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


nothing startling in the details, and the
unraveling of the mystery with which
they deal required no great amount of
sagacity on my part, still am inclined
to think that there is sufficient interest
about the affair to warrant making 1t
public.
l was engaged with the superintendent
one morning on some routine business |
when note was handed in from Mr.. |
Bridgnorth, well-known solicitor
practicing in the town. The superin- |
tendent read the missive and then |
turned to me.
ut Is a case of pflfering, Sampson"
he said, land 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"
kput on my hat and went, as directed.
Mr.. Bridgnorths place was well known
to me and was soon the occupant of
seat in the private room at his office.
81 have been good deal concerned of
late" said the solicitor turning to the
business at once, "about the abstraction
of certain sums of money from my cash
box in my desk, and as l 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 l, land 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 week or ten days." was the
reply; land the robberies always take
place at night, after the Office is
closed"
How do you know that?"
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
Mr.. Bridgnorth.
What are the sums you have
missedp
""They have varied. One night f5 was
taken, another E7, and third f3 ant
of 55 sovereigns, and l don't know
Where IL is going 10 END.
"Have you any suspicion as to whom
the thief may beT
"None whatever-unless-" MI
Brtdgnorth hesitated.
go on, sir" said. "Give expression
to your thoughts; they may furnish
clew."
81 was going to say" continued tn
solicitor, with some apparent reluC
lance, unless it be Hartley, but l cal
not believe him guilty of such a thing,
he added.
"Who is Hartley?" l asked.
"My confidential clerk" replied M
Bridgnorth HE has been with n
ever since he was boy and his chara
ter has always been above suspicion"
"Then why should his name occur
you in connection with these theftsF"
queried
"Well, 1t is like this said the soil
itor. Hartley and l are the only pc
sons who sleep on the premises, and
there are no signs Of burglarious ent
and the thefts always take place in t
night, am, in spite Of myself, driven
a certain conclusion"
'9The natural one, in the clrcul
stances" ventured. But tell me, y
keep several clerks in addition to Ha
leyP'
Eyes; four Others"
"At what time do they leave"
"Six o'clock"
when do you lock up?"
ga hout Gao or Saven"
"You lock your desk and the off
doorT
Eyes"
Does anyone besides yourself p
seSs keys Of either"
Hartley does, of both"
"And you say he sleeps on the pre-
ises?"
"Yes."
mo one else?"
Myself"
"But you do not live here Mr. Bri
northr
"Quite so. My residence Is on
outskirts of the town, but for sevt
nights l have been sleeping at
Office"
"In order to catch the thief?'
querled
Indeed, that was not my motive
all" said the lawyer, quickly. "Ant
matter of fact the robberies have
occurred since my sojourn in the pl
they never once happened before"
''Very likely. But, assuming
Hartley is the thief, can you sugge
motive for his pilferings" | asked
None whatever" was the reply.
what kind of life does he l,
Steady?"
Nobody more so.'
Doesn't bet nor gambler
Neither, to my knowledge. Fl
engaged to very respectable girl,
l know, as a fact, that he shortly
templates housekeeping"
"Ah! there Is motive for pilfer
/ said with shrug of the shoulde
"How sof" asked the solicitor.
why, house requires furniture
furniture costs money" l said.
''Then you think that Hartley is
ing himself to my cash in ORDER to
his house?" said Mr.. Bridgnorth, s
at looks remarkably like It,"
piled. But we shall probably see
course, you have not charged him
the theftsT