Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07
By EDITH FULLERTON SCOTT

take the opposite stand Therefore, with your per
mission both and maids will have to enter into
my calculations until this matter is cleared up. Now,
Mr.. Shipper, it is absolutely necessary for me to
remain on the premises for few days. l may run
the thief to earth in twenty hours but may take
longer and to aid in my investigations | must
become familiar with the home itself How can this
be managed without divulging my purpose?"
Mr. Shipper considered for moment.
Greatly, don't know. Of course, understand that
you must be on hand, but l can't see how you to
escape detection A hospital is like small village =
there are five hundred people under this root and
though is busy place, there Is always some one with
an inquring mind, and your presence here would
undoubtedly arouse curiosity"
Cant YOU create position for me?" suggested Mr..
Shields; zone that would give me not only reason
for being but authority to enter the sacred pre-
cincts of the home? Possibly there some altera
tons to be made there, and an estimate OF the cost
would be required"
A light dawned on the superintendent.
"That's happy thought. The board of managers
has appropriated a certain sum for the reurnShng OF
the bedrooms. l might appoint you assistant curator.
Then you could under the guidance of the jantress,
visit each room once anyway, and thus learn the lay
of the land without exciting comment. But" he con-
tnued Ethe curator doesn't need assistant, and how
can account to him for thus providing him with one?
every easily. You are going to create position,
which implies that is unnecessary In this instance
you do to help temporarily young Engllshman who
is stranded and has come to you for aid
''But you don't look the part" objected the super
intendent "You are undeniably an American"
"To-day, Mr.. Shippen [ am James Shields, Esq,
Mr.. Vanderbts understudy. Tomorrow l shall be
James-Overlook- it's a fad of mine to assume
suited to the part [ play with frayed London
accent and clothes to match
The following morning a official was introduced
to the regular hospital staff of clerks He was some
what seedyooking individual, slow of speech and of
movement, with eyes that blinked nervously behind
large spectaces Even Mr. Shipper failed to recognize
at in this shiftess specimen Of humanity the alert
well groomed man of the world with whom he had held
converse the day before. Gone the marks of
prosperity the fluent tongue and the easy manner laid
aside as readily as were the black mustache and side
whiskers. The curator not pleased with this
sharer of his labor but he had Mr. Shippers assurance
that the partnership would not be for long, he made
the best of it by leaving all the drudgery of his work
for Overlook and thereby managed to get numberof
free hours every day.
Overlook in this capacity, had the privilege of in
speCting every portion of the huge institution He
made point of going the rounds each morning, and
on the third day he made exhaustive tour of the
nurses home where he inventoried most mnutey the
contents of each room the disgust of the accompany
ing anitress, who had duties of her to perform
That afternoon the detective made his first report to the
superintendent He had hit upon important dis
covery and was hot upon the scent but wished help in
following up his clue Room on the third floor of the
home was the one from which the watch stolen
and therefore the of interest for him. While
he was inspecting it. the janitress opportunity
called away by maid, leaving him to his own devices
for half an hour He had improved the time by pro-
Ceeding with his examination He had noted that the
lock of the bureau drawer had not been tempered with