The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1904-11-26
CAUGHT IN ,fnE ACT /

4
The gentleman, who was very well
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 it looked
uncommonly like a case of dishonesty
on the part of some member of the
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 a watch upon the room
I In the absence of its owner. But how
was this to be done? If any stranger
! were known to be in the house the
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 occupier should take his
! chance of opening the door to me him
self and thus let he into the place un-
perceived.
Accordingly on the Sunday afternoon
I went to - square. and l had not
been walking long when the door of
No. - was opened cautiously. and I
/ 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, so that the serv-
ants had very little chance of noting
the arrival of callers unless daily sum.
moned by the bell.
l 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 l went.
l shut the door and found that by
kneeling on the floor l could look
through the keyhole and in this way
command a 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 I heard him call to his
daughter, and some one cried aloud
1--WE 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 l caught the sound of eau
tious footsteps on the stairs outside the
handing 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 Iavatory wherein | was
concealed. The footman opened the
desk with Il duplicate key. TO his
hand he found some marked money,
which he appropriated and put into bis
| pocket, but he had not relinqushed his
grasp of the coins when his face flush
ed, his eye went round the room, he
trembled, and, with shaking hand,
he withdrew the pieces from his pocket
and restored them to the desk. Then
he hurriedly relocked it and withdrew
from the room hastily, averting his
face from the desk AMI setting his
| teeth.
Conscience, my man." l thought
conscience has been too much for
you"
But what was l to 90?
There was no help for 1t. I must
wait for The prearranged time for my
! release. | still looked through the key
hole and kept as quiet as a mouse,
when In about ten minutes | 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 if 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 l opened the door of the
| lavatory and went behind the footman.
1 John | said. Il want that money
you have liz your right hand waistcoal
! pocket"
The man turned, saw me- shrek ed,
! and fell in fit.
! At the noise the servants rushed up
( from below stairs. There they saw the
] footman senseless on the floor and u
stranger bending over him.
Who was the thief. the footmaa o.
the stranger? Most likely the latter.
/ SO they seized him.
Fortunately the master Of the house
soon aftcr0ard returned. and a few
Y explanations set matters 10 rights.
+ | cook the first opportunity Of asking
; the footmas something which had puz-
aled NE
John" | inquired. Il saw You come
Y Into the rcan, the FIRST time. take the
money anil then PIT il bacl, again.
+ Why I'D yen do that?'
y M LausloWne." he answered. YOU
are quite right. tid do 50. put tae