The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-07-09

boy in constant attendance, besides myself, and |
all money received had TO pass throug my hands. |
Sometimes | made up nv cash account at night, /,
and sometimes rot till mex, morning.
In the latter case generally put the money |
drawer int the safe and locked il up. The key |
of this safe was kept i'll a small drawer, TO
which there were two keys, ore OF which Mr.. |
Wharton kept, and the other.
The only other person who helped US in the 1
store was Henry Wharton, nv employers only |
son, youth near twenty years OF age. He was |
preparing for college suder private tutor, but
fond time to help Us when business was driving. |
He was Kind hearted, generous fellow, ard q
| strong mutual attachment had grown up between
Us.
A first thought of getting him to help me
find the thief, but as Wharton had promised to
speak TO no one else upon the subject, conclu-
ded TO keep silent also,
That night counted nv money, but made no
entry OH the account book. There vas $SAO.
| l put it in pew calf skin pocket book-placed
that in the money drawer, and locked the whole
up in the safe.
On the following morning fornd $50 missing
| couIted the money over carefully. and vas not
mistaken. began to feel unpleasantly. My
suspicious took a very unweloome turn.
! During that day / pondered upon the sub
ject, and finally his upon the following expert
ment.
| When had locked up the safe for the night,
| spread upon the kaOb Of the door and upon
the money drawer, some pale red lead, being
careful not to &c! enough on to be easily noticed.
bad left the cash account open to be closed up
in the morning. When l next opened the safe
all was there as had left it,
Tho next night fixed the knob in the same
manrer, and on the morning following l found
$40 gone. Upon the pocket book were finger
marks of red lead and when came to open
ny cash book, had learned one thing-the
thief knew enough to see whether any account
had been made of the money before he took it.
l felt more unpleasantly than before, for ny un-
welcome suspicious we're being confirmed. There
was popularity in the red finger marks which
told me a sad story. Still wished to try fur.
ther.
For two nights after this, the safe remained
undisturbed, but on the third night l missed
/ SIS, and had now set my trap more carefully.
The red pigment not only used, but l had
put private mark upon every bill in the drawer
The pocket book and cash book were fingered
as before, and the marks we've clear and dis
tinct.
When the week was up Mr.. Wharton came
and asLed what had found.
"Ah!" said he, as be noticed the sOrrowfu
expression OF my cOuntenance, "y0u have failed
TO discover anything"
"Alas, wish could say so!" replied, 81
have discovered too much. In the first place,
the money has been taken from the safe, and the
key lett in its proper drawer. and locked up as
usual. Also, the cash book has been exam
ined each time to see if any entry had been
made of the money. There has been $l65 ia
ken in all"
'But how do you know the cash book has
been examined?" he asked
81 will show you" said. producing both the
cash book and pocket book "You see those
red marks? fixed a red pigment upon the
door knob of the safe. and also apon the edges
of the money drawer: You see those finger
marks 2"
'Yes!" he whispered.
"And now" continued, 'just examine them
carefully. See how the leaves of the cash book
we're turned over, and also see how the strap oi
the pocket book was tucked into its place. Do
you see nothing peculiar about it?"
''On!y that the finger marks are very plain"
'But caa you not distinguish the thumh
marks from those made by the fngerss"
!, ''Yes, | can"
Then tell me this" l returned. (Which
; hand did the thief use most de1terously in the
J work ~
Wharton gazed upon the marks, and finally
gasped
"The left"
$50 he did," returned; and all the mark,
have been made the same. The thief is q lef
handed one, and he is acquainted with the store
and the bOeks and gains easy access here Blu
| have yet another mark. the last bills tina
= were taken were all of them marked With smal
red cross on the numerical figure in the righ
;, hand, and upper corner. You can follow thes
up, for neither had the courage nor the hear
to do it,"
The merchant sank back, pale as death it
SELF
''Henry is the only left handed person on tn
premises" he groaned, and gazed on me a
} though ne wished me to deny his statement.
But could not. | knew that his own son wa
the guilty party
"Ask more" said, with tears in N
! eyoS, for tho Easho-'e agony doeply moved ms
"The secret is locked up in my own breast; An
= 4 neither to you or any living being will 1 eve
= call the name of the one whom suspect"
:; The stricken man grasped my hand, and wit
sobs and tears be begged my pardon for th
D. wrong he had done me, and thanked me for th
e assurance had given him.
&c On the following morning he brought me fit
{, dollars in eight different bills, all marked Wit
y the red cross.
II 81 know all, now" he whispered in broke
l accents. ''Be kind to me, and let not this e
u out to the world"
~ | kept my promise, and lived to see the o.
!! man smile again; for when Henry saw the dee
IL agony Of his father, bis heart was touched, an
a' he not only acknowledged all bis wild sins, sn
's s humsly begged for pardon, but became q tru
~ and good man, and an honor and ornament
N N society.