Nevada County picayune., 1890-11-20
MY FIRST CASE.

1T you like detectlVe stories 1 VIII tell you about my first case.
 had just started on my own ac count when q farmer named Ross called on me and said that he had been robbed of six thousand dollars that he had received from the sale of some land the day before. He had tied the money in his handkerchief and then pinned it in his overcoat pocket. When he reached home he carelessly hung his coat in the barn while he did some work. When he went to the house he found his neighbor, Mir. Fisher, there. Then he unpined the pocket, and, finding the handkerchief all right, he told Mir. Fisher how careless he had been. The coat was locked in the dining room closet, and the key hid under the weekly paper on the mantel. MT. Fisher stad for supper, and after the meal, was left alone for a few minutes in the dining-room. In the morning, the key couldn't be found, and, upon breaking open the closet, the handkerchief was found in the pocket, but in place of the money was portion of the weekly paper.
 MT. Ross left me the handkerchief and piece of paper, and, after being instructed to treat Mir. Fisher as usual, and to get the remainder of the weekly paper, he left me to my plans. They were soon matured. l had no family to tell ot my expected absence, so l at once dressed as farm laborer and appeared at MT. Fishers.
 1 applied for work, and as good luck would have it, l found Mir. Fisher in need of man.
 'Steven has too much to do, as he drives the milk wagon now," said MT. Fisher, "and l will try you with the horses"
 Steven, the hired man, didn't ap- pear to like me very much, and was slow to talk to me. l had hoped to gain some information from him, but was disappointed, though l did learn from him that Mir Fisher was a widower with one child, his daugh ter Kitty, who taught school, and that his elder brother Silas lived with him.
 l saw the family at supper that night. Uncle Silas, as he was called, was an invalid, drawn into the shape of bow with the rheumatism. He had but little to say. Mir. Fisher was a pleasant looking man, and not one to be suspected of robbery. Kitty was bright, intelligent girl, with very tired look. No wonder she looked tired, for besides teach ing the school she did the household work. l thought that too much was required of her.
 We all spent the first evening in the sitting room. l (Charles Wes ton was my name then) was pre- tending to read a paper, while l was thinking and watching, Mir. Fisher was at his desk looking over some papers. l was seized with a desire to look into that desk, and wistfully watched the key until it was put into Mir. Fishers vest pocket. Uncle Slas sat in the corner counting his fingers as though they were money. Kitty read few passages of history aloud. 1 had never heard so sweet and musical a voice.
 At bedtime Steven and l went to our joint room. He was soon asleep while lay awake, waiting until the rest in the house should be quiet. l heard Mir. Fisher go to his room, and heard Kitty in the kitchen mak- Ing ready for her morning work, l felt sorry for Kitty. In an hour the house appeared to be quiet, and stole from my room. When reached the head of the stairs l looked below and saw Uncle Sllas with candle descending to the cellar.
 returned to my room and lay down to wait; but 1 fell asleep and did not awaken until four o'clock in the morning. It was too late to visit Mir. Fishers desk, for l heard kitty moving in her room. then dressed and descended 10 the kitchen, where l saw Kitty preparing to make the