The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-04-27
The Major $ Lesson

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fCopyright 1896. by Mcclure Newspaper |
~ Syndicatel
Major Thornton, e. S, A.. retired, was
at Margate. England Going one day |
Do bis room. he found in the hall OF the
hotel a diamond sunburst, His first
thought was to go down 10 the office
and turn In the lost jewel; his second
was to wait and give the loser a glad
surprise.
They were discussing the matter In
the lunch room when he went down.
While he was ont on the promenade
there had been an arrest In the hotel.
The wife OF prominent manufacturer
stopping at tue house had made an
outcry that the jewel had been taken
from her room during a momentary
absence. Suspicion was directed to a
waiter named Saunders, who had come
up to the next room with an order. and
when suddenly accused Of the theft he
became confused and embarrassed and
had been put under arrest and taken
away. None of those who saw him
and heard his lame explanations could
make the least excuse for him. A
search had failed to find the jewel on
his person but it was, Of course, ar
gued that be had passed 1t to confed-
crate.
The major heard all this and much
more. and he had started in to defend
the waiter and talk about the unrelia-
bility Of circumstantial evidence and
cite instances when the lady as
sured her hearers for the tenth time
that she had the jewel In her hand and
was looking at the hinge Of the pin
not a moment before she left the room.
She was most positive that she left u
behind her on the dresser. She would
swear to that In all the courts OF the
land. The aggressiveness and the posi-
tiveness Of the lady rather startled the
major. If she could not be made to
believe that she had dropped the thing
In the hall where he had found It, what
sort of a position would itput him int
The major kept the sunburst In his
uocket. Saunders had been put through
the third degree at the police station
and given his liberty. He had come
down from London fairly recommend
ed. and up to that moment no fault
had been found with him. He return
ed to the hotel and talked about a suit
for damages and family frightened the
woman into giving him a hundred dol
lars In cash and making humble
apology.
When the waiter had been freed the
majors quandary was worse than ever
If he restored the jewel, he would be
asked why he delayed. 1t was very
doubtful also II his story Of finding II
In the hall would be believed. The
loser was too positive for that. The
man Saunders went away at once. II
the jewel could in some way be return
ed to the lady, would anybody believe
that the waiter bad become conscience
stricken? On the contrary wouldn'
everybody declare that the real THE
had become frightened and was still
guest at the hotel?
How we argue to ourselves and hov
other people argue about us are tw'
different thicgs AS matter of fact
the major WIS the last one to be sus
pected. and vet he had the feeling tha
all looked upon him with suspicion
Whether at table, in the smoking room
mr. on the cards. the subject was con
stabtly turnltsg up and he sometime
wondered Why he was not arrested q
the crlminll. He stood this sort 0
thing for t.go weeks and then decide
10 20 elsevhnre. He would go up
London and from thence mail th
Jewel to the lady and 90 on to Parl
at once. I'rcm the time he left tn
hotel until th" train started he was
cold sweat The sight of polic'
man gave HIN feet as cold as ic
When he reached London he suddenl
remembered that a valuable parcel iiB
that must be receipted for and II
name of the sender given. He migt
give false name, but if the pare
was traced back wouldn't his persol
alit,y be remembered? The major 81
on a bench in ST.. James park trying
Sgure 1t out when voice said: