The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-07-02

manner, while her husbands face sec
onded her request!
''Oh, well, there's not much to tell
ma'am. From information received
we made this morning a raid on the
house Of party called Sleepy Jim
sleepy because he Just isn't sleepy.
don't you see, madam? Well, Jim was
very easy and careless and we searched
and not thing could we find, and at
last we gave it up. l was the last to 90
and as | went I heard-for nv ears are
quick-I heard Jim give the least bit
of sigh
"'Come back, men, l shouted; the
things are here, and we won't be such
numskulls as to go away without them.
Let's have one more look around
Then it occurred to me that Sleepy Jim
had not been sitting on the table for
nothing all the time we were turning
his place upside down. So l just
pushed him and it on one side, kicked
over the square carpet on which the
table had been standing, and 10 and
behold, there were plain signs that the
boards had been raised pretty recent
ly.
I'VE had those boards up again in a
iiffy, and there in a deep hole under
meath was all the Fenton Court jewel
ry!"
The detective paused impressively,
and looked at his two eager listeners
as though challenging their admira-
ton.
well, and my wife's butter1lyq"
asked the colonel inquiringly.
Il am coming to that. sir. Among
the things there were several pins and
brooches not included in the list
supplied to us at the Scotland Yard. [
had seen your advertisement and I
thought one of the miscellaneous arti-
cles looked very much like your insect.
So just asked Sleepy Jim about it,
and he told me that it had been brought
to him by a man who had picked it up
in Sloane street and had been afraid to
pawn it. Jim gave him 80 shillings
for it. for he saw the diamonds were
uncommon paste, and -"
''But they were nothing of the sort, :"
put in Mrs. Walsingham Indignantly;
that was only my husbands idea to
call them PASTE
"Ahi that was smart, sir; very smart.
You ought to be one of us.''
The colonel looked gratified. ''Won't
you take glass of wine, Mr.. Sawder?"
he said, pushing the decanter over to
him,
Thank you, sir; 1 don't mind if I
do" replied Mr.. Sawder, helping HIM
self; and he required little pressing to
be induced to repeat the action sew
eral times in the course of the next
hour
As a consequence he soon grew eX-
ceedingly communicative, and enter
tanned the colonel with the most thrill
ing Scotland Yard narratives.
Its not that the criminal classes
are so especially clever" he remarked
judicially as he wound up one of his
tales, ''but the public is so uncommon
ly soft!'
The colonel acquiesced. There were
q great many fools in the world, he
opined; but for his part he had no pity
for them. He himself had never been
taken in in his life.
Il can quite believe that" said Mr..
Sawder politely; land, if 1 may make
so free, repeat again you ought to be
one of US.
The colonel did not at all resent Mr..
ly pleased with him and his stories, and
he was going down to his club for half
an-hour, and would be charmed giving
him lift.
Mr.. SaWder was quite sensible of the
coloneFs cOndescension, and accepted
the offer with effusion. Having ar
ranged with Mrs. Walsingham that
she was to come down to Scotland
Yard the following morning, he went
out with the colonel into an adjoining
room, waiting there while the gentle
man got ready to go out. This room
was a sort of sanctum of Col. Walsing-
ham, and while he drew on his gloves
he passed in review his recollection of
firearm and other objects of warlike
predictions.
The detective seemed a bit of a con-
noisseur, and his enthusiasm was suf-
ticiently dashed with discriminating
knowledge to be particularly pleasing
to the colonel, who actually deigned
to bring out from cavernous cup
boad his latest extravaganza, to wit, a
handsome fur-lined coat he had recent
ly imported from Russia.
''What do you think of that?n he
asked.
'Think?n said the detective. ''Why,
that it not thing to be left in the
hall"
Rather not" laughed the colonel.
1--WE keep it in the cupboard in this
room. Why, that coat cost me 80
guineasm
.It looks as if it had," said the de-
tective warmly; and, the colonel be-
ing now ready, the two gentlemen
cot into their hanson and drove OF.
1t was scarcely half an hour after
ward that there was hasty pull at the
door bell. Mrs. Walsingham was
tired and had gone to bed, and the
| household had followed her example.
The butler alone was still up, busy
with the silver in his pantry.
why, masters forgotten his latch,
kev!' he cried, hurrying to the door
its lucky for me he's come back sc
early"
But it was not Col. Walsingham who
stood in the doorWay-it was Mr. Saw
der.
Sorry to trouble you, my man: he
said. speakin~ very fast and slipping .
shilling into BaiIey's hand; 'but l lef
! some most important papers behlnt
,oe, which l was showing to Col ant
Mrs. Walsingham. VIII you give then
/ to ma?'
But they must be here, " cried M Mr.
sawtler, looking very worried. '.Th
fact isl daresay Mrs. Walsinghan
| told you-these papers have to do wit
tbe Fenton Court robbery. We nabbet
the man and the swag this afternooI
and the owners coming up TOMORROW
So YOU see the papers are awfuliy IN
t.Of course they must be- said tn
butler. unbending from his soiem
DIGNITY on the instant. well III Jus
liSht taper and see if they are any
Where in the dining-room. l may hay
overlooked them, but [ don't think
~ The detective followed him into tt
dinino-room and helped in the searcl
but no papers could e,9, l'ox;onn be found and
II tell YOU what it is" he began
. vexed tone. Mrs. Walsingham mu
= have noticed m directly we ha
; cone. and knowing their importanc
= Tnst have locked them up somewher
l Now if YOU can get them for me