Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1903-05-23
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A DISAPPEARANCE
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old fire eater, who at once attacked
me as though I were an enemy
position.
Know my friend Hardyment-
colonel of the Haramzadi horse
most distinguished officer?'
Il confessed that I had not the
honor.
Giles in trouble. They accuse
him of theft. 1t has been put about
that he stole handsome decoration
star set in brilliants, at the levee
yesterday. By George, it's mon,
strous! Don't you think SOP
Il should like to know the facts,
I suggested mildly.
"The long and the short Of it was
that Colonel Hardyment, in the
full uniform of his corps, had been
the day previous to make his bow to
royalty on his return after a long
'xile in the east.
''He had entered the palace and
was mixed up with the throng Of
dignitaries-pillar of the state, for
eign diplomatists, officers Of both
services.
'There he made the most of his
time, and with all the dexterity of
an old and practiced thief had col
Jared everything valuable that came
within his reach.
"He was not caught in the act.
But wherever he went havoc and
depreciation followed in his track.
I" tAnd what might the colonel say
himself? Of course he has heard
about it from some kind friend
"'Not word. The fact is
Hardyment-is not to be found.
:" "That of itself looks | did not
dare finish the sentence.
''Pll shoot the man who accuses.
him! Everybody's wrong, or else
some one has personated him.
"SBut that would have been very
difficult. First of all, the possession
Of his uniform, the knowledge how
to put it on, and it would have been
SO easy to recognize him, to detect
an impostor. Such a man as Colonel
Hardyment would be well known
"'Not in this country. He has
not been home for years, and there
we're very few Indian officers at the
LeVees.' q
"|Were you%
"sOf course not. Doyou suppose
that this would have happened if I
1ad been there?'
81 shook my head gravely. The
whole thing looked fshy in its most
favorable ight-kleptomania at
east.
you must not overrate my pow
RS. Let us go at once to Colonel
Hardyment's quarters. Where does
1e live, or, rather, where did he
ive?'
'It'was aemodest residence-only
me room, in a house all chambers,
n the neighborhood of Pail Mall.
The porter, who knew the general,
accompanied us upstairs and let us
nto his room with his, pass key.
''The room was all in disorder,
clothing lying about, uniform just
IS it had been taken off thrown on to
he bed, which / observed had not
,een slept in.
When did you see the colonel
asst? I asked the porter. TO speak
o, | mean
"'The day before yesterday, sir
He has no servant of his ownp
"'Not now,' interposed the gen
raj. He had man-engaged him
.irectly he came home-but turned
i'm off a week or two ago. That
7as why he came to live here, where
le could get attendance and be
aleted.'
81 now made more searching
Of the room. 1t had
been ransacked, rum
1aged, rihed from end to end. Ev-
rything valuable had disappeared; |
here was not a trace of a trinket;
he jewel tray of the dressing case
yas empty; the tops presumably, |
livery of the bottles had been re-
loved and some of the best of the
lothes.
81 saw no reason to exonerate the
olonel until I caught sight OF a
unch of keys on the floor and,
topping to pick them up, found also
n dnmistakable picklock or bur-
lars skeleton key. q
"It was the first suspicion Of foul
lay. Colonel Hardyment under
he circumstances would scarcely
ave left his keys behind him. He
light certainly have forgotten
hem, but even that would not ac-