The Worthington advance., 1897-01-07

u
motive for his pilferings?'' asked.
'None whatever" was the reply.
''What kind of life does he lead?
"Nobody more so.''
doesn't bet or gambler
"Neither, to my knowledge. He is
engaged to very respectable girl, and
I know, as fact, that he shortly con-
templates housekeeping"
"Ah! there is motive for pilfering!"
I said, with a shrug of the shoulders.
"How SOP" asked the solicitor.
"Why, a house requires furniture, and
furniture costs money" I said.
'"Then you think that Hartley is help
ing himself to my cash in order to fit
up his house?" said Mr.. Bridgnorth,
sadly.
1T looks remarkably like it," I re-
piled: "But we shall probably see. OF
course, you have not charged him with
the thefts?'
''No, for I cannot persuade myself of
his guilt"
"And he has no knowledge of the OBJ
ject of my visit?''
''None, so far as am aware"
''Very well; let him keep in the dark
for the present. Meanwhile, can you
tell me your object for sleeping on these
premises the last few nights?''
''Well, said Mr.. Bridgnorth, slowly,
cit is this: For some little time I have
found myself out of sorts. There is
nothing really the matter with me that
I know of, but have been spending
lot of restless nights, either getting
no sleep at all, or only sufficient to do
me little good. Under the impression
that a change of apartments is some
times remedy for insomnia, decided,
as I am bachelor and have only my
self to please, that for a night or two
I would sleep here, where there is
plenty of room and ample accommoda-
ton"
II see."
"Well," went on the solicitor, "the
change answered admirably. From the
very first night slept soundly, save
for some persistent dreaming, which
nightly haunts me and leaves me somc-
what unrefreshed in the morning. The
old woman who comes in to do for
Hartley finds it little extra work to
prepare a dormitory for me, so have
remained for the present. This is the
explanation"
''Thank you, sir. We will now try
and run this thief to earth. What I
propose is very simple> Find me 4
hiding place here tonight Ia screen or
a cupboard will do, for am used to
cramped quarters-and I will see what
is to be seen. Lock your desk and door
as usual, but provide me with key of
the latter for use if needful."
Mr.. Bridgnorth agreed, and shortly
after took my departure. AS passed
through the outer room got look
at the clerks, and in particular at Hart
ley, which I was enabled to do without
exciting suspicion. Judging from ap-
pearances, the fellow looked anything
but thief, having a frank, open coun-'
tenance, and lacking altogether that
stiffness of vision characteristic of al
most every rogue. Aware, however,
that there is nothing more deceptive
than externals, I went away little
doubling that Hartley was my man.
Late that evening presented myself
at Mr.. Bridgnorth's door, and was re-
ceived by that gentleman in person.
The Office was closed, the clerks had all
gone home, and Hartley was out, pre-
sumably love-making. Mr.. Bridgnorth
found little difficulty in securing me
retreat behind cabinet which stood
in one corner of the Office, and here ]
ensconced myself with as much com
fort as the circumstances permitted.
At 1O:30 the solicitor retired, locking
both his desk and the office door before
going upstairs, and providing me with
a: duplicate key. of: the latter, as had
desired. Hartley would be home, he
informed me, about II o'clock, and
would doubtless go straight to his room.
= The lawyers. estimate proved correct,
for almost exactly on the stroke of the
hour q key turned in the lock of the
cutter door and the confidential clerk
entered. He had no occasion to come
into the office in order to reach his
apartment, but OH his way past it he
paused moment and tried the handle
of the door, and, finding it fastened,
went On his way A minute later I