Evening journal., 1909-07-17
The Major S Lesson
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ob N4uA bdtSs A1hbioAus NOluS OAc N19
TO his room, he found in the hall Of the
hotel 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
the 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
outcry that the jewel had been taken
from her room during Va 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 1t 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 a moment before she left the room.
She was most positive that she left 1t
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 1t put him in?
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 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 hundred dol
! lars in cash and making a humble
apology.
When the waiter had been freed the
majors quandary was worse than ever.
II he restored the Jewel, he would be
I asked why he delayed. 1t was very
doubtful also II his story OF finding il
/ 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 had become conscience
stricken7 On the contrary, wouldn't
everybody declare that the real thief
had become frightened and was still a
guest at the hotel2
How we argue to ourselves and how
other people argue about us are two
different things. AS a matter Of fact
the major was the last one TO be sus
pected, and yet he had the feeling thai
all looked upon him with suspicion
Whether at table, IN the smoking room
or on the sands, the subject was con
stantly turning up, and he sopetimei
wondered why he was not arrested az
the criminal. He stood this sort o.
thing for two weeks and then decided
to go elsewhere. He would go up Z,
London and from thence mail thu
jewel to the lady and go on to Parii
at once. From the time he left thu
hotel until the train started he was IL
a cold sweat. The sight Of a police
man gave him feet as cold as ice
When he reached London he suddcnl.
remembered that valuable parcel lik
that must be receipted for and thl
name of the sender given. He Nigh
give a false name, but II the parce
was traced back wouldn't his person
ality be remembered? The major sa
on bench in st. James park trying Il
: figure It out when a voice said:
Major Thornton, sir, II you viii per
NIT the liberty. sir
3 It was Saunders, the waiter. He wa
well dressed and looking pretty chip
per. The major made room for him o
the bench, and the waiter sat down {
continue:
"Aiajor. that was a bad deal the,
gave me at Margate."
yes" was the reply.
at may be the means Of running Al
honest mans reputation. Such thing
get out. you know, and once a man Il
this profession is spotted as crooked II
hotel wants him thereafter. II hadn'
lost my head 1 should have made tn
lady pay FIVE times the price she did"
Il was not one OF those who though
you took the sunburst"
T 'Thank yon. sir-thank you from tn
bottom OF my heart You have give
me hope"
what ! think" continued the major
"is that the lady dropped the jewel 4
the hall and some one found and KEEP
IT,"
Just my idea all the time sir. l
, must have been dropped in the hall an
picked up by somebody else"
} There was further talk. and after
r quarter OF an hour Saunders aros.
uttered his heartfelt thanks once NOR
and took himself off. He had been gon
ten minutes when the major felt in hi
pocket for the sunburst and Its bon
They we're gone also his wallet an
his watch. Saunders had cleaned hir
out as they sat talking. It was a bea,
uful case Of pocket picking and thank
rendering In one and though IL pt