The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1906-03-02

We'll, you had better lose nc time go
ing upstairs" observed Miss Maria; che
may come any minute now. will lead
the way"
So saying, the sisters conducted the
detective up to their bedroom, a large,
airy apartment on the second floor, the
windows of which commanded clear
view of the road beneath.
This will do admirably" said Mr..
Clay. Il shall be able to see in min
ute if your visitor is the man | want.
His disguise will have to be very COM
plete to take me in. BY the by, Miss
Clutterbuck, it would facilitate matters
very much if We could catch the man
in the very act of stealing. Give him
every opportunity to pocket something.
promise you he shall not get away with
his booty
Trembling with excitement the sisters
went downstairs, and again settled
themselves in the drawing room to
await the coming of their visitor.
AS the minutes slipped by and no Wis
itor appeared, the good ladies began to
fear that Sunny Jack" was going to
disappoint them.
After half an hour of fruitless waiting
Miss Eliza grew impatient 81 don't be-
lieve anyone is coming" she said at
length; ''the man must have been
warned that the police are after him, and
has taken alarm. Anyhow am not go
ing to have that detective up there in
our bedroom any longer. shall go and
tell him to come down."
Even as she spoke. they heard the
front-door bell ring violently.
There he is exclaimed Miss Maria
in great excitement. Dear me, feel so
nervous. I wonder what he will be
like"
A min, sc later stout, red-faced lit
tie man Vas shown into the room.
The Mis- Clutterbucks looked up in
bewildermant. Surely this fat, elderly
man was not going to have the effrontery
to pass him5elf off as their nephew!
Excuse me, ladies'" said the new
conner, "for intruding upon you in this
manner, but my business is urgent. I
am Detective Moss of Scotland Yard"
What! Another detective!" ex-
claimed Miss Eliza, in surprise. "Have
you come after Sunny Jack too?'
"Yes," said the little man, quickly,
that is just what have come for. What
do you mean by another detective?'
why" said Miss Clutterbuck, de
tective Roderic Clay, also of Scotland
Yard. is at this moment in the house
awaiting the arrival of the notorious
swindler Sunny Jack who we believe
is about to pay us visit this afternoon
in the guise of our nephew Dick Clutter
buck" 49,
For a minute the new detective
seemed puzzled. "Roderic Clay" he re-
peated, slowly. 81 don't think" Sud-
denly light seemed to break upon him.
"In this house, now he cried, excited
ly; where is he?-quick!"
'In our bedroom upstairs" replied
Miss Eliza why, what is the matter?"
Without waiting to reply, Detective
Moss dashed up the stairs, and entered
the bedroom, followed by the sisters,
who were greatly puzzled at his vehe-
ment behavior They will never get
over the shock caused to their nervous
system by the sight that met their eyes
as they entered the room. The place
was in utter disorder: their wardrobe
ransacked and the less valuable con-
tents of the drawers strewn about the
room Worst of all, it needed but min
ute to assure the Miss Clutterbucks that
their jewel case was missing from its
accustomed shelf in the cupboard
my pearl necklace" gasped Miss
Maria. my amethyst bracelet. Where
are they?"
Miss Eliza was scarcely less over
whelmed.
where is Detective Clay?" she de-
manded: 'he shall be answerable for
this The thief must have robbed us be-
fore his every eyes"
Detective Moss surveyed the desolate
scene with grim smile.
Detective Roderic Clay, alias Sunny
Jack has gone off with your property
himself. madam" he said; evidently
he has had most successful afternoons
work"
"Do you mean to say" cried Miss
Maria. Historically. that Detective
Clay was Sunny jack HIMSELF"
"Of course, madam" said the little
man, quietly: there can't be two opin-
ions about it. should like to know how
he came to impose upon you so easily"
While Miss Maria endeavored to re-
store her shattered nerves with salvol-
atile, her sister, proceeded to give the
real detective an account of what had
occurred that afternoon. and ended up
by showing him the telegram signed
"Dick Clutterbuck."
MY word! but he is a clever scoun-
| drel," he said. when Miss Clutterbuck
| had finished her story. "No doubt Mr..
| Clay sent the telegram himself. He has
| just come from Australia, so l suppose
he heard out there about your nephew
| coming home. It's marvellous how he
gets to know about other peoples af.
| fairs
"Why did you not arrive sooner if
you knew he was coming here?" asked
Miss Clutterbuck, angrily.
unfortunately did not know he was
coming to this particular house. He was
seen in the neighborhood this morning,
and, consequently, We have been round
| warming most of the hOuSeholders this