Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-08-23
THE KLEPTOMANIAC.
By RoDRIeUEs OTTOLENGUI.
Copyright. 1895. by the Author.I
CHAPTER III.


II was destined to have Cue moro
singular experience that night. Leaving
the maids room found by my watch
that il was only IL o'clock, and there
fore went back to my own room. where
q short time later was surprised by a
tap OIL my door. Thinking that was
wanted at the bedside Of my patient
hurried out and was astonished to find
that my visitor was Mr.. Joseph Milton.
IL admitted him, and he explained
his purpose at once.
81 hope am not intruding. doctor,
but the fact is couldn't go to sleep
witnout trying to regain your good
opinion.
Z" What makes you think that you
have forfeited it, asked.
oh, am not like the ostrich, said
he. i don't hide my head under my
wing and expect to escape observation.
You witnessed that little episode in the
hall awhile ago. and am sure you rec
ognized me. You did, did you not| !
admitted the fact, and he continued: j
knew il. Well. lot me tell you the
truth for the sake of the girl. l met
her by chance. and she looked so pretty
that couldn' resist the temptation TO
kiss her It's d failing of mine, ! sup.
pose When ] see a pretty girl, just
have IA craving to salute her lips. But
that ends IL, assure you. don't mean
the girls any harm, and you mustn't
think this one was Mt fault. She couldn' t
help herself. and that Is all there Is
about it, An honest confession Is good
for the soul, they say. and l certainly
feel better for having told you the
truth
~ thought il best to humor the idea
that he could thus hoodwink me, aud |
pretended to be quite willing to believe
him invited him to stop und cha,
with me until l should return to my
patient, and we smoked u couple Of ci'
gars together.
AT midnight returned to Mr.. Mil
ton 5 bedside and half an hour later
had the pleasure Of seeing him shake of
his lethargy and show signs Of return
ing strength aud vitality. so that knew
that the crisis was safely passed. sat
up during the remainder Of the night
and allowed the valet to sleep. Indeed,
he needed rest, having been continuous
ly awake for over 36 hours.
About 8 o'clock in the morning Mr..
Milton was awake and had sufficiently
recovered to talk TO me. He declared
that he had no knowledge whatever Of
what had occurred, and IL required
some little time before he could even
be reminded Of the loss Of his monsn.
Eventually he seemed to recall the cir.
cumstance. but apparently took no in
terest either In its loss or possible re-
coyery. In fact, he showed such signs
Of dissatisfaction at my persisting in
discussing the matter that thought
best TO say no more and even began TO
consider the probability Of his having
been the thief after all IL was not i'm
possible that during one Of his aberrant
periods he had secreted the money and
that the maid, IL she knew Of its where
abouts at all. as had 80 readily con-
cluded, had gained her knowledge by
seeing him in the act Of hiding the
packet Of bills. Thus IL will be seen
that as the hour OF 10 approached, ut
which time I looked for the denoue.
ment. was still not certain Of my the.
cries, and waited with some anxiety.
- had arranged to have Miss Milton
and Mr.. Joseph in the room. and l de-
tained them by conversation that they
might witness whatever occurred. The
valet also was present, because | had
set him task which kept him in the
room.
"At last the hour struck, ano almost
ut the moment the maid, Rose. came in.
A. sigh, of us all she stopped moment
and hesitated. made signal for ST.
lence. and all looked from me to the
girl mystified.
1.-The maids hesitation lasted but a
moment, and then she moved swiftly