Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-12
MR.. LESLIE GAIT

Miss Naomi's sleeping apartment, after
she had retired and during Il night
when she was uncommonly wakeful
| jewelry, gems and cash to the value of
10000. To acquire this plumber
huge family safe had been opened. A
heavy mahogany chffOnier was ran
sacked, and the very mattresses where
on Miss Fallingford Jay were plumber
ed. The thief escaped.
Subsequently Miss Naomi had fall
ing out with Mr.. Cult, and she saw no
more of him for several years. The
robbery took place in 1876.
In 1884 Tressel Fallingford was
dead, and Miss Naomi was living
alone, attended by servants, in the
manor house. On Il cold November
evening Mr.. Leslie Gait was seen to
alight from the mail train at Lippen-
ton. 1t was about shutdown. He was
seen to take the road to the manor
house He was seen to reach it. He
was seen TO mount the porch, from
which a view could be had into the
sitting room, where Miss Naomi re-
clined before cracking fire. He was
seen to sit there for an hour. AT Z
o'clock he was still on the porch. At
7:05 u knock upon the door brought the
butler, who reported to Miss Naomi
that gentleman who would not give
his name desired to see her.
"YOu have never seen Inc before,
MADAME The visitor was an entire
| stranger.
"Never, to my knowledge" answered
Miss Naomi, looking full in the mans
face as he stood beneath the chande-
lier
"You were robbed in this house in
1862
Il was
"You offered a reward and NO Ques-
tons asked if the property was re-
turned?"
Il did"
Here it is, madam" And the man
placed the plumber intact upon the ia
BILE before Miss Naomi.
Passersby saw her standing by the
table, with Mr. Leslie Gait opposite
her.
where did you get these, sir?" ex-
claimed the delighted woman.
Remember, madam, you were not. to
ask any questions. My reward. please"
Miss Naomi touched bell. The but
Ter entered. She sent for her money.
When he brought it she counted out the
reward and passed it to the stranger.
Madam. will you oblige me by expend-
ing this money upon the deserving poor
in your parish church? | do not need
it." He laid the notes on the table. The
next day Miss Naomi caused it to be
known she had recovered her valuables.
Every one congratulated her and also
spoke of the pleasure she must have
derived in a call from Mr.. Leslie Gait.
Miss Naomi denied having seen Mr..
Gait in eight years. Then peoples be-
wildered brains began to couple the
name of Leslie Gait with the original
robbery of the FaIlingford valuables.
This was very hard for Naomi to hear,
but she could not account for Mr.. Galt's
not calling if he had been in town.
People told her they saw him on her
porch at o'clock. The strange man
restored the valuables ten minutes lat
er. Ten minutes after Mr.. Gait had
disappeared from the porch. At s he
was again seen at the station. But the
strange restorer of the valuables had
been seen by no one in Lippenton save
declared they never saw him before.
In 1889, one very dark night in No
vember, Mr. Leslie Gait called upon
Miss Naomi Fallingford and was cor
daily received.
Mr.. Gait stated that he had been for
the last few years in Australia.
This brought up the rumor of his
visit to Lippenton, current five years
before, and they both laughed over it.
Mr. Gait renewed his suit, was ac-
cepted, and he and Naomi were mar
ried in the parish church at Lippen-
ton.
Among the donations Mr.. Gait made
on his wedding day was a large sum of
money for the poor of the parish. The
rector in accepting it, remarked that
the bequest was very opportune, as
they were just at the end of the last
donation received of similar amount.
In hiss1 eXuberance and joyousness
Mr.. Gait exclaimed:
"Oh, yes! In 1884! Hush money!
Reward! / rememberp'
When people heard what he had said
they looked scrutinizingly at him, but
five years is long time, and memory
undergoes great strains.
Naomi heard what her husband had
said.
But she remembered exactly how the
stranger looked when he called to re-
store the valuables. She compared the
resemblance. 1t was too remote for
possibility
Mr.. Leslie Gait sat out on the porch
good deal. People passing said to
one another, ''That is the way 1 saw
him back in 1884,
One thing is very strange. Mr.. Gait
has always disapproved of his wife's
putting valuables between mattresses
or of placing jewels in a chiffonier or
Of keeping bulky safes in the house.
Mr.. Gait claims he can exercise such
an effect upon one by magnetism he
possesses that you would pass him on
the street and not recognize him. He
occasionally gives exhibitions of this |