The Sunday herald., 1886-10-31
THE MISSING PICTURE.

"Not far from thu City of Oxford there Is a
pTincely dwelling occupied by the collateral
descendants Of famousGeneral whose title Of
Duke the head of the family still bears. The
Duke to whom refer was one Of the best Of
men, without a particle of pride, and de-
voted TO the welfare of the people among
whom he lived. He had fine gallery Of
pictures, and among them many Of great
value. One Of these was Claude Lorraine,
aud between a Saturday evening and the fol
| lowing 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 entrance TO the gallery
on the left. hand side. Saturday evening
the Duke himself, accompanied by his secre
tary, went through the gallery and spoke of
some alterations which he contemplated.
This very picture was specially alluded to
az one that 0nght to be removed to a better
light. The gallery was locked ani the keys
we're deposited in the Dukes desk IN the
library. The following Monday evening the
Duks again visited the gallery, and the first
thing which struck his eye was the empty
frame. The Duke very wisely communicated
| the fact of the theft TO no one until he saw
me. found that the only person who could
have had access 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.
SAT dinner that night took good look
at Mr.. Stanley. There was something about
his ways did not like. Though I was in
trOduced as lawyer from London, come to
consult with the Duke on important bust
ness, 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 profession, but
had taken orders instead, only to find that a
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 tolight 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
aud were to talk about. Something seemed
to say to me, lie is the guilty msn-he will
wait, aud hide, aud listen This thing so
filled my thoughts that heard nothing the
Duke was saying until he reused me by in
viting me to tho library. 1. was a large
room, with two screens and door in the
further corner. l already knew that the
door led to small study, from which pri-
vate stairs assembled to the floor above. The
door was aiar, and was as certain that Mr..
Stanley WAS on the other side of il as though
saw him there. Purposely, l spoke in a
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.
| tTha Dukp n ande1 ina n cigar and took
one himself, and we smoked. After some
conversation said:
"I have made very important discovery
which may lead to the detection of the
thief
I" Iudeed p said the Duke; 'what is it p
"'On the door of the picture gallery
have discovered the mark of q haud-a
mans hand said.
"'Tlat is a poor clew,' said the Duke
lis It not -
"'Not so poor in this instance replied
for the fingers and the palm Of the hand are
SO clearly marked that can infallibly tel
the hand that left the imprint il once
see it,
That Is remarkable said the Duke.
Now, what want is this said; q
want to examine the left hand of every per
son who was in this dwelling between
that Saturday night and the Monday 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, h,
would at once quit his post by the private
stair. and very likely descend to the main
hall and take glance at the door of tn
door and opened it. 1t was immediately op
posite to the door Of the gallery, which wa
in the shade.
81 had hardly opened the door when Mr.
Stanley descended the stairs and Wake,
across the hall. glancing at the gallery doc
as he did so. l had no fear that lie woul'
60 near the door, for members OF the famil,
6 and servants were passing and repassing al
the time, and, moreover, a porter and tw
servantmen were in charge Of the hall.
"Aftsr a few minutes further talk will
the Duke, during which he assured me
should have his help in any scheme pro
:, posed, quilted the library and went towar
my own apartment. On the way met MI
Stanley, and on the spur of the moment in
/ vited him to my room, saying that ha,
! some good cognac and cigars. He accepted
! and We sat talking together until nsarl
midnight. Then lle babe me good night an
went to his own room. l stood in the corr
der and saw him enter. put on a pair q
list slippers, prepared q dark lantern, an
l. waited until the last sound should die ava
In the palace.
"This was my idea If Stanley was til
guilty man he had hidden himself in tn
room of the library and overheard what
y had said, and would certainly during til
;. night find an opportunity to visit the CALLER
u door, examine it for Anger-marks, and oil
litsrats them. II must be my business
watch and identify him; and for this pu
"a pose had resolved to take up position l
W the hall, behind one of the pillars "f III
10 stair, where could SEQ all that passed--ft
q lamp burned all highland at the sau
time bs completely concealed.
"As soon as all was quiet | opened IN
door. The key grated in the look. As
stepped into the corridor heard the rush
u liasty feet, and the sound stopped just whel
knew the door Of Mr.. stanlsy's room to b.
;. felt that had disturbed him on his wa
e to remove the finger marks, that he woul
not attempt anything more that night, an
30 went 10 bed.
"Of courss need not tell you that Il
q the story about the hnger-marks was a
bosh. Invented II on the spur of the m
ment to decoy Mr.. Stanley, and should ha,
succeeded but for the grating key. Sin,
- then the first thing | do when am In bus
ness is to oil the lock, and handle, al
hinges of my door.
}, "Next morning heard that Mr.. Stanle
said he had received notice of his mother
serious illness, aud that he was going
London by the | | o'clock train. went
my room, shaved OF my beard, and dress,
! myself as a clergyman. When | Shove
. myself to the Duke lie thought that son
dignitary of the church had come to Wis
nd him. When l disclosed myself he WI
II greatly astonished and then amused. | to
him might be away for a few days.
How about the marks on the door y
p "'They have faded out replied.
| ~ walked from the palace to the town {
/ n street of which the main gates open, an
hiring a cab, was driven to the static
Soon Mr.. Stanley arrived in drag. v
took the train aud travelled to London /
gether, though not in the same carriag
Why didn't arrest him at oncef Oh, th
would never have done. lie iaight ha'
,' sent the picture away. II was most u