The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-29
IN A BLACK BAG.

the new tutor to a boy Of 10 years of age,
who, however, was not to commence
studies at once, as his holidays were not
yet concluded
The thefts had been going on for some
time, and only three days after had ar
rived the superintendent vife's gold
watch had disappeared. She had wound
it up the last thing before she had gone to
bed, and when she and Mr.. Stanton had
gone down stairs to breakfast they had
both observed that it lay upon the dressing
table. The cham bermaid, too, who had
gone in Immediately after, had also seen
it lying there.
I had no suspicion Of the cham bermaid.
did not like the butler, but that perhaps
was because he did not betray any great
partiality FOR me, though he was forced to
show me some respect as the new tutor
who had come to educate and look after
Master Reginald
I discovered that he was not above open
ing a bottle of wine and imbibinR its con
tents, and that occasionally he might be
found at public house in the town. Yet
1 did not on this account jump at conclu-
siOns- The man who would steal bottles
of wine and drink them was not the thief
of watches, rings, plate and valuable orna-
ments, of which things quite large num-
Der had disappeared.
In two more days two valuable orna-
ments had been taken from the drawing
room.
Mrs. Stanton, r. said, 81 think it will
be necessary to make a thorough search
through the place and into every servants
box in the house =
What really stuck me was that on nei-
Their of these occasions had any servant APP
parently left the house or been visited by
anyb body from the outside.
''Of course to allay suspicion, my boxes
shall he gpaTohpd q we'll - T said
As you viii, - she replied. perhaps,
however, I ought to tell you that this has
again and again been done, and that the
servants have themselves so frequently
urged it and almost forced it to be done
that at last L said it should not be repeat
ed "
Il think perhaps, madam, . I nodestly
urged, that my knowledge of boxes and
their sometimes secret ways may be of
service"
The examination was made. No secret
places wero found. A few articles were
taken to Mrs. Stanton to see if she would
lay claim to them, but they were not hers.
I had never before 50 utterly failed. In
the course Of as many weeks two other
thefts had taken place, and as I neither
could detect the culprit nor make the least
suggestion, in order to get away from the
place, I thought it was time to go back to
London.
OQe Qay soon aIL9E my return TO bOWu
whom should see pass into well known
pawnbroker's shop, in the west end, but
Mr.. Stanton followed him in and spoke
to him, bus he seemed in 10 way to know
me.
My name is Trevelyan of Scotland Yard,
and I have been in your house at Winches-
ter striving to detect thefts that are there
taking place.
ST have no house at Winchester, and
do not know you, - be rather CURLY replied.
''Well, this is a funny go, - invOlun-
tarily exclaimed. In no way disconnected,
however, the gentleman unfastened his
bag-a bag I we'll knew-and offered in
pledge two or three articles that to me
were perfectly familiar.
"Why, sir, you are Mr.. Stanton Of
Strandon Hall, Winchester, and these are
things I know to have been in your house.
Yes, and you have pledged many such
things. " the pawnbroker, who knew me,
said, but always in the name Of George
Suffield."
Certainly, - he replied, land I live at
Cumberland place, - mentioning a number.
I went to Cumberland place, but no
such name as Sufield was there known,
and though I fingered about till late at
night the gentleman whom I knew to be
Mr.. Stanton never appeared.
This next morning I was of to Win
chester and of course went straight to
Strandon Hall. Mr.. Stanton, as usual, had
left for business.
"Did Mr.. Stanton tell you that he saw
me in London yesterday?'' I asked Mrs.
Stanton
Il am not aware that he was in London
yesterday. He has not said nything about
it
''Wen, at any rate I have discovered
how your property goes and where some
and believe the whole of it is. d"
And have you caught the thieR''
cit is not a thief who takes it. -
''What do you mean?''
sYour goods are taken from this house
and disposed of, though not sold, by Mr..
Stanton"
Mrs. Stanton was ast0nished and could
hardly believe her own ears
But how can it be accounted for?'' she
asked
"Only I think in two ways-either he
needs to raise money for business pur-
poses or he has hallucination-
"He is not short of money, for he is Ger
tainly very wealthy, and his business is
exceedingly prosperous. AS to a halluci-
nation, he once did suffer from a very pc
culiar one indeed. He thought that his
right arm was of. But he was cured Of
that. "
81 think, % I said, s'you had better con
suit the same doctor again.
The doctor was Immediately sent for,
and he advised that nothing should at
present be said but that first of all the
black bag day by day should be exam
ined to see if any articles from home could
be found in it, and perhaps it would be
better for that to be done by the head clerk
at the office, who, of course, must be let
into the secret. That was done, and many
articles supposed to be stolen were recov-
cred in that way Exchange.
T.Sanitv In Eevpt