Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1913-05-16
A MOT /
| lief
By LUCY K. WYNKooP

i u I
When mother and went to the city
we always stopped at the Arlington no
tel It was in quiet part Of town and
q hotel suitable for women.
We had finished one of these sojourns
in the city, during which we had done
considerable shopping. had packed
ny trunk and gone into mothers room
10 pack hers. Then went back to my
room. found the door ajar, which
surprised me, for had closed It when
I left the room, and In the center Of
the room saw a man standing. look
ing rather dazed. stood stock still,
looking at. him, when he said to me:
pardon me; must have entered the
wrong room"
He was a very gentlemanlike young
fellow and withal very handsome
nothing at all like q thief-and I was
about to say something to make him
feel more comfortable when noticed
that my trunk, which I had left closed.
stood open and the articles had laid
in it carefully were much disarranged.
I ran to it and found certain articles
parcels recently misunderstanding.
Then l was convinced that had
caught a 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
-,rsoI ~ ., q
For heavens sake. what are you
going to do?" ---~--...
SSummon assistance" l didn't feel
afraid Of him. Why l don't know. un-
less it was bis manner. which was
very deferential.
You don't need assistance. And II
you and I are caught here together in
your bedroom the consequences will be
unfortunate, to say the least l assure
you that have got into the wrong
ROOM"
"Who has robbed me?"
Robbed you?"
Eyes; articles are missing from that
trunk"
He at once turned his pockets inside
out to show me that he did not have
my property. Indeed. the lost arti-
cles were too bulky to be on his per-
son. besides being quite valueless.
was puzzled.
81 don't understand it," said.
Nor l. But I'm not going to remain
here to hunt for an explanation. Be-
lieve me, If l am found here it would
reflect upon you, a woman. far more
than on me. a man."
Co." cried 1T is bad enough to
be robbed without any additional mis-.
fortune ....
He slipped out Of the door and left
me standing over my trunk, bewi1der'
ed My brain was filed with conflict
ing conjectures concerning him. He
bore'the stamp Of gentleman. and yet
surely he was thief and by some
trick had got away with my property.
However, there was nothing for me
to do. so far as could see. but pocket
my loss and say nothing about 1t. This
course commended itself to me, be-
cause If the man were innocent l did
not wish to accuse him. The articles
lost were not of sufficient value to
make it worth while to appear against
him in court, even If could find him.
which was not probable. Besides. II
he were what he pretended to be 1t
might make trouble for me.
Soae months later l made another
trip TO the city and. with me was my
mother. and while walking along the
street met the man had found In my
room in company with a lady. whose
appearance was as refined as that OF
the man. l remarked to myself that
if he were thief he certainly had
livery aristocratic looking associates.
He saw me. recognized me and turned
MALE But as we were face to face but
q moment I could not see how lasting
was his emotion.
One day when l was at home saw
!, in paper an item headed ''Capture OF
a Noted Hotel Thief" The article went
on to say that thief whose assurance
was unlimited and who was master
of all sorts of subterfuges had been
T caught in a certain hotel and had con-
fessed, turning over plumber that ne
had been long time accommodating
The description fitted the man l had
/ found in my room at the Arlington. l
gave up all idea of his innocence. 1t
| gave me something of pang to do so.
| and yet why could not tell.
A few days later received note
| from the proprietor Of the Arlington.
repeating what had read In the news
| paper and saying that packages bear
ing ny name had been recovered.
Should he send them to me or would
/ cali for them? The latter course was
advised. went Immediately to the
j city and to his hotel.
I identified some property as belong.
! ing to me. and it was returned. was
anxious to see the thief, but could not
get sight of him without going to jail.
4 which would not do. Before / LETT
4 the landlord sent up to my room to
know If would meet him in the Ia.
] dies parlor. went down. and there
L -