The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-02-18


transferred them from the table 30 the
sideboard. When. he had dozen he
covered them with his handkerchief and
slipped them into his coattail pocket.
Then ne put on his greatcoat, and went
out as calmly as he had come in. He
found the stolen articles somewhat
heavy, SO as soon as he was in the han
som he took them out and put them
under the seat.
Mrs. Charles T. Van Dyke was the
name of the hostess at the next place.
Van Bibber shot quickly up stairs and
opened two or three bureau drawers, a
writing desk and secretary, but found
nothing of value. There was an immense
silver water pitcher in one corner with
two goblets, which he thought of TAX
ing, but he could think of no way of
getting it out unobserved unless he low
cred it down the elevator shaft with a
rope In the dining room, however, the
spoons were undisturbed as yet, and lay
in coy little rows on the white cloth.
Van Bibber placed dozen of these in
each of his trousers pockets and told the
servants as he turned from the tea urn.
over which he had been bending, that
he would take two Jumps and lemon.
A large, heavily mustached stranger.
with a cup in his hand, nodded pleasant
ly to Van Bibber. and asked him, with
glance at the tea, if he had got what
he wanted.
"Yes, thank you," said Van Bibber
cheerfully. II think have
At the next place he was somewhat
surprised to see the same stranger drink
ing more tea and apparently watching
him. But Van Bibber put this down to
the fact that he was unduly suspicious
and that his imagination was excited
He was just going out without having
made any seizures, when fat, pompous
gentleman, who he was sure must be
the, host, took pity ON his apparently
neglected condition and said: Il see you
are looking over my bric-a-brac, sir. 1t
is not much of collection, and have
not had time lately to give it tine atten-
ton it needs" Then he proceeded, at
great length and with evident satisfac-
ton to himself, to describe each separate
piece of crockery on the wall. Van Bib
Der was greatly bored, but he was too
polite to say SO, and was rewarded when
the gentleman said, ''This piece of Sat
suma cost me five hundred dollars y
Van Bibber kept his eve on the plate,
and, when his host turned to greet a
new arrival, slipped it into his coattail
pocket and bowed himself out.
He placed it under the seat of the han
som very carefully, and drove on to the
next place quite assured that he had
won his bet, but anxious to settle it
without question or doubt. He did
not see the stranger with the heavy mus
in pl0
into the house to which he was going
just minute before him. Van Bibber
elbowed his way, with many apologies,
to the third floor. There was dressing
table covered with silver trifes, and Van
Bibber smiled complacently.
There was bed in the room, and he
could see this as he looked in the mirror
But he could not See under the bed. His
overcoat was on chair, and he made
several trips to it and filed the pockets
with silver backed brushes and combs.
But on the third of these trips his heart
stood still. for out from under the bed
came the big stranger with the heavy
mustache. He came very leisurely and
deter1ninedly. Don't make row." he
said; you're under arrest"
At that moment two young men came
int the room. pulling off their over
coats.
"Helpi" screamed Van Bibber: 'lookr
he shouted, pointing at the detective.
There's a sneak thief under the bed
Then he fell on the officers head just as
relentlessly as he would have dropped
on a football, and banged his nose into
the carpet and sat on his shoulders. The
two young men got out of their coats
much more quickly than they had in
tended doing and fell with their knees
on each of the detectives arms, and
while they thus pinned him to the floor
they punched him vigorously in the ribs
and yelled.
Look at thisf'' said Van Bibber,
catching up his overcoat by the tail and
spilling all the silver over the floor.
Hold him, will you? while get po-
iceman."
Every one was running up the front
stairs, so he could not go down that way,
and so ran to the back and went down
the kitchen stairs and on into the din
ing room, whence all the walters had
fed. He was quite unobserved in the
confusion, and accordingly took time to
fill his pockets with spoons and forks of
heavy silver. Then he walked out
through the excited women, and stepped
into his hanson. and told the driver to
go to the club.
THAT detective of yours" he said
calmly, as he produced his treasures
from the bottom, of the hanson, Twill
probably be around here when he gets
his nose patched up. In the mean while
l viii ask you TO value these articles
roughly and ring for some messenger
boys"
An authority said the lot was worth
500. and the separate exhibits were
promptly returned to where they be-