Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-02-13
SELBY'S SAFE.
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nun them 10 tne QeLectlVeS,
who were utterly at loss for a clew.
Another Saturday arrived without
any hopeful developments.
After much hesitation Selby again
placed his collections in the safe, and
personally examined every door and
window before retiring. Not content
with these precautions, he arose at
various intervals during the night and
examined the contents Of his trea sure
box. All was well. In the small hours
of the morning he fell into a deep sleep,
from which he was awakened some
time after daybreak by a knock at the
door. 1t was n Of the servants. As
he was never aroused from his SUM
bers on Sunday morning, he surmised
that something was wrong. In response
to his inquiring glance the maid stat
ed that between three and four o'clocY
she had heard footsteps descending the
attic staircase, that she had remained
awake and listened attentively, but
heard nothing more, and that she had
only at that moment dared to venture
Out VI uer TOOTH.
Selby's first thought was of the safe.
Rushing into the library, he hastily
opened it's two doors. Again it was
empty!
Next he climbed the attic stairs. He
found no trace Of the thief up there.
The windows were not only all nailed
shut, but none of the dust-covered cob
webs which sealed them had been dis
turbed. The scuttle to the roof like
wise was fastened Oh the inside. A
search through the rest Of the house
revealed nobody in hiding, nor was
there any visible means Of exit, all the
doors and windows being locked from
within.
The servant who had awakened Sell
by was put through a rigid eXamina-
ton by the police, who were Of the
opinion that she was implicated in the
theft and had concocted her story to
divert suspicion from herself; but she
was either an expert twister of the
truth or innocent, for the ferrets Of
crime, with all their skillful question
ing and cross-questloning, could find no
flaws in her testimony.
Saturday came round again, and the
detective in charge of the case had
made no progress. Although it was
not probable that a third robbery
would be committed, still he was 60
ing to try the only method remaining
to solve the mystery-namely, conceal
himself in the library that night. Sell
by alone was appraised Of his intention
and admitted him to the house after
the servants had retired. When they
had both made sure that the contents
Of the safe were thus far intact, Selby
locked the iron doors and went to his
room.
But he was i'll at ease. His +
unstrung by the worry of the past two
weeks, excited his Imagination to the
widest vagaries. He became distrust-
full even of the detective. What If he
should be an a%ccomplice! The corrup-
ton Of the police force was notorious.
Might not this man be one of the most
corrupt? Reason dispelled these fears
In part. but it was several hours be-
fore sleep visited him.
Suddenly he was roughly brought
back to consciousness by a shake from
IA powerful arm. He struggled frantic
ally to free himself.
Calm yourself" said a voice, which
he instantly recognized as that Of the
detective. whats the matter? Ev-
erything's all right"
Everything all right. How happen.
ed 1t then that the detective was In
his room and how had an entrance
been effected. for he was sure he had
locked the door before retiring? How
but his thoughts abruptly changed
their direction. His wandering eve:
had gradually regained the power OF
seeing concrete things, and he all n.
once realized that he was not in hi,
room. But where was he? Befory
him stood the detective holding a flick
cring candle.
Are you awake now, sir?" asked I'll,
latter.
Yes" answered Sclby.
Look down ut your feet. them
Selby did as hidden. a loose board
had been removed from the flooring
and In the hole thus uncovered were
three wads of greenbacks. Memories
of childhood came back to him. How
often when n small boy had he hidden
his youthful valuables beneath tina;
very board, but he had long since for.
gotten Its existence. In an instant he.
comprehended the situation. 1t was
an odd case Of somnambulism. His
ever-vigilant distrust had stolen a
march on his sleeping Consciousness