The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-12-20
The Missing Tools.


was never finished When he was fairly
gone | sat fer q minute OF two trying TO
decide whether his bluster and fury Ntre
real or affected 10 cover his guilt, and
reluctantly | was forced TO believe them
real II my supposition was correct. who
then was the theft? IT could not be the
passionate Hooker and still less, L
thought. could IL be the excited Brockie.
After much thinking. I was inclined TO
believe the whole 10 be the work OF some
practical joker, who had guessed at the
enmity of the two men, and wished TO I'M
tensify IL by having little fun at their
expense.
The suppositlon was far wide OF the
truth, as | shall show, but IL caused me
10 take no new action, but simply 10 all
low M'Sweeny 20 get into the building as
had now been arranged, and report re-
suits, in the morning.
But HoOker's threat as he passionately
left the office had been no idle one. He
had remembered that he had i'm his pos
session common door key which opened
one of the doors into the cabinet shop,
and at first seriously thought OF getting
into the building In secret. and watching
IL through the whole night. He changed
his plan. however, and IL was fortunate
for himself that he did so; though i will
not say II was as fortunate for his sub
stitute or for my chum, NJ Sweeny 1t
who was connected with the Glasgow de-
tectve staff, was i'm Edinburgh on a vis-
IL at the time. and with the idea OF lend
ing as Official an air az possible to his
proceedings, Hooker went straight TO
las friend and asked him as "A favor TO
go and watch the place, and. IL possible,
arrest the thief. Al task which the other
accepted with the greatest readiness. or
course this man, whom 1 shall call
Sharpe. had no idea that another was APP
pointed TO watch the place. nor had
NJ Sweeny any expectation of meeting
any OF his western friends at such a time
and place. A. about nine O'Clock,
MSweeny got into a yard at the back OF
the cabinet workshops, in company with
one OF the sons OF the proprietor, and
with the aid OF ladder got into the
workshop on the second fiat, which he
was most interested in watching. seeing
that IL was that in which both Brockie
and Hooker worked by day.
My chum was forced TO this mode of
obtaining ingress by the fact that there
was only one set OF Keys to the building
and yard, and these were kept by old
Simpson, the gatekeeper and watchman
OF the place, who was considered half
cracked, and not the best nand at keep
ing a secret The hour of nine, indeed
had been chosen purposely, as at that
time old Simpson was known to be absent
at revival meeting, and MSweeny
wished to be snugly hidden before he re-
turned at ten o'clock 10 make his roands,
and see that all was safe and secure be-
later. and when MSweeny was snugly
buried In heap of shavings, close TO the
bench at which Brockie worked. the Glas-
Cow detective had let himself In by the
side door, with the key supplied by Hoo
ker. and so noiselessly that his presence
In the building was not once suspected by
M Sweeny, though but a single flight OF
wooden steps lay between their hiding
places.
little after ten o'clock, a noise I'm the
yard attracted MSweeny To the window
of the Workshop In which he lay hidden.
and looking down he saw old simpson,
who was lame and ugly. as we'll as imbe-
cile-slowly limping about on his last tour
of inspection. He did not occupy above
ten minutes with the task, and did not
come near M'sweeny's hiding place; but
as he had to cross the yard in that di-
rection as he was leaving for his own
little house outside. McSweeny hurriedly
left the window for his former hiding
place. with his usual cleverness, knock
ing over a plan of wood with a loud bang,
and so grazing his own shin-bone that he
was squirming In agony, and groanins
forth curses in Irish Gaelic every inch OF
the way TO his bunch of shavings. And
now came marvellous circumstance,
which instantly banished all thought
from Msweeny's mind, and in it's place
Scarcely had he concealed himself when
there was a cautious and almost ghostly
football on the wooden stair leading ur
10 the workshop. IL could not be old
Simpson moved with limp. and more
over he had heard the old watchman
leave the place and lock the door after
him. The cautious and guilty-like tread
could mean but one thing-it was the
mysterious thief!
There was little moonlight, but not
enough TO make everything clear; and
NJ Sweeny, as the footsteps paused at the
landing. and the door was noiselessly
pressed inwards, could see only the dim
outline OF a man, whose white face was
turned eagerly towards himself and the
plank OF wood he had knocked down.
After an eager and scared-iike look
around. the stealthy figure advanced soft
~ over the shaving strewn floor. and list
ened breathlessly. MSweeny in turn held
his own breath. but ct the same moment
felt for his stan. as he now saw that the
intruder carried I'm his hand a billet OF
wood as heavy as an Indian club.
He's desperate character. I can see
and ia give half-s-cro this minute ~
have jamie beside me to assist In master
ing him." he thought. Never mind: III
have the more credit, and perhaps get q
risking me life. So here goes for a des-
perate struggle"
The intruder paused I'm the centre OF
the workshop. and after a vain look on
every side. said In a whisper. which.
though low, revealed Enthusiastically the
Glasgow accent
I'm sure heard somebody Raur
across the floor and a plank like that
could hardly IA itser." and turning his
back upon MSweeny's hiding-plaee, the
man fumbled under his coat for a dark
lantern.
Sure. we might have known II was a
Glasgow thafe," thought M'Swceny. ir
self-reproach "All the puzzling cases
come from them. Begorra, they ought "a
keen them TO themselves; we'd be lot
easier. and II nd be something 10 sharpen
their wits on"
Cro Be Continued Tomorrow)