Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-09-12

Shortly after was put on the ny
force" said the old detective, 'the
chief sent for me- On entering his office
[ found there a man 1 recognized as
banker of repute Since then he has
become famous. The chief told me 20
listen to the story, for it was my case.
The story was brief. The banker kept
some personal securities in safe at
his own home and some were missing.
They had disappeared one by one at ir-
regular intervals. The one singular
thing was that on one occasion he had
set out to watch the safe all night, and
between 3 and had dropped asleep
for half an hour. In that half hour
another had disappeared. The lock was
a combination, the secret Of which, SO
far as he knew, was wholly his own.
81 went up to his house and made a
careful examination without hitting on
any theory that would seem to unravel
the mystery. So said to the banker that
he must go right along in his mode or
living, do nothing to let any inmate In
the house suppose they were under sus-
picion OF observation, and that would
conceal myself and watch the safe. For
was satisfied that the thief was one
Of the family, and fancied it was the
son, who was high roller.
This the banker agreed to. and
helped me rig up place where could
conceal myself. 1 began the watching
that night, but nothing came of 1t for
five nights. On the sixth the banker
went out to dinner party, but he was
back home shortly after midnight, and
the house quietetd down by 1 o'clock.
| An hour and a half later [ heard
soft step in the room adjoining the Ii
brary and presently form stole into
the room, and going to the safe, swift
ly unlocked it and distracted single
security, closing the safe again.
'HThe room was so dark that could
distinguish only the outlines of the
form, but the darkness enabled me to
| follow the thief as he turned from the
safe. 1 did so, and with step as
stealthy as his own. He led me through
the adjoining room, out into the hail.
down the basement steps and into a
lumber-room, where there was an old
. box for irewood. To this box the thief
went, and, lifting the cover, put the Sc
curity in it.
''Then he turned, and so quickly thai
he nearly struck me, and hurried uI
4 the stairs. 1 was close behind him and
at his heels when he climbed up to the
second story, where there was a night
lamp. in the hall, giving sufficient light
for me to recognize the features of the
man who had taken the security. From
here he turned into room, closing the
door after him. 1 went down into the
library and found the easiest chair fol
nap.
''The next morning as the banker ap
peared for breakfast took him down
stairs, saying to him: Examine tha
box and see what you find
'To his amazement he found ever!
one of the missing securities and som'
papers besides which he had no
missed. He was dumfounded. After :
| moments hesitation he turned to nj
with a severe and most stern air ant
asked:
-" Who is the thief?
"'You are replied, complacently.
HE started violently, and for mo
ment thought he would strike me. Blu
he asked, instead, ferociously:
"'What do you mean by thatT
"'Only that you are a sleepwalker,
1 replied. That's all. followed ant
saw you take the paper and place i
here
.He stood still, as one paralyzed
Then he said:
"'Keep my counsel. Say nothing
"a week later he sent for me to hi
office to tell me that his physician ha'
told him it was a case Of dyspepsia
and that when he had come to lool
back he found that it was only after
late-course dinner that a paper had bee
missed. Then he added:
"'You've been discreet so far. Cor
, tinue to be, and you will see that yo'
, will not lose by it.
q continued to be, and that's the rea
son why 1 have retired so early, ca
drive down the road just as fast
stepping pair as anyone does, and ca
have an automobile if 1 want one."-