The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-09
The Major S Lesson

copyright, 1906 by Mcclure Newspaper
syndicate.l
Major Thornton, U. s. A.. retired, was
at Margate, England Going one day
% bis room, he found in the hall Of the
Notei a diamond sunburst. His first
thought was TO go down to 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
Ghe lunch room when he went down.
While he was out on the promenade
there had been an arrest In the hotel.
The wife Of prominent manufacturer
stopping at the house had made an
cutlery 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 II was, OF course, ar
gued that he had passed It TO a 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 moment before she left the room.
She war most positive that she left II
behind her on the dresser. She would
swear to that in all the courts OF the
land, The aggressiveness and the posi-
tivenesa 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 Il, what
sort Of position would 1t put him INF
The major kept the sunburst In his
pocket Saunders had been put through
the third degree at the police station
and given his liberty. He had come
down from London fairly recommends
cd, and up 10 that moment no fault
had been found with him. He return.
"a 20 the hotel and talked about suit
Dor damages and family frightened the
woman into giving him hundred dol,
lars In cash and making a humble
apology.
When the waiter had been freed the
majors quandary was worse than ever.
II be restored the jewel he would be
asked why he delayed. II was very
doubtful also II his story OF finding IT
IN the hall would be believed. The
loser was too positive for that. The
man Saunders went away at once. II
che Jewel could In some way DO return
"a 10 the lady. would anybody believe
that the waiter had become conscience
stricken7 On tho contrary. wouldn't
everybody declare that the real thief
had become frightened and was still a
guest az the hotol3
How we argue 10 ourselves and how
other people argue about US are two
different things, As matter Of fact.
the major was tho last one to be sus-
pected, and yet he had the feeling that
Ill looked upon him with suspicion.
Whether at table, IN the smoking room
OF ON the sands, the subject was con-
ntRntly turning up and no sometimes
wondered why he was not arrested az
che criminal He stood this sort or
thing for two weeks and then decided
20 70 elsewhere He would go up to
london and from thence mail the
Jewel to the lady and 30 on to Paris
&c once. From the time he left the
hotel until the train started he was In
\ cold sweat. The sight Of a police
man gave him feet as cold as lee
When he reached London he suddenly
remembered that valuable parcel like
that must be recclpted for and the
name of the sender given. He might
give a false name, but II the parcel
was traced back wouldn't his person
ality be rememhered3 The major sat
on a bench In 81 James park trying to
figure II out when voice said;
''Maior Thornton, sir. II you win per-
init the liberty. sir
II was Saunders the walter He was
well dressed aud looking pretty chip
per The major made room for him on
the bench. and tho walter sat down to
contlnue:
"Major, that WAS bad deal they
gave me at Margute."
eyes" was the reply,
"lt may bo the means Of running an
honest mans reputation. such things
get cut. you know. and once man In
Shis profession IL spotted as crooked no
hotel wants him thereafter. II hadn't
lost my head | should have made the
lady pay i've times tho price she did"
Il was not one OF those who thought
you took the sunhurst"
'srhank you sir thank you from the
bottom Of my heart You have given
me hope
"What | think" continued tho major.
rs that tho lady dropped the jewel In
the hall aud some one found aud kept
o."
aNnak FnW AAam All ~ ttt,., a. a.