Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-01-09
THEMIDNIGHTWATCH

Il was during the time Of my connec.
don with the marlborough police force
that the incident related In the follow.
Ing lines occurred. Although there Is
nothing startling In the details. and the
onrnveling Of the mystery with which
they deal required no great amount Of
oogacity on my part, still am inclined
b think that there Ii sufficient interest
about the affair to warrant making It
public.
was engaged with the superintendent
enc morning on some routine business
when a note was handed In from Mr..
Bridgnorth, Q well-knOwn solicitor
practicing In the town. Tho supcrin.
tendcnt read the missive and then
turned to me.
ut Is a case Of pllfcrlng. Sampson"
be sald. ''and the thief. Of course, con.
not be discovered. There II nothing re.
Qulring your services this mornlng-g0
and see what you can do In the natter"
lput on my hat and went, as directed.
NJ. BrldgnOrth's place was well known
b me and wns soon the Occupan. Of a
oedt In the private room Mt his Office.
Il have been good deal concerned Of
hte." said the solicitor. turning to the
business at once. "about the abstraction
o. certain sums Of money from my cash
box In my desk. and as fear that I
am being robbed by someone In the
ONCE. md cannot put my hand on the
ectunl offender. am compelled to seek
the aid Of the police"
"Quitc 80. SIR" snid I. ''and It will he
both the duty and the pleasure Of tho
force. and Of myself. to give you every
possible assistance In the matter. How
long have the pilferings been going
ont" I asked.
"AbOut a week or ten days." was the
eeply; and the robberics always take
plnce at night. after the office IL
closed"
"HOw do you know thnty'
"Becausc I count the cash In my desk
every evening before locking up. when
everybody has left. and again the next
morning. before anyone arrives" said
Nr. Bridgnorth.
"what are the sums you have
mlssed."
They have varied. One night e. was
taken. another IL. and third e. and
- on. Altogether I have been robbed
of % sOverelgns. and don't know
where II IL going to cnd.' .-..,.--...
"Have you any suspicion a. to whom
the thief may bc!"
"NOne whntevcr--,inicss--" Mr.,
Brdgnorth hesitatcd.
''GO ON. sir" ] said. "Give expression
TO your thoughts; they may furnish a
elew."
~ was going to say" continued tho
solicitor, with some apparent reluc.
lance. "unless Il bc Hartley. but ! can.
not believe him guilty Of such a thing"
h. added.
"WhO IL Hartlcy?" I asked.
MY confidential clerk" replied Mr..
BrldgnOrth. ''llc has boon with me
ever since he was boy and hIs cha c.
ter has always been above suspicion"
'Then why should Ills name occur to
you In connection with these tlicfts?" I
Queried.
"Wrll. II Is like this" said the sole.
ltOr. Hartley and I are the only Per.
sous who sleep on the premises. ana az
there are no signs Of burglariOus entry
aud the thef,s always take place In tho
night. am, In spite OF myself. driven ia
. certain conclusion"
''rhe natural one. In the circunn.
stances" venturcd. but tell me. vol,
keep several clerks In addition to Hart.
leyY'
ayes: four Others"
AT what time do they leave?"
"SiX o'clock"
"When do you lock up?"
"About G:3O or seven"
"YOu lock your desk ana the otilc.
dOOr!"
eyes"
"p0es anyone besides yourself pos
sess keys of either?"
Hartley does, OF BOTH"
"And you say he sleeps on the prem
ises:"
eyes"
mo one else:"
"Myself."
"But you do not live here. Mr.. Brldg
north."
'Quite so. My residence Ia on tn,
outskirts OF the town. but for severn
nights have been sleeping at til,
Office"
I'm order to catch the thicf?"
Queried.
''Indeed, that was not my motive. a
ALL" said the lawyer, quickly. "And a
q matter OF fact the rObberles have Onl,
occurred since my sOjOurn In the place
they never once happened before"
"Very likely. But. assuming tina
Hartley Is the thief, can You suggest
motive for his pilferlngs?" l asked.
"NOne whatever" was the reply.
what kind Of a life does he lead
Steady"
"NObody more So"
doesn't bet nor gambler
"Neither. to my knowledge. He I
engaged to very respectable girl. an,
! know, as a fact. that he shortly con
templates housekeeping"
"Ah! there IL motive for pilfering,
! said. with a shrug of the shoulders.
'How sO?" asked the solicitor,
"Why, house requires furniture an
furniture costs money" said.
''Then you think that Hartley Is helr
ing himself to my cash In order to ut U
his hOuse?" said Mr.. BridgnOrth, sadly
Al 4