Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 32, Number 254, 21 October 1907 — Page 7

By ELLIOTT FLOWER Mi ir tiAi

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Copyright, 1907, by Tftomoi T. McKee. FENN seemed rather pleased when he made ths discovery that he had been robbed. The loss ' was not heavy, and there seemed to be some compensating advantages, although he did not admit it. Outwardly he was much disturbed, but there was an undercurrent of satisfaction occasionally discernible. To understand this strange and unobtrusive spirit of contentment one must know something of the circumstances, which may be given briefly as follows: Fenn was a manufacturing jeweler and had all of the third floor of a modest store and office building for his workrooms and showrooms. He also had a cashier, upon whom he had learned to look with much approval. She was a very satisfactory cashier, but he was of the opinion that she would be even mora satisfactory as a wife. The cashier, however, did not seem to take his view cf the desirability of establishing other than strict business relations with him, and he had reached the conclusion that the influence of one Desson was largely responsible for this. With Desson properly out cf the way, tho field wculd be reasonably clear. Now, it would have been the easiest thing in the world for Fenn to discharge Desson, but he wculd not then be "properly" out cf the way In fact, he would not be cut cf the way at all, so far a3 any matrimonial purpose was concerned; on the contrary, the apparent injustice of this wculd be likely to make him a more important factor in the situation than before. But Desson happened to be the one to whom suspicion pointed In the matter of thi3 theft. Desson as a thief would be eliminated, while Desson as a nnrtyr would be merely a greater menace. So Fenn was able to take a philosophic view of his loss, which was no move than he would have paid cheerfully to gain the object ha sought. Such a wife, he reflected, was cheap at any price. Fenn's position was tho mere advantageous because he had at no time presumed upon the fact that he was her employer to force hl3 attentions on the girl. He had given some evidence of his interest, which she had received with such indifference as to convince him that some one else occupied her thoughts, and he was not long in deciding that Desson was the man. Thereupon he had withdrawn to study the situation. A wise young woman ought not to hesitate .bet wen her. employer and her fellow clerk, but It is a well-known fact that young women are disposed. to be foolish in affairs of the heart. Fenn could sec, however, that this development was going to Wake a great difference, and there was consolation in the less. His first Impulse was to have Desson arrested at once, but his lawyer advised against this course. The circumstances made the presumption of guilt strong, but there was an annoying lack of direct legal evidence. Certain articles, left to be repaired, had disappeared. The repair dspartment had a special safe of its own directly back of the cashier's cage, and trills safe was in charge of Desson. He kept a record cf everything delivered to the workmen, which record vJ.-as checked up by tho cashier twice once when the reticles were delivered, and again when they were Returned and then filed in Fenn's cflice as a report fof the work of that department for the day. Coming jor going, everything passed through the cashier's

! wicket, but her jurisdiction and responsibility ended after checking up the record with Desson, for she i had no access to the -r.fo and nothing to do with putting the articles away for the night; she simply '.verified the report and delivered it to Fenn. The lawyer listened ta this examination, and shook his head. j "It is not legally convincing," he declared. "Act hastily, and you'll- accomplish nothing at all. What's als explanation?" "He offers none." ', "And hers?" ' "Her knowledgs docs not go beyond the record heet, which she checked up and turned over to me. I talked to h?r first, without telling her just what the trouble was, and she assured me that she checked up carefully and found everything there." "How about collusion?" persisted the lawyer. "Oh, entirely out cf the question," answered Fenn, quickly. "I'd trust Miss Walters with my bank account. Besides, ho admits that everything was there hen the record sheet was checked up, so that lets kAr out." "What does he say? ! "He says he does not know when or how the things 'cild have been taken; they were simply gone when a.ed for, which wa3 several days after the workmen hal finished with them. That is another thing that mkes it look bad for Desson; a person who lacked Ms knowledge could hardly have picked out the particiijar things that would not have to be produced wtyn the repair men went to work in the morning. You can 8ee Q0W this may have delayed the discovery le theft. Occasionally, jewelry lies in that safe a raoth or more after the repair work is done before Jt J) called for." "it looks bad," admitted the lawyer, "but it's a case r a detective first." :t occurred to me," suggested Fenn, "that, with) the acts at y0ur command, you might put the situation Ia uch a way as to overwhelm him. If not, an ar"st. immediately afterward might do the business." Possible, but not probable," returned the lawyer. Meanwhile, you put him on his guard and destroy nl chance of securing the necessary evidence. He von't try to dispose of the stolen articles as long as Jie thinks he is under suspicion. It won't do to be iasty." ! "No," said Fenn; "there are personal reasons why 1 do not want to appear hasty or unjust, but I don't Vlsh to delay action longer than is necessary." "Then have him watched." advised the lawyer; get a detective, and let me know all the developments." Fenn followed this advice, which gave him the 'reputation of being a most just and considerate man, for, of course, the other employees knew that circumstances pointed strongly to Desson as the guilty man. 7en Miss Walters seemed to be impressed, and Fenn looted "with satisfaction many indications of a misunderstanding between her and Desson. Evidently, jte thought, the exposure had come in time; sho ha'd uot reached that stage of love-blindness that makes it impossible to judge fairly, and this was gratifyingit encouraged him to remark that, while the case seemed convincing, he wished to be' absolutely sure o which she replied perfunctorily that it was very generous of T-lm. As a matter of fact, the detective employed discovered practically no new evidence. Desson had no bad habits and was In no serious financial diffi;c!

NEXT WEEK,

ties; he never patronized pawnbrokers, and a secret search of hi3 apartments revealed no signs of the missing jewelry. The only thing that seemed to have the slightest bearing en the situation was the fact that he was trying to buy a little house on the installment plan and was occasionally rather hard

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'I TOOK THOSE pressed to make the payments. Fenn was wonderfully patient during this time. "I den't want to make any mistake," he said repeatedly; "but," he usually added, "I don't want a dishonest man in my employ a moment longer than is uecessary." It was rumored in the shop that he wholly disregarded his own personal convictions and left everything to the judgment of his lawyer. And finally the lawyer decided that the time had come to act not because any conclusive evidence had been secured, but because it seemed impossible to accomplish anything more by detective methods. "After all," said the lawyer, "he seems to be the only one who could have done it, and his little real estate investment has crowded him financially. Perhaps sharp, drastic action will break him down. The ostracism of the ether clerks must have weakened his nerve a good deal." The ostracism had affected him. Formerly cheerful, he had now become sullen, and there could be no doubt that he would have resigned his position had circumstances permitted it. One could hardly resign while under suspicion, however, even if that suspicion had not been openly expressed before. But he certainly had net been brought to the point cf confessing. The lawyer made the case leck very black fcr him, but he doggedly protested his innocence. Fenn intimated that contrite repentance would save him from prosecution, but he sti'.l insisted that lie knew nothing cf the missing articles. Then he was allowed to go back to work. "Have him arrested when he is leaving to-night," said the lawyer. "A few days la jail may make him take a different view cf the matter." "No," returned Fenn. "Whatever I do in this case Is going to be done openly. If the time ha3 come to arrest him, I'll have it done in the shop at once, for the moral effect on the other employees." It was the effect upon one particular emploj-ee cf which he was thinking; he was now in a position to make the disgrace emphatic, and the opportunity was not one to be lost. "Perhaps it's just as well," acquiesced the lawyer. "You and I know that he took those things, and the harder we hit him the more likely he is to see the folly of denying it." This seemed to be reasonable, and there was nothing intricate cr confusing about the plan. It is a very simple matter to arrest a man on much less evidence or on no evidence at all, and a man once arrested is at a great disadvantage. It may be confessed that, while expressing regret at the necessity, Fenn was really able to take a very cheerful view of the affair. He even found time to be rather glai that he had lost about $500 in this way. But the simple and straightforward plan failed to work out exactly as expected. Miss Walters was in the cashier's cage when Fenn, . the lawyer and a policeman appeared. She readily understood the significance cf this move, and at once began to lock up her cash. Then, slipping out of the cage, she joined the group of which Desson and the policeman were the center. "Are you arresting him?" she asked. "Yes, Miss Walters," answered Fenn. "I have been slow to believe this of him, but " "But you are making a mistake." she interrupted quietly. It was not the hysterical protest )f a girl in love, but rather the confident assertion of one who knew the facts. "I wish I could believe it," said Fenn, hypocritically. "I have distrusted my own judgment, but those I have consulted " "You are making a mistake," repeated Miss Walters. "I took those things myself." "Ycu!" cried Fenn. staggered. "Impossible!" "Absolutely impossible!" exclaimed Desscn. "Every, thing was checked up and delivered to me, as the record sheets show. I admit that." "I took those things myself," said Miss Walters again. "Instead of being impossible, it was very easy. Everything was checked up properly and deposited in the trays, but I abstracted the articles from one tray while the others were being put in the safe. Mr. Desson's confidence in me made it a simple matter." "What did you intend to do?" asked the lawyer, while the others were recovering from their bewilderment. "I intended to resien and go away," she answered. "I did not think the theft" she hesitated a little at the word "would be discovered so soon." "Then why do you confess now?" the lawyer sisted."I can't let an innocent man suffer." she replied. "That would be horrible. I never thought of that contingency." "This is simply preposterous!" Fenn interrupted excitedly. "On the c-ntrary," returned the lawyer, "her story is very complete and convincing."

By Cyras

"What did she do with the articles?" demanded Fenn. "I threw them away," answered Miss Walters unhesitatingly. "You see." cried Fenn, addressing the lawyer and the policeman. "She's merely trying to save thi3

THINGS MYSELF!" 1 man. "I was afraid to keep them after the loss was discovered," explained Miss Walters. "They are somewhere ia the mud at the bottom cf the river." Desson was too dazed to do more than protest that it was impossible, in which Fenn joined, but the lawyer and the policeman, having no sentimental interest, we-e able to see how perfectly her story coincided with the known facta. "What shall I do?" asked the policeman. "Nothing,'1 answered Fenn. "I am ready to go with him," said Miss Walters. "Go back to your work," instructed Fenn. "I've got to think this thing over." Desson, now being free to act, promptly resigned. Then, after gathering together his personal possessions, he stepped at the cashier's cage. Her face was tense and white, but she spoke calmly when he addressed her. "You didn't do it!" he said bluntly. "Did you?" she asked. "No." "Yet the evidence shows that one of us did." "I'm sure you didn't," he declared, "and you weren't even suspected. Why did you " "Don't let's talk about it," she interrupted. He hesitated a moment, and then passed out, trying vainly to formulate some satisfactory plan of action. At any ccst he must save her. Fenn, meanwhile, was having an excited interview with the lawyer. Fenn maintained that the confession was due to some emotional vagary, but the lawyer insisted that it was plausible and convincing. "I knew s'-'e didn't do it'" a?r.rrted Fenn. "It's a clear case," insisted the lawyer. "A manu-

"MISS WALTERS,- HE ANNOUNCED, "IS GOING TO RESIGN."

factnred story couldn't fit the facts so perfectly. Of course, the confession itself was due to emotional impulse, but she is certainly the thief." He then went over all the points carefully, while Fenn leaned back in hi3 office chair and scowled. "If you don't Eart

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care to prosecute." the lawyer concluded, "It is

no affair of mine, but there can be no doubt " "She's a fool." interrupted Fenn, "but that's all! She didn't steal anytning." The lawyer shrugged his shoulders. "My dear sir." he said. ' the innocent don't make su"h silly s?.eri.!"es in these days. The mystery cf the lest jswelry is cleared up." Fenn pondered that declaration when he was alcne jx r..s "Is it "IT-.e I rel u ?" he r I:e l himself doubtfully. ..!- : t!.i::-3 cr am I a.vV.;e? I'm a'.iv.cst ccuvi.: ? ' He lo."::ti the door cf his cflice end then unic-h: 1 a drawer cf his desk. "Is it?" he asked again. "Ht'r eanfer-sicn in the presence of witnesses would send her to the penitentiary; the case is ccnciu.ivj; a jury wouldn't take fiv minutes over it. LiJ she steal these things cr are thoy here?" He tcck the missing articles from the drawer and lai 1 them on the deck. "They're here," he went on. "She confesses to stealing articles that have not been cut cf n:y possession, and she makes a ttrcng case of it. tco; I almost believed her myself." H put the thir.ss away and locked the drawer again, after whi; h he leaned back and scowled at the ceiling for several minutes. "I suppose," he commented at last, "I suppose the situation is comic, but don't seem to be able to laugh. Desson gees scct-free, and I'm busy tryir," to dedge the reeessity of arresting the girl I did it for. Oh, it must be very funny." Fcr two days Miss Walters waited in momentary expectation of arrebt, or, at least, discharge, but nothing happened. Then, the suspense belns; bearable, she sought an interview with Fenn In unhis private cfhee. "Am I to be arrested, Mr. Fenn?" she asked. "Net now," he answered, evasively. "Discharged?" "Net now." "Then I shall resign," she announced. "1 den't think I can permit that, Miss Walters," he returned. "But but something must happen!" she cried. "Not necessari'y," he answered. "Of course, if you tried to leave, I might feel obliged to act." Slcwly this new situation dawned upon her; she had put herself quite at his mercy, and he was taking advantage of it in an unexpected way; it might yet happen that she would have to choose between him tnd jail. This was another contingency that she had not contemplated. It had not been bo difficult to face arrest when she made her confession, but to live with the threat of it hanging over her was quite another matter. "Why did you do it?" he asked, after a moment of Uncomfortable silence. "Because because it was so easy, and I wanted ihe money," she answered. His question had referred to the confession, and not to the theft, but he followed this lead. "You still insist that you actually took the things?" he inquired, and there was almost a plea for denial in his tone. "Of course," she replied. His glance strayed Involuntarily to the locked drawer in which the articles rested, and his face relaxed into a grim, mirthless smile. "Well." he said, significantly. "I don't feel that I can spare you just now, and the future will depend upon j'ourself. There is no real reason why anything more should be heard of this unfortunate affair." She went back to her work, more troubled than before, fcr she knew now that she had lost her independence. How could she discourage the attentions r' a man who could send her to jail, a man to whose generosity she owed her liberty, an employer from whose service she could not resign? And the prospect of jail is not pleasing to even the martyr. Fenn asked hcv to go to lunch with him, and she went. He hinted that he would appreciate an invitation to call, and she extenJed it. He was wise, he was prudent; he wanted her to be grateful for his forbearance, but he did not lose sight of his advantage And neither did she, for she knew to what all this tended, and it was net pleasant to be wooed by a man she could not safely refuse. Consideration of all the circumstances made him almost as contented now as he had been with the original loss. The developments had been along unexpected lines, but the situation was fully as satisfactory as the one he had sought to create. Thi3 was the way it looked to him before Miss Walters came to his private office, unsummoned, the second time; after that he had the same eld difficulty in appreciating the comedy features that he knew existed. "Mrs. Baldwin ha3 called for her brooch.' Miss Walters announced briefly. "Well?" "Well, it's at the bottom of the river." "Oh!" he ejaculated, as he caressed the lock of a

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drawer that he dared net open; "It's at the bottom of the river, is it?" "Of course." "I shall have to get it " "How can ycu?" He glanced at the drawer, as if expecting it to at swer. and then locked quickly away. "Oh, I can't," he answered: "I spoke thoughtlessly. Tell her to come back next week." "Shall 1 tell her it is lest?" "No. no; ly no means. Perhaps perhaps com fisherman " She gave him a look of such astonishment that he stopped abrui tly. "She is Impatient," she said, "and she prizes that brooch very highly. "I'm afraid she'll name a high finure when it comes to paying fcr it." That gave him a disagreeable Jar. Paying for it! Would he have to pay for a brooch that be ba4 locked up in his desk? If so. be would bave to pay for all the ether articles, and at stiff prices, too, "It's a ridiculous situation," he mused, whin alone again, "but not humorous not at all humorous. I have the things and I can't produce tbsm; they're at the bottom cf the river. But I've got to produce them. Their value. If lost, will swell from $500 to something like $S00, and I can't afford to fight the claims. Think cf paying S00 in cash because I can't return $500 worth of jewelry that is within reach of my hand all the time! Oh, I've got to recover those things. But how?" He was still puzzling over this when his lawyer called, bearing important news. There oould be & question as to the Importance cf the news. "I've found a man." said the lawyer, "who the missing jewelry thrown into the river." "He saw It. did he?" asked the troubled Fean. "The fact i," explained the lawyer, I was rather annoyed by your insistence that I was wrong, so I followed the matter up. This man saw a girl throw some things into the water from the bridge. We'll eee If he can identify " "Quite useless," Interrupted Fenn. "Really, Mr. Fenn "this is almost like compounding a " But Fenn's patience was exhausted, and the things he said made it very clear to the lawyer that he was going to have hla own way. He went for the keys again, however, the moment he could do so with safety, and he seemed quite relieved when he found the articles were still wher he had put them. "I've got to 'recover' these things." he muttered peevishly, "before I'm fooled into sending & dives down after them." Then, after a moment of thought, he put them la his pocket and went out In search of a discreet youns; man whose existence he happened to recall opportunely. To this young roan he entrusted the Jewelry, some instructions, and a ten-dollar bill, the money being in payment for services to be rendered. After that, knowing just how, when and where the missing articles would turn up, he felt more oomfortable. Returning, he found Desson awaiting him. Deasea had been trying desperately to secure some explanation of the mystery that troubled him. so that ha might plan wisely and effectively, but Miss Waltara had resolutely refused to see him. "Mr. Fenn," said Desson, "I have come to confess " "Quit it!" thundered Fenn. -This is no Joke!" "Indeed it's not." said Desson gloomily. "You couldn't!" "But I did. I tell you." "Perhaps you've got them now," suggested FeasJ doubtfully. "No." "Well, that's some relief," muttered Fenn, and, forgetting what he had done, he came very near making a dive for the drawer. "There's getting to be too much magic in this thing for me." "I tock them." said Desson. "Then 1 became frightened and dropped them into a sewer. I shall be glad to write out a confession " "No, you den't! " interrupted Fenn. "Those thing! are In too many places now." "Well, if you will send for an officer " "No," Fenn Interrupted again, speaking more ViniiB-htftill v "no Ton'r too late. Thl thtnr has

reached a point where I've got to choose who did It, and I don't choose you not now. Get out!" Desson retired wonderingly, to find Miss Walter waiting to intercept him. It may be that Miss Walters had discovered something significant In Fenn's attitude during his last Interview with her, something that cleared up all doubts; at any rate, she had experienced a change of heart in the matter of seeing Desson. and was waiting for him. Furthermore, 1C one was to judge from their faces, they quickly reached a highly satisfactory understanding. "I couldn't believe you had done it for me," he said. "I couldn't let them send you to the penitentiary,' ehe returned. Then he took her by the hand and led her bacX Into Fenn's office. , "Miss Walters," he announced, "is going to resign." "What have you got to say about it?" demanded Fenn. "Why," answered Desson. "she has Just given mo the risht to ?ay everything." Fenn scowled and hesitated. His case was weakened, but he did not like to be defied. "I don't think I can permit it," he decided. Tasra Is the confession " "Two of them," Interrupted Desson. "Devil take yours!" , "As you please," returned Desson; then he added: "We don't fully understand this matter, Mr. Fenn. but we think you do, and we're going to force your hand." f "I'll show you!" threatened Fenn. The telephone bell interrupted, and he unhooked the receiver. It was his lawyer his infernally iruuuiKBuma lawyer. "I want to apologize," said the lawyer; "I was mistaken about that case." "Yes?" returned the puzzled Fenn. "Yes. It wasn't the girl, in splt3 of her confession, and the articles were never thrown into the river. The police have just recovered them at a pawnshop." "Yes?" said Fenn again, and there was a note of the gravest anxiety in his voice now. "And we've captured the man," added the lawyer jubilantly; "got him while he was pawning tho things." "What!" Fenn fairly shouted. "We've captured tho man," the lawyer repeated, with the cheerful confidence of one giving Joyful tidings. "Has has he confessed?" asked Fenn In fear. . "Not yet, but " "I'll be ripht over," interrupted Fenn; but, under Lis breath, he was saying: "What a fool! I told him to be careful." His agent arrested! The man he had sent to pawn the things where they could be conveniently recovered! Very likely he was being "pumped" at that very moment! "You'll show us what?" demanded Desson, revert' Ing to the unfinished threat. "Oh!" returned Fenn. wiping the perspiration front his face and trying to smile, "I'll show you a nlco wedding present that I picked from stock for you thi ' morning at least, I'll have somebody show it to you. I have an Important engagement myself very important." Later Fenn seriously tried the patience of his lawyer by refusing to prosecute. Further, he made peace with the discreet young man by making him a present a nice little cash present. Incidentally, he gavo every evidence of being an unhappy and disgruntled man, who had put himself to much trouble to purchase a "gold brick" of his own manufacture.

Young