The Winslow mail., 1897-02-20
THEMIDNIGHTWATCH

ing lines occurred. Although there is
nothing startling in the details, and the
unrayeling of the mystery with which
they deal required no great amount Of
sagacity on my part, still l am inclined
to think that there is sufficient interest
about the affair to warrant making it
public.
was engaged with the superintendent
one morning on some routine business
when a note was handed in from Mr..
Bridgnorth, a well-known solicitor
practicing in the town. The superin-
tendent read the missive and then
turned to me.
''It is a case of pflfering, Sampson"
he said, "and the thief, of course, can
not be discovered. There is nothing re-
quiring your services this morning-go
and see what you can do in the matter"
Iput on my hat and went, as directed.
Mr.. Bridgnorth's place was well known
to me and was soon the occupant of a
seat in the private room at his office.
81 have been good deal concerned of
late" said the solicitor, turning to the
of certain sums of money from my cash
box in my desk, and as 1 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 1, ''and it 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 pilferings been going
onT l 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 that?"
Because l count the cash in my desk
every evening before locking up, when
everybody has left, and again the next
morning, before anyone arrives" said
Mr.. Bridgnorth.
missed%
''They have varied. One night G5 was
taken, another Fl, and third f3 and
so on. Altogether L have been robbed
of 30 sovereigns, and 1 don't know
where 1t is going to end"
"Have you any suspicion as to whom
the thief may bef"
None whatever-unless- Mr..
Bndgnorth hesitated.
"Go on, sir" said. "Give expression
to your thoughts; they may furnish a
clew."
Il was going to say" continued the
solicitor, with some apparent reluc-
tance, unless 1t be Hartley, but can
not believe him guilty of such a thing"
he added.
"Who is Hartley?" 1 asked.
"My confidential clerk" replied Mr..
Bridgnorth. 'He has been with me
ever since he was boy and his charac-
ter has always been above suspicion"
''Then why should his name occur to
you In connection with these thefts?" l
queried.
''Well, 1t Is like this" said the solic-
itor. Hartley and 1 are the only per-
sons who sleep on the premises, and as
there are no signs of burglarious entry
and the thefts always take place in the
night, am, in spite of myself, driven to
q certain conclusion"
'The natural one, in the circum-
stances" ventured. But tell me, you
keep several clerks in addition to Hart
ley?'
'Yes; four others"
I -Io&
"Six o'clock"
when do you lock up?'
"About $50 or seven"
'You lock your desk and the office
doorT
EYES,"
"Does anyone besides yourself pos
sess keys of either?"
Hartley does, of both.'
"And you say he sleeps on the prem
isesr"
"Yes."
mo one else?"
Myself"
"But you do not live here, Mr.. Bridg-
northT
"Quite so. My residence is on the
OuIchlIlo VI luc lOWu, Dul LOT several
nights / have been sleeping at the
office"
'In order to catch the thief" 1
queried.
Indeed, that was not nay motive, at
all" said the lawyer, quickly. And as
q matter of fact the robberies have only
occurred since my sojourn in the place:
they never once happened before"
Every likely. But, assuming that
Hartley is the thief, can you suggest a
motive for his pilferings?" 1 asked.
"None whatever" was the reply.
"What kind of a life does he lead?
SteadyT
Nobody more So"
doesn't bet nor gambler?
Neither, to my knowledge. He is
engaged to very respectable girl, and
1 know, as fact, that he shortly con-
templates housekeeping"
"Ahl there is motive for pilfering,"
] said, with shrug of the shoulders.
"How so?" asked the solicitor.
"Why, house requires furniture and
furniture costs money" 1 said.
"Then you think that Hartley is help
ing himself to my cash in order to fit vi
his house?" said Mr.. Bridgnorth, sadly
at looks remarkably like it" l re
piled. "But we shall probably see. Ol
course, you have not charged him will
the theftsF"