Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-10-03

upon him to go round and explore for
himself after he got in.
However. he was quite cheerful when
he returned to the cottage to supper;
he had had tea at his friends the Car
ponnels, in the meantime, and he told
US he had secured comfortable little
room in the next street to US. He in
quired at what hour we breakfasted
and promised us not to be late. He
was so very lively and talkative, for
Lambsworthy, that / felt the fair
Norah had been agreeable in their in
terview, and fancy Harry seymour
had the same idea, for he scowled at
his whisky and water darkly and
failed to chaff the other as brilliantly
as was his wont.
do not think that Seymour and !
had turned in more than quarter of
an hour when there came a violent
beating at the street door, and, peer
ing out from my window, saw Lambs
worthy standing on the step, with his
portmanteau in his hand and his hat at
the back of his head.
Wondering what he had come back
for, slipped on some things and ran
down and let him in.
what is it%' called Seymour, as I
passed his room.
''It's Lambsworthy," answered;
perhaps his landlady Is out, and he
can't get in"
1t transpired that the house in which
he had been going to sleep had been
broken into. Lambsworthy was great
ly upset. The landlady, who had been
spending the evening out and had
returned only few minutes be-
fore himself, had met him in the pas
sage in state of terrible consterna-
ton. Her bedroom door, which she
had locked before she left, had been
forced open. The hasp was wrenched
off and the wardrobe and chest Of
drawers had been rifed of all their
contents.
1.-THE room is in the most dreadful
condition." said Stephen, ''and the
woman, poor creature, is almost off her
head. She said that she had never had
such an experience before l waited
till neighbor came in to keep her
company-she was frightened to be
left alone in the house-or l should
have been back sooner. You must
make me up bed on the sofa for to-
night, you fellows"
"Why didn't you stay there, as you in
tended?" said Seymour, who had joined
us. They haven't stolen the beds,
have they?"
WELL" said Lambsworthy, slowly,
''do you know, it is strange, but it
didn't occur to me. 1t gave me such a
shock, the whole thing, it was so I'M
expected, that my only idea was to get
away as soon as l could. And they
have sent to the station, and the police
will be here very soon. There is no
sign of how the burglars effected an
entrance. It would really have been
very unpleasant to sleep there"
"Funks!" said Seymour under his
breath; and, though l knew that
Lambsworthy was not a coward, l
could see myself his nerves were out
of order, too.
If confirmation had been needed, l
should have got it, as banging came
at the street door again, and a shrill
voice was heard asking if "Mr. Lambs
worthy" lived here.
Stephen jumped up and went out,
coming back to say it was the servant,
who had been sent to inquire if he
would kindly step round at eleven
o'clock tomorrow, or if he would be
here at the cottage, in case his evil
dence was wanted.
81 said l would go round with pleas
ure," he explained. But do not see
what evidence can give"
"Nor can anybody else see it either"
returned Seymour. my dear fellow,
is it possible you don't understand
what the girl came for really? She
was sent to see if you had given false
address or not. The police are sus-
pecting YOU"
thought Lambsworthy would have
fallen.
"Suspecting me?" he calculated.
Certainly; very natural, too. You
go to house, perfect stranger. You
engage a room; are furnished with a
latch-key; and the same evening,
while the landlady is out, burglary
takes place-a burglary never having
occurred there before. If they had
found no Mr.. Lambsworthy' living
here, there would have been a warrant
issued for your arrest" .
do you think that is so, old fell
low?" asked Stephen, appealing to zne
with big eyes. 20
| admitted that it sounded probable.
/, however, added that his respecta-
bility was very easy matter to prove,
even if it should still be doubted, and.
after he had regained his composure,
we improvised a shakedown for him
on the couch, and we all retired.
How can describe the development?
Lambsworthy went round to the scene
of the late commotion ateleven o'clock
next morning, as he had promised; and,
when he came back, he was in the
nearest approach to rage that l had
ever seen him in.
''Old chap, the wretch does suspect
\ mel" he exclaimed; Seymour was
right! She gave me my deposit back,
and said, if 1T was all the same to me,
she would rather not let the room. OF
course l said / did not mind and, as