Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-09-19
A VERY PECULIAR CASE

A VERY PECULIAR CASE
At the time it happened-thirty year,
ago-l was bachelor, living in draw
ing room communicating by folding
doors with the bedroom behind it, not |
hundred miles from the Regent Circus.
None of the furniture was my own SAVE
one or two easy chairs, writing table
and rather shabby, dilapidated old bu.
Teau or esCritoire-a relic of nv grand.
fathers, ! believe, and preserved by me
as representing 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, l seldom went to it, using its
numerous drawers, pigeon-holes, etc,
only as reccptacles for old receipts, bills,
papers and few odd accumulations of
no value, which, for some reasons, | did
not wish to destroy. The key to its
circular top | had, with reprehensible
carelessness in such matters, mislaid for
weeks. This gave me no concern.
could look for it whea l wanted it -
that was enough. Other dodgers were in
the house, winch was kept by a 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..
quently involves him in late hours when
ne has large circle of acquaintance.
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 to-
gether, never had more than three or
four hours in bcd-always having to be
up early. Then, by degrees, when l
could turn in in reasonable time, could
not sleep, and on this account even the
thought Of long night in bed gradually
became a terror to me. The fact is, my
nervous system was becoming thoroughly
uastruDg, though at that time 1 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 it.
In addition, another thing was worry
ing me greatly. For the past month or
more l felt convinced [ was being
robbed, l did not possess mucl jewclry,
but | WAS constantly missing certain
little trinkets aud small articles. Among
Others a silver match box, large crocu-
die leather, gold-mOunteI cigar case, a
PAIR Of gold sleeve links, small locket,
containing some of my mothers and
fathers hair, a set of studs, pearl
breastpin, and the like. Also pocket
letter or card case, which l well knew
contained two 81 Scotch bank notes
unusual money, not easily forgotten. /
felt sure that with every allowance for
careless habits these and many another
similar object had vanished in the most
unaccountable way. Search high and
low as I would they were not to be found
anywhere in my rooms.
| had lived there nearly two years
when this vexation began, and | knew
not whom to suspect. 1t was horribly
awkward and most unpleasant. The
landlord and his wife bore unimpeach-
able characters, and | could never have
looked either of them in the face again
had breathed the faintest suspicion of
their honesty. Three other men, two of
whom l knew slightly, were lodging in
the house, as have said, but as to sus-
pecting them of this petty larceny the
idea was out of the question. No, it
must be one of the servants. But which ?
One of the three was lad Of sixteen.
He was a newcomer, truly. The two
women were in the house when took
up my quarters there-respectable,
"elderly parties"
/ did not know what to do for the
best. To lock up the rooms was impos-
sible, and even to do the same with all
my drawers, writing table, wardrobe,
ETC., now, after never having previously
turned a key on anything, would be at
orcc to cast a slur on the establishment.
Besides, ! never could tell exactly when
l missed this or that article, because, as
l repeat, my careless ways had often led
me TO imagine that had lost a thing
when | merely mslaid it.
Presently the idea occurred to me that
would set a trap. left a small SOW
ereign purse in corner drawer of the
dressing table, whence / could declare
many trinkets aud valuables had been
purloined, but there it remained. |
shifted it, partially covered it with other
things, as il by accident, or As if it had
been forgotten. Yet it was always forth.
coming whenever looked. put solitary
sovereign or a corner of the mantlepiece ;
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 objects as hadn't
been thinking about until wanted them
The month was August, the nights hot
and sultry and less than ever conducive
TO sleep. had nothing to do that even
ing, and, although | turned in early, it
was with the usual result. The clock
had just struck one, and | had been in
bed since eleven without closing nv
eyes. 1t was the old story; was &C
customed to it. Suddenly, amid the host
of pcrplexing and even awe-inspiriug
thoughts whirling through ones brain
under these conditions, remembered
that pocket letter-case containing the
two 81 Scotch bank notes. Where ives
it2 had not seen it for weeks. After
restlessly striving to drive away the de-
sire to get up and get it, it mastered me,
and ont of led | sprang, For fully an
hour carried on the quest, but all in
vain. Every conceivable corner, drawer
aad pocket was rausac&ed. The key of
,ho cscroitoire had been mislaid, SO !
could not examine that; but knew it
contained little else but papers.
At length, entirely exhausted, irritated
and fcvered, and with the chamber can
Gle expiring with a splutter, flung my
self on couch in the drawing room.
Dawn had rot yet broken, but in a few