The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1904-05-21
CAUGHT IN THE ACT


known at Scotland Yard by reason of
! his position, applied for the assistance
of an officer in calculating the mys-
terry, and | was appointed to help him.
We talked the matter over at Scot
/ land Yard and agreed that 1t looked
uncommonly like case of dishonesty
household who had means of obtaining
access to the study of the master of
the house on Sunday afternoons.
Obviously the best course to pursue
would be to set watch upon the room
in the absence Of its owner. But how
was this to be done? Ii any stranger
thief, whoever he might be, would be
on his guard and would not allow him
self to be detected.
AT last we decided that on the Sun
day afternoon following | should walk
outside the house in - square and
that the occupler should take his
chance of opening the door to me him
self and thus let me into the place un-
perceived.
Accordingly on the Sunday afternoon
l went to - square, and | had not
been walking long when the door of
No. - was opened cautiously. and |
sped up the steps.
The house was of the kind which is
common to many parts of the aristo-
cratic quarters of London, having an
area and basement, 50 that the serv-
ants had very little chance Of noting
the arrival of callers unless daily sum
moned by the bell.
was led into the study on the first
floor, and apparently no one in the
house was aware of my presence.
Leading off the room was little
lavatory. and into this lobby ! went,
| shut the door and found that by
kneeling on the floor | could look
through the keyhole and In this way
command Il view of the desk which
stood by the window In the study.
This was sufficient for my purpose,
and the owner OF the house went out
of the room.
Presently heard him call to his
daughter, and some one cried aloud.
I'VE are all going to church"
This was the signal that the family
had quilted the house and left me a
fair field,
Nothing happened whatever for some
time. and my knees became dreadfully
stiff
Presently caught the sound Of eau
tious footsteps on the stairs outside the
landing which led to the study.
In moment or two the footman en-
tered His face was ashen gray. his
eyes set. his hand trembling. Guilt
was written upon every lineament.
He glanced nervously round the room
and into every corner. but strangely
enough, never thought Of trying the
door of the lavatory wherein | was
concealed. The footman opened the
desk with duplicate key, TO his
hand he found some marked money,
which he appropriated and put into his
pocket, but he had not relinquished his
grasp of the coins when his face flush
tu, HIS tA NtHl Ipullu tIt Iooul, Ilt
trembled, and, with u shaking hand,
he withdrew the pieces from his pocket
and restored them to the desk. Then
he hurriedly relocked 1t and withdrew
from the room hastily, averting his
face from the desk and setting his
teeth.
conscience. my man." | thought
conscience has been too much for
you"
But what was to do?
There was no help for 1t. | must
wait for the prearranged time for my
release. | still looked through the key
hole and kept as quiet as mouse,
when In about ten minutes l heard an
other sound Of footsteps.
The footman had returned.
He went through precisely the same
performance as before, and, having
opened the desk and taken the money,
he closed the lid sharply. as II he had
made bargain with himself not to al
low his conscience to fool him second
time.
AS he was slipping the stolen money
into his pocket ] opened the door Of the
lavatory and went behind the footnan.
John" said, Il want that money
you have in your right hand waistcoat
pocket"
The man turned, saw me, shrieked
and fell In q fit
AT the noise the servants rushed up
from below stairs. There they saw the
footman senseless on the floor and "A
stranger bending over him.
Who was the thief, the footman or
the stranger? Most likely the latter.
So they seized him.
Fortunately the master OF the house
soon afterward returned aud few
explanations set matters TO rights
took the first opportunity OF ask ing
the footman something which had puz-
zled me
John" | inquired, II saw you come
Into the room the Grst time. take the
money AMI then put 1t back again
Why did you 10 thatf'
"Mr. Lauslowne." he answered. you
are quite right did do so put the
money back because | felt that some
body was lool Ing at me"
Tn. B~ust Wa. In.
A patrician whose pdnstaking and