The Coconino weekly sun. [volume] (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 1891-1896, 1895-10-03


he returned to the cottage to sumner.
he had had tea at his fries the Car
ponnels, In the meantime, and he told
us he had secured a comforta BILE little
room in the next street to U.S. He in
qrired at what hour we breakfasted
aad promised us not to be late. He
WAS ST. very lively and talkative, for
Lambsworthy, that l felt the fair
Norah had been agreeable in their in
tervrsw, and ! fancy Harry seymour
haG She same idea, for he scowled at
his whisky and water darkly and
failed - chat the other as brilliantly
is was his wont.
do not think that Seymour and
had turned in more than a quarter of
an hour when there came a violent
beating ut 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 ut
the back of his head.
Wondering what he had come back
for, l slipped on some things and ran
down and let him in.
What is it?" called Seymour, as l
passed his room.
Its Lambsworthy." l 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 a 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 ritled OF all their
contents.
"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
compary-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 un-
expected, that my only idea was to get
away as soon as | 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. 1t would really have been
very unpleasant to sleep there
"Funks: said Seymour under his
breath; and, though | knew that
Lambsworthy was not coward, l
could see myself his nerves were out
of order, too.
If confirmation had been needed, l
should have got 1t, as a 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.
~ said l would go round with pleas
hn r1ainn1 s.Rnf | do not see
what evidence l can give"
Nor can any body 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 Lambs worthy would have
fallen.
"Suspecting me?' he calculated.
Certainly; very natural, too. You
60 to house, perfect stranger. You
engage a room; are furnished with a
latch-key; and the same evening.
while the landlady is out, a burglary
takes place-a burglary never having
occurred tnere DeIOTe. IL LHey Hdti
found no Mr.. Lambsworthy living
here, there would have been warrant
issued for your arrest"
do you think that is so, old fel.
low?" asked Stephen, appealing to me
with big eyes.
| admitted that it sounded probable.
! |, however, added that his respecta-
bility was a 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 at eleven 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.
"Oid chap, the wretch does suspect
me" 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
| so...oo ,,;l ala not mind. and aS