Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 82, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 January 1911 — COMEDY OF LOST NUMBERS [ARTICLE]

COMEDY OF LOST NUMBERS

A Woman’s Shrewdness Unlocks a Mystery.

“Oh, Maria, I’m ruined! Our wedding will have to be postponed.” “For heaven’s sake, George, what’s the matter?” “Fve lost twenty SIOO bills.” “Where?” “Where? What nonsense! If I knew where wouldn’t I go and find them? I’ve been robbed.” “Robbed!” “One.of the customers of the house came into the office last evening when I was alone and insisted on paying me $2,000. I told him that I would not receive it, as the safe was locked and I didn’t know the combination. Then he said he had to take a night train for Now York and 1 must receive it, as he wouldn’t carry it with him. Fearing he would report me to the firm and they would blame me, 1 consented; and gave him a receipt. After he had gone I put the bills in my inside pocket and started for home,, I can remember leaving the office and walking a short distance. Then my memory stops. At the end of a blank I was lying on the sidewalk with a crowd around me. The first thing I did was to put my hand in my pocket to feel for the hills. They were gone.” “Gone? Oh, George!” “A couple of policemen took me home, and mother persuaded me to go to bed.” “But what was the matter with you?’ “Why, the policemen say that I was undoubtedly follow<>d by some person or persons who sandbagged me and took the money. Any one could see Into the office, for the gas was on and the curtains not drawn. They may have seen me counting the bills and making a memorandum of their numbers after the customer had gone.” “You have the memorandum?” “That’s what troubles me. If I had that the bills could be recovered. I can't remember what I did with it” “Don’t distress yourself. George, dear. Since you remember making it, we must find it. First the office must be ransacked.” “The office has been ransacked and nothing found. I don’t believe I left it there.” “Nor I: It would be more natural for you to take it with you. 1 hope you didn’t put it in with the notes.” “I don’t know whether 1 did or not. My head aches yet. and 1 can’t remember much of anything.” “Do they blame you at the office?” “Oh, yes. They say that I had no business to receive the money under the circumstances.” * “And do they intimate—have they shown any disposition to suspect you”— “They don’t say so, but they look it.” “George, that memorandum must be found. You may have put it in some safe place in the office so unusual that it will he very hard to find It You must attend to that. I can’t help you. If you put It In any of your pockets I will find It, for I will go home with you and turn them all Inside out “Cheer up. Come; let us go to your home, and I will make a search.”

“First give me your coat-” “Here it is.” “Now your vest and trousers.” “Here they are.” “Your hat You may have put the money in the lining. No; it is not in any of your pockets nor your hat Did you have on gloves?” “No.” ‘ “You wouldn't have put it in yonr shoes. I’ve examined all your outer clothing. I don’t suppose you have any pockets in your underclothing?” “Not except in my nightshirt, in which I have a pocket for my handkerchief, but,” contemptuously, “I didn’t have on my nightshirt on the street” “Certainly not Have you got on the shirt you had on when you were robbed?” “No. Mother gave me a clean one to put on this morning.” “What did she do with the soiled one?” “Ohi my dear, you are wearing me out!” “If yon will get me the soiled shirt I’ll not trouble you any more." “Here it is ip the closet But I must say that it seems very ridiculous to overhaul a shirt to find a memorandum. But father gave me a long lecture the other night to serve me after being married about the singular ways women have of getting at things, and It may be that, after all,” very contemptuously, “there Is some connection between $2,000 and a soiled shirt Here it Is.” “Where Is the collar?” “Oh, that’s in the closet too. I suppose you want the cuffs?” “Yes, I do.” “Well, here’s the whole thing. By thunder!” “These marks In pencil on the cuff —what are they?” “The numbers of the notes.” “Thank heaven!” “You mean ‘thank you.’ Father’s right Women do have queer ways of getting at things. Give me a kiss—another, another, a thousand.”

Extract from newspaper item: A Qiiick Recovery.—A man attempting to change a hundred dollar bill yesterday on which was a number known to the police was arrested, and nineteen other similar notes that. had been stolen were recovered. George Randell, from whom • they were taken. Is to be married this evening. Mr. Randell’s employers have given two of, the bills to his bride as a wedding present