Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1901-02-28
AFTER y MIDNIGHT


public places of the valuables OF
his sidebOard and the insecurity
of his front door may safely be put
down as an amiable idiot. Yet Thomas
Nedham of the firm of Nedham Il Will
kins was no fool. He was reputed to
be a cute man of business, who knew
how to keep his counsel when his
money was at stake, and yet here he
was tonight. on the front seat of Il
crowded omnibus, Boosting to his
neighbor that his silver-plate was the
heaviest in all Hampstead.
"Burglars?' he laughed. in answer to
question. IL have been thirty years
householder, and never one of the
gentry has deigned to visit me. often
think that the man who takes no pre-
caution comes off best in this matter.
! have known some men spent for
tune in locks and bolts, and have Il
housebrcaker in as regularly as the
chimney sweep. You did not know my
partner. wilkins? He's been dead
these dozen years, and before things
went wrong with him, and bought
him out. he had collection of coins
worth II, 900. Well, he kept the treas
ure in room whose windows were
sheathcd nightly in heavy shutters,
bolted and bolted again. But, of course,
he rose one fine morning to find the
lot gone. That broke the old fellow S
heart. and from then till they placed
him in Norwood cemetery he was new
er off the rocks"
AS the old gentleman proceeded in Il
lower voice to tell stories of the burg
larics that he had known befall his
friends the tall young fellow immedi-
ately behind him showed evident signs
of nervousness. He shifted uneasily in
his seat. and. as ever and anon the gas
lights were passed. his pnched face
showed white. and his big eyes seemed
rivetcd on the jovial Ncdham. When
the merchant left the bus with n
hearty good night" to all and sundry.
the STRIPPING rose and slipped Oft. too
Twelve midnight had long since
doomed from the church steeplc orro-
site, and still Thomas Netlham. city
merchant and importer. lay wide
awake Usually he was a heavy sleep
err but tonight slumber had deserted
him.
His active brain insisted on scrutin-
iZing and dissectlng the stock and
share list of the previous day and gam
boiling through his now silent city ware
house. The old gentleman chuckled as
he held his eyes tight and cOnjured be-
fore him the thousands of great bales
that numbered every inch of his stores.
"Wonderful." he said audibly. "What
great thing may sometimes grow
from small one, to be sure. Only
thirty years ago and | was wondering
how could meet Il bill for e. los. Now.
new blocks added, six and fifty ware
houses. piles of paying work and still
growing. growing, growing. Wonder
what Wilkins would think of 1t all il
he were looking up now? Poor Will
kins. They tell me he died declaring
that had robbed him. That was a
hard thing to say. No robbery. say l,
but business transaction. Besides,
In any case. 1t was question of tit-fOr-
tat. But for wilkins should not have
been a bachelor"
Nedham moved uneasily In bed, and,
through doorway arched with trOu-
bled memory. he stole to TIE land Of
forgetfulness.
How long he slept he hardly knew,
but he woke with Il start He had the
distinct impression that he felt warm
breath on his face, and. springing out
of bed, he switched on the electric
light No trace of an intruder was in
the room. but the door. which Nedham
felt sure he had shut, stood partly njar.
Hastily pulling on his dressing gown
and showing his bare feet into slip
pers he reached a heavy riding crop
from the wall and stumbled down
stairs. AS he opened the drawing room
door there was the shuttle of hasty
feet. and when the light went up II
tall young fellow. shabbily dressed.
stood revealed. The two men faced
each other across the table. Nedham
gripping tight the whip handle
"Now." he said. in wonderfully
composed voice. 1--WE caught you clean.