The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1891-11-19
A VERY PECULIAR CASE.
How ! Played Thief and Detective
at the Same Time.

1AV eiAO bihiiC ytdTS
ago--l was bachelor, living in a
drawing-room communicating by fold
Ing doors with the 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 greatgrand fathers, be-
lieve, and preserved by me as repre-
senting pretty nearly all the property l
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, pigeon-holes, etc, only as re-
ceptacles for odd receipts, fbills, papers
and few old accumulations of no
value, which for some reasons | did not
wish to destroy. The key to its circular
top had, with reprehensiblc careless
ness in suchmatters, mislaid for weeks
This gave me no concern. l could look
for it when 1 wanted it--that was
enough. Other dodgers were in the
house, which 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 he has large circle of aequain-
tances 1t was so with me, especially
during one particular season. Operas.
theaters, suppers and. dances crowded
80 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 l could turn in in rea-
sonable 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 un-
strung, though at the time did not
know what that meant. Certainly
never thought of it as an illness, and
equally certain would have secuted any
idea of seeking advice about it.
In addition, another thing was wor-
rying me greatly. For the past month
or more felt convinced | was being
robbed. l did not possess much Jewell
ry, but was constantly missing GER
tain little trinkets and small articles.
Among others silver match box, a
large crocodile leather gold mounted
cigar case, pair of gold sleeve links,
a small locket containing some of my
mothers and fathers hair, u get of
studs, pearl breastpin, and the like.
Also pocket letter or card case, which
l. well knew contained two one-pound
Scotch bank notes-uTausual money,
not easily forgotten. l felt sure that
with every allowance for careless hab-
its these and many another similar OBJ
ject had vanished in the most unac-
countable way. Search high and low
as would they were not to be found
anywhere in my rooms
l 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 gould 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
suspecting 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-re-
spectacle elderly parties"
did not know what to do Tor 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
once to cast slur on theeestablish-
ment Besides, never could tell .ex-
actlyswhen missed this or that article,
because, as Irepeat, my careless ways
had often led me to imagine that had
lost thing when merely mislaid it.
Presently the idea occurred to me
that / would set trap. / left 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 al
ways forthcoming whenever | looked
] put a4solitar y sovereign on corner of
the manteipiece;the housemaid twice
drew my attention TO the fact that the
coin was still ly ing there No. moth
Ing that / ever pl aced as q bait disap-s
speared The depredat ons were con-
fined to such objects as hadn't Leen
thinking about until ! wanted them.
The month was August, the nights
hot and sultry and less than ever con-
ducive TO sleep. had nothing to do
that evening, and. although turned in