Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1865-05-18
M is cellany
THE NIGHT OF PERIL.
A DETECTIVES STORY.

vi course 1t IS to be expected Unat III
life like mine [ should often be expos.
ed to danger of personal character it
is the lot Of all detective officers, and I
have been no exception to the rule. In
the course of my life I have been sub
iected several times to extreme peril
In the following pages I am about to
give an instance Of such peril to the
reader.
One day I was sent for by the Presi-
dent of the Bank of Commerce. When
I arrived there I found the whole bank
in state Of CONSERVATION. The safe
had been broken into during the night,
and all the specie distracted. I imme-
diately proceeded to examine the safe,
and found that the locks had been forced;
but single glance was sufficient to show
me that it had been forced after it had
been opened, or in other words, that
whoever had taken the money had wish
ed to convey the impression that it had
been forced open from the outside. Of
course [ came at once to the conclusion
that some one connected with the estab-
lisbment had taken the money. While
examining the spot, found on the
ground single leaf Of a white Province
rose. 1t is the observation Of small things
that make good detective, for it is Of
ten the most trivial circumstance which
supplies the first link in the chain. I
did not pick up this leaf, nor indeed ap-
pear to notice it. After the scrutiny
was over, I went to the Presidents, Mr.
Cameron's, apartment.
We'll, Brampton, F" said he, "what dc
you make out of it %
''Do you suspect anybody connected
with the bank - | asked.
"Certainly not 1t is impossible that
anybody connected with the bank could
have committed the robbery; it must have
been the work Of burglars Did you visit
the cellar, where the robbers entered p
Yes, and found that the bars hac
been fled from the inside, y
Indeed but what do you make out
about the safe 2"
''That the lock was forced after tht
safe was opened
"Nbat do you infer from that?'
''That some one connected with the
bank is guilty Of the robbery; and he
has endeavorcd to make it appear that
it is The work Of professional burglars =
But, he has done the work very bung-
lingly.''
"'You must be mistaken" replied the
President. II would answer for all in
the employment of the bank with my
life "
~ am afraid you would lose it, I re-
piled, with smile, ''for there can be
no doubt of the truth Of my assertion"
But how will you prove it?"
"That remains to be seen. How many
have you in the employ of the bank 2"
Twelve, including the porter"
"Who has care Of the safe p
"NIr Charles Munsel.'
"Have any Of your clerks specia,
tondness for flowers -
That is a strange question. But
since you ask it, remember that Nun
sci generally has flower in his button
hole"
"Who is this Mupsel?"
"a very worthy young man. You
surely do not suspect him p
q shall be much surprised if he does
not prove to be the robber."
''Y GU astonish me He has the rep
utation Of being very pious.
Very well, we shall see. Where does
he live?"
'No.-, East Broadway"
"What time does he go to dinner? 2"
Sat two o'clock
"Just point him out to me as I q
through the bank, and | viii see yor
again tomorrow morning.
Mr. Cameron did as expected. Tht
young man [ suspected was about twenty
five years of age. He was quite hand
some; it might have been my fancy, but
| thought there was a hypocritical lJol
about his face. | glanced earnestly al
him, so that might engrave his coun.
tenance upon my memory, and then pass
ed into the street.
| directed my steps at once to East
Broadway, and calling at the clerk
residence, I found that it was furnished
in gorgeous style, far beyond his means
The door was opened by a shrewd old
woman. l asked to see Mr.. Munsel, but
was of course told that he was not at
home. But my purpose was answered
by my visit. for in the hall I saw guam
tity of choice fower-pots and among
them a fine Pr0Uiace rose. [ employed
the rest of that day in making inquiries
as to the private life Of Mr. Munsel, and
found that he was very extravagent in
his habits, and also discovered that on
that very day he had deposited a large
sum of money under a false name in the
Manhattan Savings Bank. The next