Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-07-03

As she knew how clever and sensible
Charlie really was; and had he not, this
very evening, on learning of their fear
of burglars, been self-sacriicing enough
to sit up with them until past midnight,
when he could have been peacefully
sleeping at homer
When he had gone, Mrs. Lane laid
herself down in her dressing gown,
ready for any emergency; bat the night
passed without any disturbance of any
kind.
Early on the following morning Mr..
Lane arrived from bis late business trip,
and at eighi o'clock the family repaired
to the breakfast-room, where, with one
exception, the table was nicely laid.
"Why, Betty" said her mistress;
''where is the silverF
The girl stared.
"Sure, maam, l thought you'd tuck
'em out O. the coal scuttle. l went to
get EN-, and they weren't there"
"Not therel Why, haven't been
near the scuttle; neither has Maude nor
Mr.. Lane.
All hastened to examine the impro-
vised plate safe 1t stood where it had
been left, at the head of the kitchen
stairs, but the cinders which it had con-
taincd were scattered on the floor, aad of
the silver concealed beneath, there was
not sign.
Appalled, at the discovery, MIS-. Lane
proceeded to look after her other hidden
valuables. The mantlc-vase appeared all
right, until the plumy pampas and crys-
tallized glasses were removed, disclosing
within an utter vacuum.
The gold watch, the money and the
iewelry had all disappeared.
"What could it meant No possible
explanation offered, and while they all
stood staring blankly, the door bell rang,
and Betty, who answered it, hastencl
back to say that Mr. Minor wished to see
Mr.. Lane on particular business.
"Partic@lar business, indeed" :" growled
Maude's papa, savagely. "Hadn't he
sense enough to choose a more reasonable
hourl But stayl I'll see him; for the
sooner the business is settled the bet
ter"
The two ladies anxiously listened to
the murmur of voices from the parlor.
The interview was brief, for presently
Mr.. Lane came hurriedly back and pro-
ceeded to put on his hat ard overcoat.
81 think we've got a clue to the rob-
berry, Emeliue, he observed, as he strug-
gled into the latter garment. "Tbat
young Minor tells me that as he was
passing here last night, he observed a
boy hanging around the house, and
thinking his manner suspicious, he spoke
to him, though the fellow walked off
without answering. However, he thinks
he recognized him as Joe Finnerty,
boy who peddles about the offices down
town. Minor says, that feeling uneasy,
he came around thus early this morning
to inquire after the family, and on being
informed by Bette at the door, of what
had happened, instantly suspected Joe of
having had hand in it. We are now
going round to the police office, so as to
lose % time"
Maude peeped from the window, and
despite her trouble at the loss of her
jewels, smiled radiantly as she saw her
father and her lover proceeding down
the street together, to all appearance on
the most amicable terms.
When Mr.. Lane returned to dinner.
he seemed in very complacent mood.
"The matter is all cleared up," he
said. s'Joe Finnerty was the thief and
burglar, just as 1 conjectured"
Gas Mr.. Minor conjectured, you mean,
papa, said Maude, with emphasis.
swell, well, let him wear his laurels.
/ confess that he's rather more sensi-
BILE young fellow than gave him credit
for though he does wear his hair parted
in the middle and has a complexion like
a girls. But as to Finnerty, he broke
down and confessed as soon as he was
arrested. 1t was he who stole the door
mat, and, with the assistance Of another
boy, committed the burglary"
"But how on earth did be know lust
where to fod the thingsl" Mrs. Lane
inquired.
+ "That is easily explained. You gave
him instructions. 1t seems that after
slyly dragging the mat off the porch, he
hid it under the steps until he could car
~ it of in the darkness. and there dis.
covered an unsecured cellar WINDOW,
and at the same time overheard your con-
yersation with Mrs. Coleman. Oh, it