The Coconino weekly sun., 1893-10-26

should say they were almost black
 "1 will see if can learn anything concerning the whereabouts of this man."
 With these words went from Mir. Hardy's presence, but two hours later returned to the store, to find him its sole occupant, greatly to my satisfac- tion.
 We'll" at once dropped from his lips in an inquiring tone.
 "I found your evil-looking suspect and in him a detective, who, so made up that his parents would not recog- nize him, is working on the mysterious disappearance of a young man from a neighboring town, some four or five days ago." said.
 "The disappearance of Charles Walker?"
 ''Yes, that is the name of the missing man."
 Tt Is sad affair and wonderfully strange, too, as he was person of spot less character and highly esteemed by all who knew him."
 oiu hos bEOJltT ue- tective, but when he had made himself known to me acquainted him with my case and your description of him. The latter caused him to laugh and say that he looked into your store by the merest accident.
 At the hotel where took my sup. per, asked the clerk if the establish. ment was provided with a burglar proof safe. He gave me a negative re- ply and then, in the presence of the crowd that was in the office, informed him that l had large sum of money with me, and inquired who had such a safe in which I would be permitted to place the money over night He men toned several persons who had combi- nation safes, adding:
 "'Mr William Hardy has one and his place of business is nearer than that of any other person whom have named
 'I learned, rather was informed. where you lived and then came here.
 During my previous interview with you you said that you were to be alone for few days, or, more exactly, that your wife was passing few days out of town with her invalid mother. l have proposition to make to you that you allow me to pass the night with you as your bed-companion. If the orc who burglarized your safe last night was among those in the hotel who heard me speak of my money and attempts to secure the money which I am supposed to have placed in your safe, assure you that shall hear him if you do not"
 'I heartily approve of your plan" Mir. Hardy rejoined.
 'Then will go and inform the clerk of the hotel that"
 Our conference was interrupted by the appearance of a customer and I went from the store, to which I re- turned half-hour, more or less, later.
 After we had retired for the night l entertained-wearied, it may be-Mr. Hardy with some of the most exciting experiences that had been mine as a detective, which caused him to tremble from head to foot Finally, however, he fell asleep.
 The next morning, handing him a package, l asked:
 "Is that what was taken from your safe night before last?"
 Yes" he fairly gasped, having ex- amincd the package. Was my house again entered last night, without walk ing me?" he inquired.
 Tt was," rejoincd, "by way of the window over the sink"
 By man or woman?"
 "A man."
 "Where is he?''
 within my easy reach"
 Was be among those in the office at the hotel when you spoke of your money?"
 "No."
 waited moment, and then began:
 Yesterday l casually learned that you are vr have been inclined to som- nambulism, and nothing else so tends to its development us excitement or anxiety.
 Ut at once suggested itself to my mind that the unexpected coming into possession of so much money would render you extremely nervous; that this nervousness would result in sleep walk ing; that, in a sleep-walking condition, you would give especial consideration to the money and be likely to remove it from the safe to some place where no one would look for it
 "These impressions were strengthened by what had learned when here yes terday afternoon-that the mud tracks ended in your sleering-room, proving that there was no mud on the feet of the one who removed your money from the safe when the deed was done; that your feet and the malefactor's were of the same size.
 "What l told you with reference to asking the hotel clerk about a safe, and so forth, was one of the subterfuges-- lies, Tn fact-to which, l am sorry to confess, we detectives sometimes are obliged to have recourse, for the pur- pose of gaining your permission to re- main with you over night. And the experiences which I narrated were de- signed to render you as nervous as pos sible, because, as I have said bef're, nervousness would probably cause you to walk while you were asleep.