Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-03-03
SELECTED STORIES.
TIL AT GAIT NATTER.

ard.
Naomi Fallingford, the daughter OF
wealthy Tressel Fallingford Of Lippentor
Manor, received the attentions OF Mr.. Les
lie Gait.
One night there were stolen from Mis-,
Naomi's sleeping apartment, after she had
retired and during night when she wa.
uncommonly wakeful, jewelry, gems and
cash TO the value Of 9l0, 900. To acquire
this plunder huge family safe had beer
opened. A heavy mahogany chiffonnieI
was ransacked, and the very mattresses
whereon Miss Fallingford lay were plum
dered. The thief escaped.
Subsequently Miss Naomi had falling
out with Mr.. Gait, and she saw no more
OF him for several years. The robbery took
place I'm 1875.
In 1884 Tressel Fallingford was dead
and Miss Naomi was living alone, attend.
ed by servants, in the manor house. On a
cold November evening Mr.. Leslie Gait
was seen 10 alight from the mail train al
Iippenton. 1t was about sundown. lie
was seen TO take the road to the manor
house. He was seen TO reach 1t. He was
SEEN to mount the porch, from which a
view could be had into the sitting room,
where Miss Naomi reclned before crac-
king hre. He was seen to sit there for an
hour. At 7 o'clock he was still on the
porch. AT 7:05 q knock upon the door
brought the butler, who reported to Miss
Naomi that gentleman, who would not
give bis name, desired TO see her.
"lou have never seen me before, mad
amt" The visitor was an entire stranger.
"Never, to my knowledge" answered
Miss Naomi, looking full in the mans 3
face as he stood beneath the chandelier.
"You Were robbed IN this house In
1897"
al was"
"You offered reward and no questions
asked II the property was returned'"
"I did"
Here II is, madam, ," and the man placed
the plunder intact upon the ta bile before
Miss Naomi
Passersby saw her standing by the table,
with Mr.. Leslie Gait opposite her.
"WheIe did you get these, sirt" ex-
claimed the delighted woman.
"Remember, madam, you were not TO
ask any questions. My reward, please. I"
Miss Naomi touched bell. The but
Ter entered. She sent for her money. When
he brought 1t, she counted out the reward
and passed IL to the stranger. MADAM,
will you obige me by expending this mon
ey upon the deserving poor in your parish
church, do not need it," He laid the
notes on the table. The next day Miss
Naomi caused IL to be known she had re
covered her yaluables. Every one congrat-
ulated her, and also spoke of the pleasure
she must have derived in call from Mr.
Leslie Gait
Miss Naomi denied having seen Mr..
Gait in eight years. Then peoples bewil
dered brains began to couple the name OF
Leslie Gait with the original robbery of
the Fallingford valuablas. This was very
hard for Naomi to hewa, but she could not
account for Mr.. Galt's not calling If he
had been in town. People told her they
saw him on her porch at O'Clock The
strange man restored the valuables 10
minutes later. Ten minutes after z Mr.
Gait had disappeared from the porch. AT
8 he was again seen at the station. But
the strange restorer Of the valuables had
been seen by no one In Lippenton, save
by Miss Naomi and her butler. Both de-
clared they never saw him before.
In 1889, one very dark night in Novem-
Der, Mr.. Leslie Gait called upon Miss Mao
mi Fallingford and was cordially received.
Mr.. Gait stated that he had been for
the last few years in Australia.
This brought up the rumOr of his VISIT
TO Lippenton, current five years before,
and they both laughed over II.
Mr.. Gait renewed his suit, was accept
ed, and he and Naomi were married In
the parish church at Lippenton.
Among the donations Mr.. Gait made on
his wedding day was large sum OF mon
ey for the poor Of the parish. The rector,
In accepting It, remarked that the bequest
was very opportune, as they were just at
the end Of the last donation received OF a
similar amount.
In his exuberance and joyousness Mr..
Gait exclaimed:
"Oh, yes! In 1884, Hush money! Re
wardl l rememberp
When people heard what he had said,
they looked scrutinizingly at him, but
FIVE years is long time, and memory un-
dergoes great strains.
Naomi heard what her husband had
said.
But she remembered exactly how the
stranger looked when he called 10 restore
the valuables. She compared the resem-
blance. 1t was too remote for possibility.
Mr.. Leslie Gait sat out on the porch n
good deal. People passing said to one an
other, THAT IL the way saw him back
in 1884"
One thing Is very strange. Mr.. Gait has
always disapproved Of his wife's putting
valuables between mattresses, or OF plac
ing jewels in a chiffonnier or of keeping
bulky safes in the house.
Mr.. Gait claims he can exercise such an
effect upon one by magnetism he possesses
that you would pass him on the street and
not recognize him. He occasionally gives
of this power.
have never been present.
Neither has Mrs. Galt.-Exchange.