THE WRONG UMBRELLA. 261

at which it had been left by a gentleman to get the initials
E. H. engraved on the gold top. It was a mere chance
remark which led to its discovery, for when M 'Sweeny called
the umbrella was away at an engraver's, and had to be sent for.

I went over to the New Town very quickly and showed the
umbrella to the lady, who identified it—with the exception of
the initials—and showed marks and points about the ivory
handle which proved it hers beyond doubt. I kept the
umbrella, and went to the jeweller who had undertaken the
engraving of the initials. He described. the gentleman who
had left the umbrella, and, turning up his books, gave me the
name and address, which I soon found to be fictitious. He
stated, however, that the umbrella was to be called for on the
following day, and I arranged to be there at least an hour
before the stated time to receive him. When I had been
there a couple of hours or so—seated in the back shop read-
ing the papers—a single stroke at a bell near me, connected
with the front shop, told me that my man had come. I
advanced and looked through a little pane of glass, carefully
concealed from the front, and took a good look at him. What
was my astonishment to find that the "gentleman" was no
other than my old acquaintance, John Atkinson, the valet!

According to the arrangement I had made with the jeweller
■—in anticipation of finding the thief to be a man in a good
position in society—the umbrella was handed over to the caller,
the engraving paid for, and the man allowed to leave the shop.

I never followed any one with greater alacrity or a stronger
determination not to let him slip. 1 fully expected him to go
to his place in Moray Place, and intended to just let him get
comfortably settled there, and then go in and arrest him before
his master, who had been very wrathful at the last " insult to
his trusted servant."

But John did not turn his face in that direction at all. He
moved away out to a quiet street at the South Side, where he
stopped before a main door flat bearing the name " Miss
Huntley" on a brass plate. A smart servant girl opened the
door, and John was admitted by her with much deference.
When he had been in the house a short time, I rang the bell
and asked for him.

" He is with Miss Huntley," said the girl, with some em-
barrassment, evidently wishing me to take the hint and leave.

"Indeed! and she is his sweetheart, I suppose?"

The girl laughed merrily, and said she supposed so.