The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-01-14

bis guilt" c
"And he has no knowledge OF the OBJ I
ject OF my yisity I
"None, so far as ! am aware" I
Every WELL let him keep In the dark
for the present. Meanwhile. can you
tell me your object in sleeping on these
premises the last few nights?'
well" said Mr.. Bridgnorth, slowly;
ut is this. For some little time have
found myself out OF sorts. There Is
nothing really the matter with me, that
l know of, but have been spending a
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 sometimes a
remedy for insomnia, decided, as am
bachelor and have only myself to
please, that for a night or two would
sleep here, where there Is plenty of
room and ample accommodation"
II see."
"Well," went on the solicitor, 1.-The |
change answered admirably. From the |
very first night slept soundly. save for
some persistent dreaming, which night |
/
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 l have remained
for the present This Is the explana-
ton.
THANK you, sir. We will now try
and run this thief to earth. What
: propose is very simple Find me a
! hiding place here to-night-a screen or
t cupboard will do, for l am used to
/ cramped quarters-and l will see what
is to be seen. Lock your desk and door
t as usual, but provide me with key OF
5 the latter for use if needful."
Mr.. Bridgnorth agreed, and shortly
r after took my departure. AS passed
through the outer room l got look at
a the clerks, and in particular at Hartley,
which was enabled to do without ex-
), citing suspicion. Judging from appear
ances the fellow looked like anything
: but thief, having a frank, open coun-
q tenance, and lacking altogether that
y stiffness of vision characteristic of al
, most every rogue. Aware, however,
n that there is nothing more deceptive
n than externals | went away little
doubling that Hartley was my man.
# Late that evening presented myself
% at Mr. Bridgnorth's door and was re-
N ceived by that gentleman in person
n The office was closed, the clerks had all
gone home, and Hartley was out, pre-
. sumably love-making. Mr. Bridgnortl
10 found little difficulty in securing me 0
IL retreat behind cabinet which stood il
one corner of the office, and here l en-
sconced myself with as much comfor
I. as the circumstances permitted.
le At 1890 the solicitor retired, locking
=, both his desk and the office door before
:" going upstairs, and providing me will
- a duplicate key of the latter, as l hat
desired. Hartley would be home he in
~ formed me, about IL o'clock, and woul,
~ ~ doubtless go straight to his room.
10 The lawyers estimate proved correct
for almost exactly on the stroke of tn
=. hour key turned in the lock of tn
On outer door and the confidential cler
entered. He had no occasion to com
-, into the Office in order to reach hi
'iu apartment, but on his way past h
paused a moment and tried the handl
w of the door, and finding it fastene
went on his way. A minute later
'"s heard the closing of his chamber doc
"a and my watch began.
ow Inc tlme passeu SLOWLY ava
Twelve o'clock struck, then and 2, al
ON | had begun to think that my Wig
would be in vain, when in the stillne
Mr. Of the night heard a door softly ope
ed above and cautious footstep slow
ion descend the stairs. 1t paused at Il
h !, foot of them, close to the door of Il
room in which | lay hid, and l ne
~ heard the jngling of bunch Of key
as if the possessor of them were SeleC
i ien ing the right one to fit the lock. A N
an ment later the portal opened and t
% pilferer entered.
The place was in darkness and HI
Mr. to strain my eyes to watch his moN
mo ments. The lantern l had with Inc
,oo did not desire to use until the right II
!" ment, for it was my hope to capture
I to tnlei III 'he very ao' VI n'' ,aleen9.
.. had not very long to wait. Wrapped
a long gown and without shoes on
:, feet, the pilferer gllded srealthily to
oie- desk, and fitting a key into the lc
per lifted the lid. He then open the ca
"' box and took out some of the coins.
ntiS Now was my time. Slipping FIR
Tue my hiding place turned on my liant,
~ " and confronted the culprit. AS did
| gave a stare of surprise, for the n
UNI l encountered was Mr.. Bridgnorth h
YOU self. and could tell by his closed e
la that he was fast asleep, and, of coul
quite unaware of what he was doing
Seeing that the light from my liant
bothered him somewhat Qor he pas
his hand several times dreamily acl
his facet l replaced the shade and
somnambulist at once closed and f
oiuce ened the desk, and then walked ou
the office, locking the door behind /
Noiselessly reopened it, and folio
PS him.
He retraced his steps up the sta
and. going to a cupboard on the land
stopped down, rummagng secon'
two among some old rubbish at the
tom. and seeming to deposit his c
there. He entered a chamber adj
ing Peering cautiously into this,
'i'us the sleeper divest himself of his g
:, a., and get unconsciously Into the be-
: ", had a few minutes before left.
10, Well. Sampson" said Mr.. BIZ
north when he came down the
., morning, "what is the result OF
watching? Have you discovered
- ~ thiefT