The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-12-06

] little room in the next street to us He
| inquired at what hour we brealsfasted
| and promised us not TO be late. He was
so very lively and talkative for Lambs
worthy that I felt the fair Norah had
| been agreeable in their interview, and
I fancy Harry Seymour had the same
idea for he scowled at his whiskey
and water darkly and failed to chaff
the other as brilliantly as was his
| wont.
I do not think that Seymour and I
| had turned i'm more than a quarter of
All hour, when there came violent
beating at the street door, and peering
out from my window, I saw Lambs
worthy standing on the step, with his
portmanteau in his hand and his hat
on 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 1
passed his room
IT'S Lambsworthy." I answered:
perhaps his landlady is out, and he
can't get in"
1t transpired that the house in which
ne 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 only
returned few minutes before himself,
met him i'm the passage in a state of ter
rlble CONSERVATION. 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 rified
of all their contents.
The room is in most dreadful con-
dltion," said Stephen, "and the woman,
poor creature, is almost off her head
She said that she had never had such
an experience before. / waited till a
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 up a bed
on the sofa for tonight, you fellows"
why didn't you stay there as you
intended?" said Seymour who had
Joined US. They haven't stolen the
beds have they?"
Well" said Lambsworthy, slowly.
''do you know, II is strange, but 1t didn't
occur to me. 1t gave me such a shock
the whole thing; 1t was so unexpected.
that my own 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. 1t
would really have been very unpleas-
ant to sleep there"
"Funks!" said Seymour, under his
BREATH and though / know that Lambs
worthy was not a coward. l could see
myself his nerves were a little out of
order. too.
If confirmation had been needed, I
should have got it, as a banging came
at the street door again, and a chrill
voice was heard asking If "Mr. LAMPS
worthy" lived there.
Stephen jumped UP and went out,
coming back to say that 1t was the
servant, who had been sent to inquire
If he would step around at II o'clock
tomorrow, or II he would be here at
the cottage, in case his evidence was
wanted.
Il said would go with pleasure" he
explained. But do not see what 'evi-
dence' l can give"
Nor can anybody else see 1t 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 a false
address Of not. The police are suspect
ing YOU"
I thought Mr.. Lambsworthy would
have fallen.
"Suspecting me?" ne calculated.
Certainly; very naturally, too. You
go to house, perfect stranger. You
engage room, are furnished with d
latch-key; and the same evening, while
the landlady is out. a burglary takes
place-a burglary never having occur
red there before. If they had found
10 Mr.. Lambsworthy' living here, there
would have been a warrant issued for
your arrest"
DO you think that is 80, old fellow?"
asked Stephen, appealing to me with
big eyes.
/ admitted that II sounded probable.
l. however, added that his respecta-
bility was a very easy matter to prove,
even II 1t should still be doubted. and.
after he had regained his composure.
we improvised shake down for him
on the couch. and we all retired.
How can describe the development?
Lambsworthy went around to the scene
of the late commotion at II O'Clock next
morning as he had promised; and. when
he came back, he was in the nearest
approach Of a rage that I had ever
seen him in.
"Old chap, the wretch does suspect
mel" he exclaimed. Seymour was
right! She gave my deposit back, and
said II It was all the same to me she
would rather not let the room. OF
course, said I did not mind: and as
she was rather inclined to be high
handed, I added that on the whole,
did not know that I should fancy bring
ing my luggage there. / said II was
rather dangerous proceeding for
lady to go out and leave a house to
take care Of itself And what do you
think she answered.
II cannot guess, Lambsworthy."
"She said 1t was a good deal more
dangerous to take lodger without a
reference. / told her II she dared to
hint at her Internal suspicious to her
neighbors I'd have her held up for
slander. and so I will! i never heard
of such a thing"
He was in a state Of great excitement
all day, recounting the affair over and
oVar Oain ~ GaUnnnr apd Miaa Car.