Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1891-10-14
A VERY PECULIAR CASE.
How Played Thief and Detective
at the Same Time.


At the time it happened-thirty years
ago-l was a bachelor, living In a
drawing-room communicating by fold
ing doors with tho bedroom behind it,
not a hundred miles from the Regent
circus None of the fur niture was my
own save one or two easy chairs, a
writing table and rather shabby, di-
lapidated old bureau or escritoire-a
relic Of my great-grand fathers, be-
leve, and preserved by me as repre-
senting pretty nearly all the property
ever inherited. 1t stood In the darkest
corner of the sitting-room, though near
one of the two long French windows 1
seldom went to it, using its numerous
drawers, plgeon-holes, etc, only as re-
ceptacles for odd receipts, bills, papers
and n few old accumulations of no
value, which for some reasons did not
wish to destroy. The key to its circular
top had, with reprehensible careless
ness in such'matters, mislaid for weeks
This gave me no concern. l could look
for it when I wanted it-that was
enough. Other dodgers were in the
house, which was kept by q retired
butler and his wife, who with three
servants attended on the inmates.
A young mans life in London, with
out his being the least unsteady, fire.
ouentty involves him In late hourn
when he has large circle of acquain-
tances 1t was so with me, especially
during one particular season. Operas,
theaters, suppers and dances crowded
so thick and fast upon each other that,
for nights together, l never had more
than three or four hours in bed-al-
ways having to be up early. Then, by
degrees, when i could turn in In rea-
sonable time, could not sleep, and on
this account even the thought of a
long night in bed gradually became a
terror To me. The fact is, my nervous
system was becoming thoroughly I'M
strung. though Mt the time i did not
know what that meant. Certainly
never thought of it rs an illness. and
equally certain would have secuted any
idea of seeking advice about 1t.
In addition, another thing was wor-
rying me greatly. For the past month
or more felt convinced l was being
robbed. did not possess much jewel
~, but was constantly missing GER
tain little trinlIets and small articles
Among others a silver match box, a
large crocodile leather gold mounted
cigar case, pair of gold sleeve links,
q small locket containing some OF my
mothers and fathers hair, set OF
studs, pearl breastpin, and the like.
Also pocket letter or card case, which
I we'll knew contained two opc-pound
Scotch bank notes-unusual money,
not easily forgotten. / felt sure that
with every allowance for careless hab-
its these and many another similar OBJ
iect had vanished in the most unac
countable way. Search high and low
IS would they were not to be found
anywhere in my rooms.
had lived there nearly two years
when this yexation began, and ] knew
not whom to suspect 1t was horribly
awkward and most unpleasant. The
landlord and his wife bora unimpeach
able characters, and l could never have
looked either of them in the face agar
had breathed the faintest suspicion O
their honesty. Three other men, tive
of whom knew slightly, were lodging
IN the house, as have said, but a. K
suspecting them Of this petty larcen,
the idea was out of the question. No
IL must be one of the servants Blu
which? One of the three was a lad o
sixteen. He was n newcomer, truly
The two women were in the hous'
when took up my quarters there-re
spectable elderly parties"
did not know what to do for tn
best. To lock up the rooms was impos
able, and even to do the same with a.
INV drawers, writing table, wardrobe
etc, noY after never having previousl'
turned KEY on anything, would be a
once to cast q slur on the esta blisf
ment Besides, never could tell e1
nctly when missed this or that article
because, as repeat, my careless way
had often led me to imagine that ka
lost a thing when ! merely mislaid it.
Presently the idea occurred to N
that would set trap I left sma
sovereign purse in q corner drawer
the dressing table, whence could az
clare many trinkets and vaiuabies hq
been purloined; but there 1t rematne'
I shifted il, partially covered 1t wit
other things, rs IL by accident. or as
k had been forgotten. Yet 1t was q
ways forthcoming whenever 1 looke'
nput a solitar sovereign on corner
the mantelpiec e; the housemaid twi'
.s-ew my atten tion TO the fact that Il
cola yyas still " ing there No, not
Ono that ever pl aced As bait disal
peared Ths depredati ons were col
aned TO such Objects IS hadn't bee
thinking about until ! wanss4 then
The month was August, the nigh
hot and sultry and less than ever CO..
Aucive TO sleep. had nothing TO
that evening, and, although turned
easly q WA With the usual result -