The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-12-16

into the LOCK, lifted the lid, lie then
opened the cash box and took out
some of the coins.
Now was my time. SLIPPING from
my hiding place, turned on the Ian
tern and confronted the culprit. As
l did so, gave start OF surprise, for
the man l encountered was MIR. Bridg-
north himself, and could tell by his
closed eyes that he was fast asleep,
and, Of course, quite unaware what he
was doing.
Seeing that the light from my lam
tern bothered him somewhat (for he
passed his hand several times dreamily
across his face), 1 replaced the shade,
and the somnambulist at once closed
and fastened the desk, and then walked
out of the Office, locking the door be-
hind him. NoiselessIy / reopened il
and followed him.
He retraced his steps up the stairs,
and, going to n cupboard on the land
| ing, stopped down, rummaging SEQ
ond or two among same old rubbish at
the bottom, and seeming to deposit
his coins there. He then entered n
chamber adi joining. Peering cautiously
into this, l saw tho sleeper divest him
self of his gown, and get unconsciously
into the bed he had few minutes be-
fore left.
"Well, Sampson" said Mr.. Brids-
north, when he came down the next
morning, "what is the result of your
watching? Have you discovered the
thief?"
81 think have, sir" was my reply.
"And is it's it-Hartley in-
quired the solicitor, anxiously.
"No, sir, it is not Hartley" / said.
"Thank God for that !" calculated
the lawyer, fervently, as If the state
ment of the fact relieved him. "But
then" he asked, with some surprise,
"who is the culpritP"
"Before 1 tell you that" l replied,
"kindly see how much you have been
robbed of during the night.
He went to his desk, counted over
the coins and said:
"Four pounds !"
"That makes in all-?" l queried.
"Fifty-nine !'
"Come with me Mr.. Bridgnorth,
said. 'I should not be surprised il
can put you in possession OF youi
money |"
With a puzzled air the lawyer fol
lowed me up the stairs to the cupboard
have mentioned, the door of which
1 opened. panied expression cam
over the mans face as he watched me
GLOW strangel" he murmured, hal
to himself, half to me. 81 have bee
dreaming every night of the recess il
connection with these pilferings, an,
, the things inside it all seem familia
to me, though have never once see
them before"
"Stoop down, sir, and feel in tina
5 corner" 1 said.
e He did as / babe, and drew out SOY
8 ereign after sovereign.
Count them," l said, when he ha
r got all that he could find.
/. "Fifty-nine he exclaimed, goin
over the pieces one by one. "The e1
Y act amount of my losses !"
/ 'Just so, said; "and now, if 20
n will come back to the Office, / will te
n you who is the thief, before Hartle
I comes down"
e We returned to his room, and theI
K l informed Ii m, to his intense astoI
g ishment, of Whist had witnessed. 90
if you will pardon the liberty, sir,
said, at the conclusion of the narra
v tion, al should advise you to see
1 doctor. You are evidently sufferin
a from some mental affection, which,
r neglected, may develop into a diseas'
o the effect of which you cannot for
y see"
q The lawyer acted on my suggestion
n and called in a specialist, who ordere
r him q prolonged rest. A trying an
G complicated case in which he had bee
= recently engaged had APPARENT
J. proved too much for him, and brougl
;. on this peculiar form OF brain troubl
v When last heard of him he had r
turned seemingly quite restored; an
If Hartley, his confidential clerk, ma
=. ried to charming wife, was about
/. be taken into partnership with him.