The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-10-14
IN THAT BLACK BAG.


hall. Some mysterious thefts are taxi
ing place and the local police can make
neither head nor tail of the affair"
l found that l had bean announced
as a new tutor to a boy of thirteen
years of age. who, however, was not to
commence studies at once, as his hol.
idays were not yet concluded.
The thefts had been going on fol-
some time, and only three days after
arrived the superintendent's wife's
gold watch had disappeared She had
wound 1t up the last thing before she
had gone to bed, and when she and
Mr.. Stanton had gone down stairs tC
breakfast they had both observed that
1t lay upon the dressing table. The
chambermaid, too, who had gone in
Immediately after, had also, seen it
lying there.
l had no suspicion of the chamber
maid. l did not like the butler, but
that perhaps was because he did not
bctray any great partiality for me-
though he was forced to show me some
respect as the new tutor who had come
% educate and look after Master Reg
inald
| discovered that he was not above
0Tening bottle of wine and inbibing
its contents. and that occasionally he
might be round at pubic house in the
town. Yet | did not on this account
jump at conclusions. The man who
would steal bottles of wine and drink
them was not the thief of watches,
rings, plates and valuable ornaments,
of which things quite large number
hsd disappeared In two more days
two valuable ornaments had been
tunen from the drawing room.
Mrs. Stanton" / said, II think il
will be necessary to make thorough
search through the place and into ev-
cry servants box in the house."
What really struck me was that on
neither of these occasions had any
servant apparently left the house, OF
been visited by anybody from the out
side.
"Of course, to allay suspicion, my
boxes shall be searched as WE'LL" ]
said
AS you will" she replied; perhaps
however, l ought to tell you that this
has again and again been done. and
that the servants have themselves SC
frequently urged it. and almost forced
1t to be done, that at last / said 1t
should not be repeated"
II think, perhaps, madam" I mod.
estly urged that my knowledge OF
boxes and their sometimes secret ways
may be of service"
The examination was made. No Sc.
cret places were found. A few articles
were taken to Mrs. Stanton to see ii
she would lay claim to them, but they
were not hers.
l had never before so utterly failed.
In the course of as many weeks two
other thefts had taken place, and as
never could detect the culprit nor
make the least suggestion, in order to
get away from the place, thought it
was time to go back to London.
One day soon after my return tc
town whom should | see pass into
well-known pawnbroker's shop in the
west end but Mr.. Stanton! / followed
him in and spoke to him but he SEEM
ed in no way to know me.
My name is Trevelyan of Scotland
yard and have been in your house al
Winchester striving to detect thefts
that are taking place there"
Il have no house at Winchester and
| do not know YOU" he rather curtly
said.
We'll, this is funny CO." involun.
tarily exclaimed. In no way discon.
eerted, however, the gentleman un.
fastened his bag-a bag | well knew
and offered in pledge two or three ar
tlcles that TO me were perfectly IA |
miliar."
why, sir, you are Mr.. Stanton of |
Strandon hall, Winchester, and these
are things | know to have been in youI |
house"
Yes. and you have pledged many |
such things" the pawnbroker whc |
knew me, said, but always in the |
name of George Suffield."
Certainly" he replied, "and I live !
at Cumberland place" mentioning @ |
number
went to Cumberland place, but nc |
such name Suitield was there known !
and though | fingered about till late at |
night. the gentleman whom / knew !
to be Mr.. Stanton never appeared.
The next morning | was off to Win |
chester, and. OF course went straight |
to2Stanton hall. Mr.. Stanton, as usual, |
had left for business
"Did Mr.. Stanton tell you that he |
saw me in London yesterday" / asked |
Mrs. Stanton.
Il am not aware that he was IN |
london yesterday. lie has not said !
anything about it,"
well, at any rate, have discovered |
how your property goes, and where
some and the whole OF 1t Is"
And you have caught the theft"
1T is not a thief who takes it,"
what do you mean?"
Your goods are taken from this
house and disposed OF, though not sold,
by Mr. Stanton"
Mrs. Stanton was astonished, and
could hardly believe her own ears.
But how can 1t be accounted for?"
she asked.
Only. think. in two ways-either
he needs to raise money for business