The St. Johns herald., 1897-01-30

| ms Sultl.
 And he has no knowledge of the ob- | ject of my yisit?'
 'None, so far as I am aware"
 ''Very 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 MT. Bridgnorth, slowly; 'ft 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 I 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 a bachelor and have only myself to i please, that for night or two I would sleep here, where there is plenty of room and ample accommodation"
 ''I see"
 Well" went on the solicitor. "the change answered admirably. From the very first night slept soundly, save for some persistent dreaming, which night ly haunts me and leaves me somewhat 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 exp1ana- tiOn.
 Thank you, sir. We will now try and run this thief to earth. What propose is very simple Find me ! 4is.-s r--c- here t- ,ght-a screen or 2 cupboard will GO, for l am used to cramped quarters-and will see what is to be seen. Lock your desk and door as usual, but provide ne with key of the latter for use if needful"
 MT. Bridgnorth agreed, and shortly after took my departure. As passed through the outer room I got look at 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- tenance, and lacking altogether that shiftiness of vision characteristic of al- most every rogue. Aware, however, that there is nothing more deceptive than externals, I went away little doubting that Hartley was my man.
 Late that evening 1 presented myself at MT. 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- | Iyfnn Mir ri 1, found little difficulty in securing me a retreat behind cabinet which stood in one corner of the office, and here I en- sconced myself with as much comfort as the circumstances permitted.
 At 10:30 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 I had desired. Hartley would be home he in- formed 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 key turned in the lock of the outer door end the confidential clerk i entered. He had no occasion to come into the office in order to reach his apartment, but on his way past he paused a moment and tried the handle of the door, and finding 1t fastened ~,-~~t bi- v"1v -o'r,7to lo+o-- ! heard lle elgslug Uf nIs chamber door and my watch began.
 The time passed slowly away. ] Twelve o'clock struck then i and 2. and ! 1 had begun to think that my vigil 1 would De Ill vain, when in the stiffness of the night I heard a door softly open ed above and cautious footstep slowly descend the stairs. It paused at the foot of them, close to the door of the room in which l lay hid, and I next heard the jingling of a bunch of keys, as if the possessor of them were select ing the right one to fit the lock. A mo- ment later the portal opened and the pilferer entered.
 The place was in darkness and had to strain my eyes to watch his move ments. The lantern had with me did not desire to use until the right mo- ment, for 1t was my hope to capture the thief in the very act of his larceny. had not very long to wait. Wrapped in long gown and without shoes on his feet, the pilferer glided stealthiIy to the desk, and fitting a key into the lock lifted the lid. He then open the cash box and took out some of the coins.
 Now was my time. Slipping from my hiding place turned on my lantern and confronted the culprit. As did SC I gave stare of surprise, for the man I encountered was MT. Bridgnorth him. self, and I could tell by his closed eyes that he was fast asleep, and, of course, quite unaware of what he was doing.
 Seeing that the light from my lantern bothered him somewhat (for he passed his hand several times dreamily across his face), replaced the shade and the somnambulist at once closed and fast ened the desk, and then walked out of the office, locking the door behind him. NoiselesSly I reOpened it, and followed him.
 He retraced his steps up the stairs, end ooir@ to cupboard on the landing stopped down, rummag1ng a second CT | two among some old rubbish al the bot tom, and seeming to deposit his coins there. He entered a chamber adjoin- | ing. Peering cautiously into this I saw the sleeper divest himself of his gown ] and get uncOnSciOusIy into the bed ne had few minutes before left.
 We'll, Sampson" said MT. Bridg- north, when he came down the next l