Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-05-24
A VERY PECULIAR CASE,

A VERY PECULIAR CASE.
At the time it happened-thirty YEAR
dgo-l was bachelor, living in a draw
ing room communicating by folding
doors with the bedroom behind it. not a
hundred miles from the Regent Circus.
None of the furniture was nv own save
one or two easy chairs, writing table
and a rather shabby, dilapidated old bn-
reau Or escrItOire-a relic of my grand
iather 5, believe, and preserved by me
as representing pretty nearly all the
property l ever inherited. 1t stood in
che darkest corner of the sitting room,
though near one OF the two long French
windows, l seldom went to it, usln-r its
numerous drawers, pigeon holes, etc,
only as receptacies for old receipts, bills,
papers and few odd accumulations OF
no value, which, for some reasons, | did
not wish to destroy. The key to its
circular top l had, with reprehensible
carelessness in such matters, misaid for
weeks. This gave me no concern.
could look for it when l wanted it
that was enough. Other dodgers were in
the house, which was kept by retired
butter and his wife, who, with three
'ervants, attended on the inmates.
Ayoung mans life in London, with
out his being the least urs -eady, fire.
quently involves him in late hours when
ne has large circle of acquaintance.
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 to-
gether, / never had more than three or
four hours in bed-always having TO be
up early. Then, by degrees, when |
could turn in in reasonable time, could
not sleep, and on this account even the
thought of long night in bed gradually
became terror to me. The fact is, nv
nervous system was becoming thoroughly
uastrung, though at that time l did not
know what that meant. Certainly I
never thought of it as an illness, and
equally certain would have secuted any
des of seeking advice about it.
In addition, another thing was worry
ing me greatly. For the past month or
more l felt convinced 1 was being
robbed. l did not possess much jeweiry,
but l was constantly missing certain
little trinkets and small articles. Among
others a silver match box, large crOco-
die leather, gold-mounted cigar case, a
pair of gold sleeve links, small locket,
containing some of my mothers and
fathers hair, set of studs, a pearl
breastpin, and the like. Also pocket
letter or card case, which l well knew
contained two f1 Scotch bank notes
unusual money, not easily forgotten. I
felt sure that with every allowance for
careless habits these and many another
similar object had vanished in the most
unaccountable way. Search high aud
low as would they were not to be found
anywhere in my rooms.
1 had lived there nearly two years
when this vexation began, and L knew
not whom to suspect. 1t was horribly
awkward and most unpleasant. The
landlord and his wife bore unimpeach-
able characters, and l could never have
looked either of them in the face again
had breathed the faintest suspicion Of
their honesty. Three other men, two of
whom 1 knew slightly, were lodging in
the house, as have said, but as to sus-
pecting 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 sere in the house when took
up my quarters there-respectable,
"elderly parties
l 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 key on anything, would be at
orce to cast Z slur on the establishment.
Besides, 1 never could tell exactly whcn
/ missed this or that article, because, as
repeat, my careless ways had often led
me to imagine that l had lost thing
when l merely mislaid it.
Presently the idea occurred to me that
I would set trap. l left a small SOW.
ereign purse in corner drawer of the
dressing table, whence l could declare
many trinkets and valuables had been
purloined, but there it remained.
shifted it, partially covered it with othel
things, as If by accident, or rs if it had
been forgotten. Yet it was always forth.
coUiny whenever looked. put a solitary
sovereign on a corner of the mantlepiece
the bousemaid twice drew my attention
to the fact that the coin was still lyins
there. No, nothing that ever placed a
a bait disappeared. The depreciation
were confined to such objects as 1 hadn'
been thinking about until wanted them
The month was August, the nights no
and sultry and less than ever conduciv
TO sleep. I had nothing to do that even
| in., and, although turncl in early, i
" .3 with the usual result. The cloct
bad just struck one, and had been il
! bed since elevon without closing N,
.yes. I: was the old story; was &C
sus.omed to it. Suddenly, amid the hos
81 perplexing and even awe-insplrin!
| shonghts whiriiug through ones brair
under these conditions, 1 remembered
.ha. pocket letter-case containing tn,
! swo 81 Scotch bank notes. Where VS.
itl had not seen it for weeks. Afts
restlsssly striving to drive ava, the de
slre to get up and get it, it mastered me
and out Of led I sprang. For fully 81
hour ] carried On tho quest. but all u