Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1894-08-09
Smi,er nearly went into a fit.

pms tltl uiliess was NINA reader
would never have missed these. And,
let me. see, Smiler, in your trunk you
have three pairs of my trousers. Those
would not be easily missed, either. AL
so about fifty neckties and collars and
cuffs innumerable.
By this time Smiler was as pale as a
ghost.
eff were to read your mind a little
| further as an amateur l would tell YOU
that on the Goth day of September YOU
went to a pawnshop on the Rue di
Rivoli and there disposed of two seal
rings and watch, for which you re-
ceived 500 francs. They cheated you,
Smiler. You should have got double
that amount. From there you went to
bank, like the thrifty honest, frugal
fellow that you are, and opened an ac-
count. On the 23d of September, with
commendable industry, you added to
your little horde by disposing of my
gold mounted stick, the one presented
me by Baron Rothschild. You care
fully obliterated the names. [ COM
mend your caution. Four days after
ward you sold, or rather pawned, sun
dry articles in four different places,
which | won't take the time to enum-
crate. In all you have 1900 francs in
the bank and 20 francs in your pocket
book, together with other articles of
mine which you We're about to get rid
of this morning. You have been quite
thrifty and inside of month it was
your intention to draw out your money
and emigrate to America, where YOU
are DESTROYS of setting up in trade. Am
i right, Smiler? i'll have made any
mistakes, attribute it to the fact that L
AM but an amateur.p
But Smiler was speechless.
ITO continue, or rather to go back in-
to the past, read that you robbed all
your masters before me, only they We're
not mind readers in an amateur way,
and attributed the loss of different
things to natural shrinkage. When
you first entered my apartments in
Kings Road your thoughts were re-
garding my worldly possessions. You
saw much that made you sure | was a
man of means. After I entered the
room l was seemingly busy reading the
newspaper. Really, Smiler, l was
reading you. | did not want to see
your references. They were superfluous.
The man himself stood before me.
There was the reference. / determined
to make a little study Of you. You in
terested me at once, for l recognized in
you thief of many years training, a
thief who had pilfered for all his life
and never been detected. Here, L
thought, is a subject worthy of my at
tention, here is case which will edify
and amuse me. So / took you to my
bosom, Smiler, and employed you on
the spot. AS you stood there waiting
for me to address you the thoughts that
flashed through your mind We're: L can
easily get away with one of those Dres-
denware vases. He has so many Of
them that he will never miss it. Then
he must be careless sort of swell, one
of those spendthrifts. He will come
ring, watch or some other article
disappears he will think he lost it
somewh here the night before Here's a
swell that paws no attention to his per-
[sonal effects. All he thinks Of is hav-
hing jolly good time. Am I right,
Smiler?u
But Sniler never relapsed from his
collapsed condition.
"You began to pilfer when you pur-
chased the tickets to France. You
made ten shillings on the tickets. You
put aside for yourself five shillings
from the purchases from the trunk
maker. Do not deny it, for it is writ
ten indelibly on your mind. / took to
you right away. Here's a precious
rascal, 1 thought, Here's a servant
worth having.' You will remember
that / commended you for your faith
fitness. And now, Smiler, do you be-
lieve in mind reading? By the way,
where are those pawn tickets, and
kindly hand me your handbook
Smiler obeyed without word
"And now it wouldn't take mind
reader to tell what is going to happen. y
The languid gentleman went to the
door and ushered in two officers.
Smiler fell upon his knees.
"Mercy! mercy" he said.
"You corrOborate all l have said,v re-
marked the gentleman, with mild in
terest.
ayes, yes, 1 confess. Don't put me
in Jail.
~ am sorry, Smiler, but | have fin
ished with my subject. now turn him
over to the law. Officers, do your
duty"
avery we'll, Mr.. Markham" replied
one of the officers.
"Markham?" groaned Smiler.
"The same" replied the languid gen.
tleman.
''The great English mind reader?"
81 am he. / advertised not for a
valet, but for a subject. 1 wanted to
prove some of my theories to the society
of savants here. You have proved a
very good subject. l shall write out the
results of my investigations tonight
and then if you care to have the law
deal leniently with you, you will sign
it. 1 will then read the paper before
the society. My enemies will have to
concede that my work is Incompatible:
BY the way, Smiler, have 1 converted
you to belief in mind reading?"
"You have, sir" groaned Smiler.
"And now, officers, take him away,
as have little work to do"
With that the languid gentleman
turned and entered his study.
Smiler Strengthened himself up dis
mally.
"Well, I'm bowed" he said.