The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-01-21


contained the night before and awaiting
my pleasure.
Il will thank you, Mr.. Mills, to retire
and leave me alone while set things in
order for the reception of your mysterious
guest
Certainly, with pleasure. You shall
have things your own way
I first removed the lid, or top, which
let down to form the table, and placed
sharp brads along the under edge, about
one inch apart, on an angle in such a
manner as not to interfere with the work
ing of the lid, when opening or closing. l
next placed the same number of brads on
the edge of the desk to which the lid was
secured by hinges so that when the desk
was closed the brads would jut by each
other and at the same time not be discov-
cred. The principle on which these brads
We're placed was such that the hand could
be easily thrust through past the bradS.
but when the hand was to he eNtricated
OF pulled back the brads would do their
d
impossible for the guilty one to conceal.
1t was the work Of az hour. when all Was
completed and Mr.. Mills notified to re-
place his papers and money. and at the
same time to examine very closely and if
possible detect my work After very
close investigation OF all the parts in con-
nection with the desk and drawers he
/ could not discover anything unusual.
II think you must have put something
! in the desk that will explode and blow the
thief to pieces when the money is taken.
'Nothing of the kind. Mr. Mills: give
yourself no uneasiness on that line. Let
everything remain as it is: deposit your
money as usual at night, marking several
of the top bills you can identify at any
time. and notify me when you are again
robbed. | will then show you the thief.
| heard no more from MI. Mills for
three days, when he called and informed
me he had been robbed again. | immedi-
amined the desk, where l found several
spots of blood. | then asked to be usher
ed into the presence of the family who
occupied the other portion of the house,
and to be introduced as missionary for
destitute children. raising means to estab-
lish home, and also that.I was introduce
ing wonderful salve for curing burns.
scalds, fresh cuts and such like Nh
what was coming, but | urged him for
ward. saying there was no time to lose
We had gone thus far and we must CON
tinue the trail OF fail
IAN right, come on. | suppose You
know your business, but if you do not
succeed don't blame me-
As we entered the sitting room the first
thing that caught my eye was a little
small, delicate woman wearing a ban
daged hand. Mr. Mills introduced me.
and at once began to lay before the fam
lily my mission work. and also to exhibit
the wonderful >alve, setting forth it's heal
ing and curative qualities. The woman
came forward and said she had that NOM
ing received several bad scratches ON the
hand, while trying to eject a furious cat
from her room | carefully examined the
hand and discovered at once the unmis-
taxable trace of the brads | then APP
piled my salve freely to the wound and
replaced the bandage. Then said to MI
Mills, this is the woman that has been
robbing your desk The woman tainted
and went into Mysteries. The other occu-
pants of the room screamed and all was
in the widest confusion Mr. Mills was
dumbfounded at my accusation. Had
western cyclone struck him he could not
have been more shattered. 1t was some
time before we could resume business on
account Of the condition of things In the
meantime a physician had been summon
ed and Mrs Lunt restored to cons, ious-
ness, after which she admitted her guilt
making full acknowledgment of all the
money stolen and the methods which
proved to be on the very line we followed
The woman begged piteously of MI
Mills not to let her husband know of the
affair, and said that she would restore every
dollar taken. Mr.. Mills was very much
surprised that Mrs. Lunt, in whom he
had placed implicit confidence, was such
woman, and nothing but the manner in
which the case was handled, and her con-
fession, would have convinced him of her
guilt. Mr.. Mills was loud in his praise
and declared that he never before read or
heard of more cleverly worked case. AS
the breakfast table still remained spread
i'll the dining room we sat down and enjoy
ed a hearty meal amid the confusion af-
ter which we bid adieu to our new ac-
quaintances for other scenes of similar
character.
Transfers in Real Estate
f.Il.