the hand that left the i'm
print if once | see il"
THAT is remarkable" SAID the duke.
Now. what want is this, said; IL
want to examine the left hand of every
person who was III the dwelling between
that Saturday night and the morning fol.
lowing
You shall do so, - the duke said, after
pause.
Then the thought struck me that if Mr..
Stanley were listening, as felt he was,
he would at once quit his post by the pri-
vate stair. and very likely descend TO the
main hall and take a glance at the door
of the picture gallery. | stepped TO the
library door and opened it. 1t was i'm
mediately opposite 10 the door Of the gal
: lery, which was in the shade
l had hardly opened the door when
, Mr. Stanley descended the stairs and
walked across the hail. glancing at the
gallery door as he did so. had no fear
that he would go near the door, for mem
bers of the family and servants were pass
ing and repassing all the time, and,
moreover, porter and two servantmen
were in charge OF the hall.
After few minutes further talk with
the duke, during which he assured me
should have his help in any scheme pro,
: posed, l quilted the library .Iid went
toward my own apartment. On the way
: l met Mr.. Stanley, and Oh the spur OF
| the moment invited him to my room, say
Z ing that l had some good cognac and
E cigars He accepted and we sat talking
together until nearly midnight. Then
> he bade me good night and went to his
3 own room. | stood in the corridor and
. saw him enter. i put on pair of list
slippers, prepared a dark lantern, and
. waited until the last sound should die
away in the palace
r This was my idea: II Stanley was the
guilty man ne had hidden himself in the
, room of the library and overheard what
: | had said and would certainly during
, the night find an opportunity to visit the
gallery door, examining it for fingel
marks, and obliterate them. 1t must be
my business TO watch and identify him
3 and for this purpose | had resolved tc
take up position in the hall. behind one
of the pillars of the stair, where / could
see all that passed-for lamp burned al
highland at the same time be com
pletely concealed.
As soon as all was quiet opened my
ioOr. The key grated in the lock. AS
= ;tepped into the corridor heard the rush
i If hasty feet, and the sound stopped just
I where / knew the door of Mr. Stanley
+ room tG be. felt that had disturbed
aim on his way to remove the finger
marks, that he would not attempt any
hing more that night, a Id so went tC
bed.
OF course l need not tell you that the
story about the finger marks was al
bOsh | invented it on the spur of the
moment TO decoy Mr.. Stanley, and
should have succeeded but for the graf,
. ing key. Since then the first thing dc
when | am in business is to oil the lock
and handle, and hinges of my door
Next morning l heard that Mr.. Stan,
I ley said he had received notice of his
mothers serious Illness and that he was
going to London by the II o'clock train