The age-herald., 1899-11-05

Well. what have you found out?" asked the proprietor of me that evening after the guests had retired, and l had a chance to speak to him for moment unobseryed.
 Nothing said l.
 He looked depressed.
 Don't get discouraged, but follow my directions. Tomorrow night give dance in the parlor. Let all be invited. Cause 1t to be known that several guests from out side arc invited, that supper will be served and let your wife spread the report that 1t will be very elegant and elaborate affair.
 It takes only a day to get up an entertain- ment in a summer hotel; and the next after noon had the satisfaction of learning that several ladies had taken their gems out of the safe in order to wear them, and that articles of great value, such as had not ap- peared during the season, would be worn.
 MT. A. and his family departed later in the day; and in their place there arrived from New York a lady and gentleman who were given the same rooms The lady was elegantly dressed and wore many jewels. As she passed me in the hotel office a close observer might have noticed that we e&- changed glanees And a person standing near enough might have heard me say; Make all the show you can Wear your diamondsn
 The room into which the new corners were ushered was left precisely as it was when MT and Mrs. A. occupied it. There was an open bed. center table, wash stand against the wall, and on the other side or the doom was the dresser which stood across the door leading into the next room
 Tine new conner wore magnfhcent dla- monds and at dinner l heard several per- sons speak of them. They were noilceo throughout the aouse-a thing which l op- served with much satisfaction.
 That evening, after the o'clock dinner, and before the guests dressed for the dance, I went upstairs accompanied by the new conner and her husband. We three quietly entered the room and shut the door.
 Then we sat down in the twilight and wafted-for what!
 Mrs Ray. the new conner had announced loudly after dinner that she intended to lie down and rest before the ball, and several other ladies had said that they intended to do the We would not be missed down stairs for an hour at least.
 Quietly we sat there and waited! Waitedl The minutes slipped along and fifteen min rtes dragged away. But my companions were not weary. Detectives understand the virtue of patience and we three had been out on many a tried and trusty job to- gether.
 At the end of half am hour we were re- warded by a slight creaking noise, like something grating. It was at the other side of the room-behind the bureau, evidently. We waited another minute. Then the sor"d began again.
 There was a dull noise, very soft, yet eas4Iy uiscernabIe to one listening; and then the mirror in the dresser was pushed for ward and, my Godl human hand came out from under the glass. The hand groped around the bureau and fastened itself upon a leather case Then it slowly crept back.
 But we were in time for it. Noiselessly my companions and I crept forward and just as the hand was disappearing we caught it and held 1t. There was a sharp scuffle, a cry of palm, and then voice: For Gods sake, let go!"
 Running a the door | threw 1t open and rushed into the next room, followed by an officer who had been quietly patrolling the hall There was the thief panel thief, with his arm through the panel of the door. just as he had operated his game dozen times before that summer. The bureau stood in front of the door and the hand. by swinging the glass forward, could easily reach everything on the top.
 When he confessed as he was obliged to do, he turned states evidence upon gang of three hotel thieves who had been spend- ing the summer at the hotel and robbing the unlucky persons who happened to be assigned to rooms next to them. Thelr quiet manners saved them from suspicion until came and recognized the game as one had often seen operated before.