The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-12-16
"No one else?'


nights have been sleeping at the of
fee. ;"
"In order to catch the thief" 1
queried.
"Indeed, that was not my motive at
ALL" said the lawyer. quickly. "And,
as q matter of fact, the robberies have
only occurred since my soiourn in the
place they never once happened be-
fore"
every likely. But, assuming that
Hartley is the thief, can you suggest a
motive for his pilferingsP" | asked.
"None whatever" was the reply.
"What kind OF life does he lead?
Steady?
"Nobody more So"
doesn't bet or gambler"
'Neither, to my knowledge. lie is
engaged to very respectable girl, and
know, as q fact, that he shortly con-
templates housekeeping.
"Ahl there is n motive for pilfer-
ingr" 1 said, with o shrug of the
shoulders.
"How soP" asked the solicitor.
"Why, q house requires furniture,
and furniture costs money!" said.
"Then you think that Hartley is
helping himself to my cash in order to
fit up his house?" said Mr.. Bridgnorth,
sadly.
cit looks remarkably like it," re-
piled. "But we shall probably see
OF course, you have not charged him
with the thefts?"
"No, for 1 canLOt persuade myself
of his guilt"
"And he has no knowledge of the
object of my vi it?"
''None, SO far as am aware"
every we'll, let him keep in the dark
for the present. Meanwhile, can
you tell me your object for sleeping
on these promises for the last few
nights?"
"Well," said Mr.. Bridgnorth,
slowly; sit is this. For somc little
time have found myself out of sorts.
There is nothing really the matter
with me, that 1 know ct but l have
been spending lot of restless nights,
either getting no sleep at all, or only
sufficient to do me little good. Under
Il e impression that change of apart
: ments is sometimes a remedy for in
: somnia, decided, as am bachelor
and have only myself to please, that
for night or two l would sleep here,
where there is plenty of room and
i ample accommodation.
81 see."
"Well," went on the solicitor, "the
change answered admirably. From
3 the very first night 1 slept soundly,
= save for some persistent dreaming,
9 which nightly haunts me and leaves
me somewhat unrefreshed in the
!, morning. The old woman who comes
i in to do for Hartley finds it little ex
+ ira work to prepare q dormitory fol
q me, so have remained for the pres
emf. That is the explanation.
d "Thank you, sir. We will now try
o and run this thief to earth. What
= propose is very simple. Find me {
y hiding-place here to.night-a screer
s or a cupboard will do, for am used
g to cramped quarters and | will Sc,
J what is to be seen. Lock your desl
n and door as usual, but provide mt
= with key of the latter for use i
needful."
Il Mr.. Bridgnorth agreed, and shortl,
i after l took my departure. As
II passed through the outer room got
: look at the clerks, aud in particular
5 to Hartley, which was enabled to dC
without suspicion. Judging from ap
IS pearances, the fellow looked anything
s but a thief, having q frank, opel
s countenance, and lacking altogether
the stiffness of vision characteristic
of almost every rogue. Aware, how
y ever, that there is nothing more de
g ceptive than externals, went away
d little doubling that Hartley was m.
Y man.
Late that evening presented mysel
e at Mr.. Bridgnorth's door, and was re
ceived by the gentleman in person
70 The office was closed, the clerks hat
a all gone home, and Hartley was out
l presumably love making. MIR. Bridg
r north found little difficulty in secur
is ing me a retreat behind cabine
which stood in one corner of the Office
m and here 1 ensconced myself with q
much comfort as the circumstance
F. permitted.
At half.past ten the solicitor retired
K locking both his desk and the olfic
y door before going upstairs, and pre-
viding me with duplicate key OF th
ne latter, as / hal desired. Hartle
It. would be home, he informed me, abou
/ eleven o'clock, and would doubtless 6
straight to his room.
The lawyers estimate proved col
rect, for almost exactly on the strok
I'D of the hour, key turned in the loo
tn of the outer door and the contdentii
lis clerk entered. He had no occasion
IS come into the office in order to reac
his apartment, but on his way past
ur he paused a moment aud tried IL
ss handle OF the door, and, finding
fastened, went on his way. A minut
o. later heard the closing Of his chan
ly Der door and my watch began.
es, The time passed slowly ava,
RI Twelve o'clock struck, then one, the
Ike two, and had begun to think that n
OF vigil would be in vain, when, in Il
Ia stiffness of the night, heard a dot
softly opened above, and a caution
N. iootstep slowly descended the stair
ne, 1t paused at the foot OF them, close
to the door of the room in which ] ID
hid, and / next heard the jinglIng Of
bunch of keys, as if the possessor
them was selecting the right one to
the lock- A moment later the port
opened and the pilierer entered.
The place was in darkness, and