Litchfield enquirer., 1861-05-09
WHOLE NO. 1875.
to to no one else upon the subject, concluded to

10 no one else upon the subject, concluded to keep silent also.
 That U night is counted my money. but made no ehtry oI the account There was three hundred ant forty odd dollars. put 1t into a new calf. skin pocket-book. placed that m tho monev drawer. and locked the whole up in the safe, on the following morning found fifty dollars miss. ing 1 counted the money over carefully. and I was not mistaken. l began to feel unpleasant. ly My suspicious took very unwelcome turn,
 During that day pondered over the subject and finally hit upon the following experiment :
 When had locked up the safe for the night, spread uron the knob of the door, and upon the money drawer some pale red lead, being careful not to get enough on to be easily noticed I had left the cash account open, to be closed up in the morning.. When I next opened the safe, all was as had left it. The next night i fixed the knob in the same manner, and on the following morning found forty dollars gonei | Upon the pocket book were finger marks of red lead and when came to open my cash book found the same kind of marks there. So had learned one thing, the thief knew enough to see whether any account had been made of the mon. ey before he took it. felt more unpleasantly than before, for my unwelcome suspicious were I being confirmed. I had gained new light There was pecuarity in the red finger marks that told me sad story. Still 1 wished to try further.
 For two nights after this the safe remained undsturbed. but on the third night I missed seventy five dollars and had now set my trap more carefully. The red pigment was not only used, but had put private mark upon every bill in the drawer. The pocket-book and the cashbook were fingered as before, and the marks were clear and distinct.
 When the week was up, Mir. Warton came and asked me what had found
 "Ah,' he said, as he noticed the sorrowful expression of my countenance, you have failed to discover anything"
 Alas! I wish could say so," replied "I have discovered too much. In the first place the monsy has been taken from the safe and the key left in it's proper drawer, and locked up as usual. lso the cash book has been examin- ed each time to see if any entry has been made of the money. There has been one hundred and sixty five dollars taken in alb
 But how do you know the cash book has been examined?" Warton asked.
 II will show you," l said, producing both the cash and the pocket books. You see those red marks. fixed red pigment upon the door knob of the safe, and also upon the edges of the money drawer. You can sec these finger marks 2"
 "Yes." he whispered
 "And now," continued, 6 just examine them
 
 were turned over and also see how the strap of the pocket book was tucked into its place. Do you see any thing peculiar about it."
 "Only that the finger marks are very plain"
 "Rut can you not distinguish the thumb marks from those made by the Gngers?" "Yes-I can."
 "Then tell me this II said: : Y" TVhich hand did Ae tzisf use most aerte,ously in the arcsk2"
 THE LETT"
 "So he did' I returned. And all the marks have been made the same. The thief is left handed one; and he is acquainted with the store, and with our books, and can gain easy access here. But I have yet another mark. The last bills that were taken were all marked with small red cross upon the numerical figure in the right hand. and upper corner. You can follow those up. for have neither the courage, nor heart ot do it."
 The merchant sank back as pale as death.
 Henry is the onlj lefthanded person on the premises P he groaned. gazing on me as though he wished I would deny his statement. But could not. knew that his own son was the g lilty party.
 "Ask me no more," said, with tears in my eyes-for the fathers agony moved me. "The secret is locked up in my own breast: and nei- ther to you nor to any living being, will ever call the name of the one I suspect"
 The stricken man grasped my hand, and with sobs and tears he begged my pardon for the wrong he had done me and blessed me for the assurance had given him.
 On the following morning he brought me fif- ty dollars, in eight different bills, all masked with the red cross.
 II know it all now" he whispered, m broken accents. Be kind to me, and let this not go out to the world Y
 kept my promise. and lived to see the old man smile again for when Henry saw the deep agony of his father, his heart was touched, and he not only acknowledged all his wild sins and humbly begged for pardon, but he became true and good man, and an honor and ornament to society,"