Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1902-05-23
"You didn't submit quietly to. their


nothing about the sort Of hand it was
and he began to feel that he would
rather lose all chance of ever seeing
watch or money again than formu
late, however euphemistically, the
fearful accusation.
ut vast was a shock, you know?'
he stammered, meekly. "The hand
was snatchcd away as soon as felt
it."
well" erumbled Claris. with ap
parent suspicion Oil bis side, 1T seems
to me a strange thing that a man
should feel thing like that without
calling out! It's the first thing man
would do as wasn't quite born fool
to jump up and make for the Teller"
"Ahw exclaimed Clifford. sharply.
George Claris looked at him with a
deepening frown. "What do you
mean, STRIP
"That I am not sure-that I'm very
far from sure-that the intruder was a
man."
"Who do you think 1t was, then
Who do you think it was as took your
watch an your money? Speak out,
sir. speak out, If you dare!"
The blood rose in Cliford's face.
The mans surly, defiant tone seemed
to show that he had either some knowl-
edge or some fear of the truth. But
again there rushed over the young
man an overwhelming sense Of shame,
which prevented him from being more
explicit.
81 have spoken out" he said, sim
ply.
For few minutes the men stood ST.
lent, each afraid to say too much.
Then Claris, as sullenly. as fiercely as
ever, beckoned to Clifford to follow
him into the inn.
"Come an see 'em, come an see
'em all. Search 'em If you like" said
he, bluntly. "And look over the house
an see if there's a way in it or out
of it that anybody could have got in or
out by. Come and see for yourself, I
say"
Clifford followed him In silence into
the little bar, allowed Claris to point
out to him that the window was still
barred, and had evidently not been
tempered with. And so in turn they
examined together the windows and
the doors of the whole house; and
Clifford saw that, unless Claris him
self had been in. collision with the
thief, no one could have got in from
che outside during the night. But
then Clifford himself had not sus-
pected a thief from the outside.
AS for the persons who had slept in
the house that night, George Claris
said they were five in number. Him.
self, his niece, Clifford, the servant
whom Clifford had seen in the bar,
and old Mamie, woman between
sixty and seventy years of age, who
slept in a small room, which was
scarcely more than a cupboard. Oh
the ground floor, because she was too
infirm to go upstairs.
Clifford made the excuse Of wish
ing to converse little with the old
woman, that he might have an oppor-
tunity of examining her hands. They
were withered and lean. rendered
coarse by field WORK, and enlarged at
the joints by rheumatism. Without
a doubt it was not the hand of old
Mamie which had taken his watch
and purse.
When he left the kitchen, where he
and the LANDLORD had thus interviewed
the staff OF the establishment. Clifford
followed Claris again into the road in
front OF the inn.
Now" said Claris. de6antly.
you've seen every blessed creature
as was in the house last night. Which
of them was it as you think took your
things:"
Clifford hesitated.
Il have an idea" he said, "and I
want you to listen quietly, since If it is
correct, it takes away all suspicion OF
anyone having acted dishonesty. Is
there in your house a-a-woman who
walks in her sleep?"
mot into folks bedrooms to steal
their money, anyhow" answered Cla-
ris, surlily. "And I've never heard OF
no sort OF sleep-walkin' by either OF
them"
Either OF the servants, you mean?"
said Clifford with a slight emphasis.
Eyes, OF course. Why, man alive!
You wouldn't sure dare to say as my
niece, my lovely Nell, was a thief to
AXE your dirty money" shouted the
landlord, with sudden fury, all tine
more fierce that, as Clifford could see,
le had heard whispers of the same
;ort before. Here, Nell, Nell! Where
Ire you
And, not needing Clifford's angry
protests, Claris rushed into the house,
ind almost into the arms OF his niece,
Who, apparently suspecting nothing,
'ame running quickly in from the gar.
en at the sound Of her own name.
"What is it, uncle"
She still wore her hat, but 1t was
ushed back; and her pink and white
ace. glowing with the wholesome
ting of the fresh morning air, smiled
t the hot and agitated faces o. the
wo meu.
"This man, this gentleman. says
'ou're thief, my girl! Says you went
nto his room last night and stole his
watch and his money, and that he
aught your hand in the very act.
MORO nv girl. answer him Yourself.