Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1891-10-03
A VERY PECULIAR CASE.
How Played Thief and Detective
at the Same Time.

At the time it happened-thirty years
Ago-l was bachelor, living in a
drawing-room communi eating by fold
ing doors with the bedroom behind it,
not Il hundred miles from the Regent
circus. None of the fur niture was my
own save one or two easy-chairs, a
writing table and a rather sha bly,, di
lapidated old bureau or escritoire-a
relic Of my great-grand fathers, 1 be-
lieve, 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.
seldom went to it, using its numerous
drawers, plgeon-holes, etc, only as re-
ceptacles for odd receipts, bills, papers
and few old accommodations 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 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.
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 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 could turn in in rea-
sonable time, l 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 ut the time 1 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 l was being
robbed. I did not possess much jewel
ry, but was constantly missing GER
tain little trinl<ets and small articles
Among others a 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, a set of
studs. pearl breastpin, and the like.
Also a pocket letter or card case, which
i well knew contained two onc-p pound
Scotch bank notes-unusua1 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
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 unira peach
able characters, and 1 could never have
looked either of them in the face again
had breathed the faintest suspicion of
their honesty. TIL rec other men. two
of whom 1 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 a 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 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
once to cast slur on the esta biish-
ment. Besides, never could tell ex-
actly when / missed this or that article,
because, as repeat, my careless ways
had often led me to imagine that had
lost q thing when merely mislaid it.
Presently the idea occurred to me
that would set trap. I left a small
sovereign purse in corner drawer of
the dressing table. whence / could de-
clare many tinkc.s aud valuables had