The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1913-06-13
A HOTEL
THIEF
By LUCY K. WYNKOOP

u hotel suitable for women.
We had finished one of these soiourn
in the city. during which we had don,
considerable shopping. | had packed
my trunk and gone into mothers room
10 pack hers. Then | went back to IN,
room found the door ajar, which
surprised me. for | had closed it wher
| LETT the room. and in the center oil
the room saw Il man standing, look
ing rather dazed. | stood stock still
looking M him. when be said to me:
Pardon me: | must have entered the
wrong ROOM"
tie was u very gentiemanlike young
fellow and withal very handsome
nothing ut all like n thief-and | was
about to say something to make him
feel more comfortable when | noticed
mat my trunk. which l had left closed.
stood open and the articles | had laid
~ II carefully were much disarranged
ran to 1t and found certain articles
parcels recently Notwithstanding.
llleh was convinced that | had
caught thief in my room who pre-
tended that he was there by mistake
went to the electric button and was
about to press it when he seized my
wrist and said:
For heavens sake, what are you
going to dO:"
summon assistance" | didn't feel
afraid of him. Why | don't know. I'M
less 1t was his manner which was
very deferential.
You don't need assistance. And IF
you ana are caught here together in
your bedroom the consequences will be
unfortunate. to say the least. I assure
you that ! have got into the wrong
room"
WHO has robbed me?"
Robbed your"
Yes: articles are missing from that
trunk"
lie at once turned his pockets inside
out to show me that he did not have
my property. Indeed. the lost arti-
'les were too bulky to be on his per.
SON. besides being quite valueless.
was puzzled.
u, L
Nor | But I'm not going to remain
iere 20 hunt for an explanation. Be
ieVe me. II am found here II would
'eHect upon you. woman. far more
nan on me. a man.
CO., | cried. 1T is bad enough TO
re robbed withouc any additional mis-.
ortune."
i1e silpped ont of the door and left
ne s.anclns over my trunk, bewilder-
NV brain was filed with conflict
* cohJectnres concerning him. He
orc Tue stamp of gentleman, and vet
'lfely he was q thief and by some
'irN had got aw ay with my property.
however. ther was nothing for me
"o' SO Iar as could see but pocket
> 'oss ana SAL nothing about It. This
''iSe conma nded itself to me, be-
'"se !! lhe faan were innocent did |
;. WISH TO accuse him. The articles |
>, were act Of sufficient value to |
''"e u we nth while to appear against
=. :" co. At. even IL I could find him.
''e" As not probable. Besides, if
We're what he pretended to be it
sne 'haf re trouble for me.
'on'e Ir onths later l made another
p !" t6 city and with me was my
'es'1a' md WI lille walking along the
cel y t the nan had found in my
IN compa ny with lady, whose
pea rance ws.s as refined as that of
aan. II unmarked to myself that
d : were a thief he certainly had
rNis aristpcratic looking associates.
;. saw me. recognized me and turned
lie. But as we were face to face but
moment | could not see how lasting
rs his emotion.
One day when 7 WIS at home saw
a paper an iteI headed Capture of
Noted Hotel Tt .ief." The article went
10 say that a thief whose assurance
us unlimited and who was master
all sorts Of subterfuges had been
ueht in a cert lin hotel and had con-
ssed. turning over plumber that he
ia been loi IS time accommodating
le description fitted the man | had
Hhd IN my 70 ON at the Arlington. |
We up all lido "a of his innocence. II :
We me sonnet hing of a pang to do so.
d yet why could not tell. |
\ FEW days fater I received a note ,
'm the prop tetor of the Arlington. ]
peatng what | had read in the news
per and saying that packages bear.
my name had been recovered ]
"'lid ne send them to me or would {
'all for them? I The latter course was I
'iSeu wen Immediately to the
y and to his b, tel.
identified SOM property as belong. ,
To me, and II was returned. | was J
Nious 10 see Il ie thief. but could not {
siGht of him without going TO Jail. {
''eh would mot clio Before | left
iaMtiord sc mt up to my room to
'w II ! wou ID meet him in the la.
: parlor went down. and there
'iue the pro prietoi' was the man
! found in ny room. =
rms is Mr.. Bra inard." said the pro t
'tor, who DIES Tres to offer you an
'iogy for som ething that occurred ,
q |