Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-07-04

iife-sh. Break-sh bank to morrow sh!
Fortune made-sh. No counting house -sh.
No COMPOUNDED office. Roulette for
ever-sh"
Ambrose looked and listened graveIy.
His face was perfectly immovabIe.
Shortly after Theodore's head began to
nod and fall forward on his breast, and a
few minutes later loud snore testified
that he was asleep.
Ambrose scanned his master cautiously,
cleaned his throat several times, then ap-
preached him aud inquired, will master
go TO bed noT?"
another snore was the sole reply Am
brose waxed boider and touched his n as
rer's arm, then positively shook him.
The sleeping man gave an imparient
shrug and muttered something but did
not wake up. He had fallen into the
heavy slUmber of inebriation.
Ambrose paused awhile and scratched
MS head III perplexity. If his master
woke up IN the morning and found HIN
self in that position in the chair, there
would be, he knew, rumpus. And yet
20 put him properly to bed, while in that
state was scarcely possible. A middle
course suggested itself. He would take
/, # his masters coat, collar and shoes,
lay him on the bed and cover him with a
rug.
This purpose he was able to effect-in
spite of some drowsy protests, and few
feeble struggles; and he left Theodore ly-
ing on the bed to- sleep off his intoxi,s
ton.
But as he was folding up his masters
coat, roll of papers fell from the breast
pocket. Ambrose picked them up and
Looked at them. They we're bank notes.
Ga. cling once more at the sleeper's
face, to make sure that be was buried IL
slumber, Ambrose examined the notes
ca, efully. His eyes sparkled and bis
fingers trembled as he counted. They
an ounted 70 nearly 10000 francs ($9, O0O)
That, then, was the meaning OF his
masters drunken words. Theodore hal
plainly spent the evening at the Casino
and won enormously.
The valet again looked cautiously at
the sleeper ano stood for some mir
lrresOlUte. Then an idea struch him
He approached the dressing table old
picked up his masters keys, which were
lying on it. With one OF these he opened
the portmanteau, and took from it
cash box. Selecting another key from
thu ouuch Che evidently knew it well), he
unlocked the box and examined It's CON
tents-a considerable sum, perhaps eighty
pounds in notes and god ($400).
He carried it into che outside room and
placing it on toe table, together with the
roll of notes which had fallen from the
coat pocket, he sat with his head between
his hands contem plating them.
Half an haur later he was still in the
same attitude.
x X X
Theodore awoke late next morning with
a racking headache and parched mouth.
He called feebly for Ambrose and demand
ed the time; but received no answer. He
called again. Still no answer. The ras-
Cal was evidently not at his post. Thee
dore seized the bellrope and tugged it
viciously.
Presently he heard the door of the out
sioe room open.
Ambrose" he said, irritably, "why were
you not here before? And where the deuce
have you been?"
strange voice answered in broken
English. Theod ore jumped from his bed
and went TO the door. One of the hotel
waters was there.
Did monsieur ringf" he asked.
II want my valet" said Theodore.
Send him to me at once"
"Monsieur's valet? Yes, SIR" And the
waiter vanished.
Theodore's heavy, bloodshot eyes roam-
ed slowly around the apartment, and at
length fell on the cash box. Surely be
had not left it out there over night; he
did not Secollect to have touched it at ALL
But then his consciousness of last nights
actions was trife indisti1ct. He ex-
amined it hastily and found it npty. A
horrible suspicion seized him. He hur-
ried back into the bedroom, and felt in
the pocket of his coat, which lay folded
on chair.
Something between groan and a
curse escaped him, as he found them
every one empty.
At that minute the waiter came back.
"Ambrose!- where is Ambrose?" de-
manded Theodore, hoarsely.
The concierge tells me-" began the
man, and then hesitated.
$50 on, hang you'll" cried Theodore, i'm
patiently. "For heavens sake go on!"
"That monsiour's valet passed the door
at four this morning, and has not, so far.
as the concierge is aware, since returned.
Theodore ground his teeth with rage.
"The villain!' he gasped. s'He has
robbed me of my farthing!'
sim possible!" cried the waiter, throw
ing up his hands in gesture of amaze
ment.
81 wish it were!" answered Theodore,
bitterly. "But the rascal shall rue it,
He shall be caught as sure as Pm alive.
What is the time now9 Just after eleven
O'clock. He only has seven hours start.
Send me the manager of the hotel at
oncew
The waiter hurried away for the man
ager, who soon appeared and listened
with polite attention to Theodore's tale of
woe.
He was truly sorry for monsieur. 1t
was most regretable and lamentable
affair. And he sincerely hoped that the
rascal would be caught. Monsieur's best
plan was TO Immediately communicate
with the police. Theodore being already
dressed, with the exception of his coat
and boots, speedily donned those articles
of attire, and drove without delay to the
police bureau. The pfefect was very
civil. He wrote down from Theodore's
dictation, description of Ambrose, and
undertook thas every possible step should
be taken to ensure his capture. AS soon
as any important discovery was made re
would Immediately inform monsieur at
his hotel.
Having thus entrusted che pursuit o
Ambrose to the police, Theodore had an
other, and an equally important task to
perform, namely, to "wire" to his father
for fresh supply of money. He con
sidered carefully with himself how he
should word the telegram SO as to give
the least possible shock to Mr.. Aurelius'
feelings, and induce him to remit liber-