San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-09-29

was newcomer, truly. The two women
were in the house when | took up my
quarters there-respectable elderly par
ties"
did not know what to do for the best.
To lock up the rooms was impossible;
and even to do the same with all my
drawers, writing table; wardrobe, etc.,
now. after never having previously
turned key on anything, would be at
| once to cast a slur on the establishment
Besides never could tell exactly when
| missed this or that article, because, as
repeat. my careless ways had often led
me to imagine that had lost thing
when had merely mislaid it.
Presently the idea occurred to me that
would set trap. | left a small
sovereign purse in corner drawer of
| the dressing table, whence | could de-
clare many trinkets and valuables had
been purloined; but there it remained. /
shifted it-partially covered it with
other things as if by accident, or as if it
had been forgotten. Yet it was always
forthcoming whenever looked. put
/ IL SOlldIl Ou q VI Juc
mantelpiece; the housemaid twice drew
| my attention to the fact that the coin
| was still lying there. No, nothing that
| ever placed as bait disappeared. The
depredations were confined to such OBJ
| jects as hadn't been thinking about I'M
| til wanted them.
hesitated, as have said, to tell my
1onIlor1. cp I NOW y 70 rpnSt,1t
| Scotland yard, for, during the sleepless
| nights, which as the London season
| waned grew longer, the subject assumed
| far greater Importance than it did in the
| day. 1t became an intolerable night
mare, and would sometimes get out Of
| bed and search for any object ! might
suddenly remember | had not seen for
long while. Sometimes found it, some
| times did not: sometimes | never set
| eyes on it again-it was clean gone.
Indeed. at last, it was in this way, and
| at these untimely hours, that | discov-
cred most of my losses. Thus, what with
them and my sleeplessness, grew quite
detected; but | entirely refused to think
of myself i'll. 1t absolutely never &C.
Cured to me; so l walked down to Scot
land yard and confded my troubles to
an inspector in what is now called the
criminal investigation department"
This resulted one Sunday morning in
| my entertaining at breakfast a certain
gentleman named Bunter. An odd look
ing person. who had strange propen-
sity for peering and prying about, and
appearing to take a great fancy to the
house 1t was just the sort of place he
| wished.
On this pretext introduced him to the
| landlord, with view possibly of max
| ing it worth that individuals while to
hand him over the lease. In this way
he managed to go all over the establish
ment and converse with everybody living
in it-everybody except the gentleman
who occupied the top story-the one per
son did not know. My friend from
Scotland yard was particularly inquisi-
tive about him since he could not see
him, and when ] told him that his habits
were irregular, coming home very late,
| and occasionally not going out at all for
days, the official looked grave, finally
winked at me and said he would call
again shortly.
But lie never had the occasion to do so,
for it WAS during the night following the
visit of this distinguished guest that
discovered who was the thief and ar
rived at the secret Of the mystery.
The month was August, the nights
hot and sultry, and less than ever condu-
Give to sleep had nothing to do that
evening. and although turned in early
it was with the usual result. The clocks
had lust struck /, and had been in bed
since II without closing my eyes. 1t
was the old story; was accustomed to
it. Suddenly. amid the host of perplex-
ing and often awe inspiring thoughts
whirling through ones brain under these
conditions, remembered that pocket
letter case containing the two 81 Scotch
bank notes. Where was it? had not
seen it for weeks. After restlessly striv-
ing to drive away the desire to get up
and search for it it mastered me, and out
of bed | sprang. For fully an hour l
carried on the quest, but all in vain.
Every conceivable and inconceivable
corner, drawer and pocket was ran
sacked. The key of the escritoire had
been mislaid, so | could not examine
that; but knew it contained little else
than papers.
At length, entirely exhausted, irritat-
ed and fevered. and with the chamber
candle expiring with a sputter, | flung
myself on a couch in the drawing room.
Dawn had not yet broken, but in few
minutes. as | lay there coiled up in my
dressing gown, Unexpectedly fell asleep |