The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1897-02-27
THEMIDNIGHTW WATCH

ton Win lnc BlaukDOrOugn police force
that the incident related In the follow
Ing lines occurred Although there is
nothing startling In the details, and the
unravellng OF the mystery with which
they deal required no great amount of
sagaclty on my part. still am inclined
to think that there Is sufficient interest
about the affair to warrant making 1t
public.
was engaged with the superintendent
one morning on some routine business
when note was handed In from Mr..
Bridgnorth, well-known solicitor
tendent read the mlsslve and then
turned to me.
1T Is case of pilferlng, Sampson"
he said. and the thief. Of course. can
not be discovered. There Is nothing re-
qulrlng your services this norning-go
and see what you can do in the matter"
put on my hat and went. as directed
Mr. Brldgnorihs place was well known
10 me and | was soon the occupant of Il
seat In the private room Mt his Office.
Il have been a good deal concerned Of
late said the solicitor, turning to the
business nj once, about the abstraction
Of certain sums Of money from my cash
box In my desk. and as / fear that |
am being robbed by someone In the
office, and cannot put my hand on the
actual offender | am compelled to seek
the aid Of the police"
quite so, sir" said |, ''and II will be
both the duty and the pleasure OF the
force, and Of myself. to give you every
possible assistance In the matter. How
long have the offerings been going
ony' asked.
About a week or ten days" was the
reply; 'and the robberies always take
place at night, after the Office is
closed"
How do you know thatT
Because | count the cash in my desk
every evening before locking up, when
everybody has left. and again the next
morning. before anyone arrives" said
MIR. BrIdgnorth.
What are the sums you have
mlssedT"
They have varied. One night Is was
taken. another Il. and third f3 and
so ON. Altogether | have been robbed
of 80 sovereigns, and don't know
where 1t Is going to end"
Have you any suspicion as to whom
the thief may bef'
"\One whatever-un unless" Mr.
Bridgnorth hesitated.
Go on. sir" said. GIVE expression
10 your thoughts; they may furnish =
clew"
Il was going to say" continued the
solicitor with some apparent reluc
lance. unless 1t be Hartley. but | can
not believe him guilty of such n thing,
he added
"Who Is Hartley?' | asked.
"NIy confidential clerk" replied Mr.
Brldgnorth. "Ile has been with m,
ever since he was a boy and his charac
ter has always been above suspicion"
Then why should his name occur I,
you In connection with these theftsY"
dueried.
well. 1t Is like this" said the sole
itor. Hartley and l are the only per
sons who sleep on the premises. and M
there are no signs Of burglarious entr,
and the thefts always take place in tn,
night. am. In spite Of myself. driven t,
a certain conclusion"
The natural one. In the circum
Z stances" ventured. But tell me. vol
keep several clerks in addition to Hart
leyf"
Yes four others
AT what time do they leavef"
"SiN o'clock"
when do you lock upg"
about 6:3O or seven"
"Nou lock your desk and the Ollie
doorf'
Yes"
Does anyone besides yourself pos
scSS keys of eithery"
Hartley does. OF both"
And you say he sleeps ON the prem
lscst"
Yes"
NO one elscf'
Myself"
But you do not 1--we here. Mr.. Brlde
north:'
quite so. My residence is on IN
outskirts of the town. hut FOR sewers
nights have been sleeping at IN
office"
I'm order to catch the theft"
queried.
Indeed. that was not my motive. q
all. said the lawyer. quickly. "And a
matter Of fact the robheries have onl
occurred since my sojourn In the place
they never once happened before"
Very likely. But. assuming tbs
Hartley is the thief. can you suggest
, motive for his pilferings?" asked.
/ None whatever" was the reply.
/ What kind Of a lie does he lead
Steadyf'
Nobody more So"
Doesn't bet nor gambler"
rNclther, TO my knowledge. lie