The Winslow mail., 1897-02-20

"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 in sleeping on these
premises the last few nights?"
''Well," said Mr.. Bridgnorth, slowly;
'ft is this. For some little time 1 have
found myself out of sorts. There is
nothing really the matter with me, that
1 know of, but 1 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, l decided, as am
a bachelor and have only myself to
| please, that for night or two l would
sleep here, where there Is plenty of
room and ample accommodation"
81 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 1t little extra work to prepare
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
hiding place here to-night-a screen or
cupboard will do, for l am used to
cramped quarters and 1 will see what
Is to be seen. Lock your desk and door
as usual, but provide me with a key Of
the latter for use If needful.'
Mr.. Bridgnorth agreed, and shortly
after I took my departure. AS passed
through the outer room I got look at
| the clerks, and in particular at Hartley,
which 1 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
stiffness of vision characteristic of al
most every rogue. Aware, however,
that there Is nothing more deceptive
than eXternals, l 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 a
retreat behind cabinet which stood in
one corner of the office, and here en-
Sconced myself with as much comfort
as the circumstances permitted.
At 1870 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 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 and the confidential clerk
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 it fastened
went on his way. A minute later l
heard the closing of his chamber door
and my watch began.
The time passed slowly away.
Twelve o'clock struck, then and 2, and
1 had begun to think that my vigil
would be in vain, when In the stiffness
of the night heard a door softly open
ed above and a cautious footstep slowly
descend the stairs. 1t paused at the
foot of them, close to the door of the
room in which l lay hid, and 1 next
heard the jingling of 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 1 had with me
did not desire to use until the right mo-
ment, for it was my hope to capture the
thief in the very act Of his larceny. /
had not very long to wait. Wrapped in
a long gown and without shoes on his
feet, the pilferer glided srealthily 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 so
l gave a stare Of surprise, for the man
l encountered was Mr.. Bridgnorth him
self, and l 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), 1 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 l reopened it, and followed
him.
He retraced his steps up the stairs,
and, going to a cupboard on the landing,
stopped down, rummaging a second or
two among some old rubbish at the bot
tom, and seeming to deposit his coins
there. He entered a chamber adjoin-
ing. Peering cautiously into this, saw
the sleeper divest himself of his gown
and get unconsciously into the bed he
had few minutes before left