Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-11-28

there is nothing startling in the de.
tails, and the unraveling OF the mys-
terry with which they deal required no
great amount OF sagacity on my part,
still am inclined to think that there
is sufficient interest about the affair
to warrant making it public.
was engaged with the superintend'
ent one morning on some routine bust.
ness when note was handed in from
Mr.. Bridgnorth, well.known solicitor
practlcing in the town. The superin'
tendent read the missive and then
turred to me. .
"It is case of pilfering, Sampson, "
he said, "and the thief, OF course, can
not be discovered. There is nothing
requiring your service this morning
90 and see what you can do IN tho
matter"
put ON my hat and went as direct
ed. Mr.. Bridgnorth's place was we'll
known to me, and I was soon the oc.
at his office.
IL have been good deal concerned
of late" said the solicitor, turning to
the business at once, "about the ab-
straction of certain sums of money
from my cash.box in my desk, and as
1 fear that 1 am being robbed by some
one in the office, and cannot put my
hand on the actual offender, l am
compelled to seek the aid of the po'
lice."
"Quite so, sir" said, "snd it will
be both the duty and the pleasure OF
the force, and OF myself, to give you
every possible assistance in the mat
ter. How l,ng have the pilferinga
been going on?" / asked.
about week or ten days." wal
the reply; "and the robberies always
take place at night, after the Office ia
closed"
Chow do you know that?"
"Because I count the cash in my
desk every evening before looking
up, when everybody has left, and
again the next moruing, before any
one arrives" said Mr.. Bridgnorth.
"What are the amounts you have
missed?"
"They have varied. One night fiv'
pounds we're taken, arother seven, {
third three, and so on. Altogether
have been robbed of fifty.fve sover
eigns, and don't know where it il
going to end"
"Have you any suspicion as to WHOM
the thief may bep"
"None whatever-unless-" Mr.
Bridgnorth hesitated.
"Go on, SIR" 1 said. "Give ex
preston to your thoughts, they msy
furnish clue"
81 was gorng to say" continued th
solicitor, with some apparent reluct
ance, "unless it be Hartley: but
cannot believe him guilty Of such I
thing" he added.
"Who is Hartley2" ] asked.
my confidential olerk," repl,e,
Mr.. Bridgnorth. "He has been wit
me ever since he was boy. and hi
character has always been above sus
picion.
"Then why should his name occu
to yon in connection with thes
thefts?" I qneried.
"Well, it is like this" said the &C
licitor. "Hartley and I are the onl
persons who sleep on the premises
and as there are no signs of burglar
GUS entry, and the thefts always tex
, place in the night, / amin spite
m yself-driven to a certain conci'
sion."
"The natural one, IN the circun
stances" ventured. "But tell M
you keep several clerks in addition
Hartley?"
"Yes; four others"
"At what time do they leave"
''Six o'clock. !"
"When do you lock up?"
\ "About half.past six or seven"
''You lock > our desk and the offit
> door?"
a Eyes"
Q "Does anyone beside yourself po
q sess keys OF either?"
''Hartley does, OF both" 'Ns
, "Aud you say he sleeps on th
t premises:"
Eyes" sf
''No one else?"
Z "Myself."
|. ''But You do not live here. NJ
J. Bridgnortb?"
= "Quite SO. My residence is on u
II outskirts OF the town. but for sever
l, nights have been sleeping At the {
tice."
i 'In order to catch the thief"
!. queried.
& "Indeed, that was not my motive
s ALL" said the lawyer. quickly. IAN
/. as a matter of fact, the robberies ha
3 only occurred since my soiourn in I