The Cotton Factory Times. — 1898-04-15 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

CHAPTER I.  0 Very sorry, Nield, but you will have to put up with a teaspoon for your soup this evening; that rascal walked off with most of the plate last night."  "No, James, hardly so bad as that. But he took a great deal more than we care to lose." "Has anyone been caught yet, sir ?" "No one. The police say they have a clue, but if so, they keep it to themselves, and won't even tell me what it is."  The above conversation took place at the dinner table of Doctor Beaumont, the headmaster of Gilstone School. Round this table wens seated the Doctor himself, Miss Janet Beaumont, his sister, who lived with and kept house for him, and Spencer Yield, a sixth form boy, who had been honoured with an invitation to dinner. _ . _ .  a jolly bore—very provoking for you, sir," maid Nield, forgetting himself, and then endeavouring to cover the slip by a more correct impression. "You're quite right. It is a jolly bore," said the Doctor, smiling. "Losing the plate is bad enough, but the feeling of being done out of it is almost worse."  "But, James, you ought to be thankful we were not all murdered in our beds," exclaimed Miss Janet, who was of a certain age, and very timid. " I only wish the scamp had tried that game. I should have caught him then. He would never have got into my room without my hearing him, and in a souffle I fancy I should have been able to give a good account of myself," and as Nield glanced at his host, he thought there was a strong foundation of truth in the remark, for the Doctor stood over six feet in his stockings, and was broad and muscular in proportion. "Yes, sir. I fancy he'd have got more than he bargained for," said Nield. "But how was it managed? We have had a lot of reports in the school to-day, but I have not heard the true story."  "Well, there is not much to tell. The man evidently came to the pantry window, prepared with a piece of paper smeared with pitch, which he stuck on the glass to prevent it falling, while he cat a piece out with a diamond, then he filed through the bar of the shutters, and so got into the place. Once there, he took his time, and picked the lock of the cupboard in which the plate basket was kept, and took everything there was of value, made a sack of the green-baize table cover, and carried the lot away on his back." "He must have been an old hand at the v-,ck," said Nield.  "Well, I don't know. He must have k.lown the house, I think, though, for be wasted no time in looking into different places, hut welit straight to where he knew the silver was."  " I should like to see the pantry and his handiwork."  "By all means. When ,ve've finished dinner we'll go down." "There you are," said the Doctor to Nield, later on in the even;rig. n'-• the two stood before the rifled !' There was no bungling there, wae., there ?"  "No, certainly not. It was cleverly done. Has he left no trace behind him ?"  "Nothing but an old file, and that is not worth muoh."  "Well, I hope he will be caught, though he is so clover; and now, sir, if you will excuse me, I'll say good-night. I have some work to finish before bed time."  " Certainly, Nield. By-the-bye, is there not a paperchase to-morrow ?" " Yes, sir." "Who are the hares?" "Ellis, Danvers, and myself." " Three good runners. You should lead the hounds a dance."  "We mean to. Good-night, sir," and the doctor ascended the stairs, while Nield turned off towards the boys' part of the house. He walked slowly, and sa soon as the doctor's step was inaudible, be turned back towards the pantry, meeting the butler.  "Hold hard, Jemmy, lend ne your candle and let's have another squint round. I couldn't half look while the doctor was there."  "What's the good of looking, Master Nield? He's got the silver, drat him! and there ain't a hounce of it left," and the portly butler stalked ont of the pantry, leaving Nield alone with the candle to make what search he liked.