Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-11-18

II began TO wear away. when one day
was amazed and Mortified to find an
other deficit Of nine hundred and eighty
four dollars. This time remembered
some Of the very missing bills, and
knew they had been taken from nv
drawer. aud vet h ID not LEFT the KEY
in it one moment while | was absent
from the room, and all day there hal
been present NJ least two besides nv
self; and there had been also people
coming and going all the time. hut these
we're separated from me and the clerks
hy railing. sd that it was impossible
for any person calling on business TO
,ppIoach nearer Ia my desk than fifteen
feet. This time. consulted with my
partners, and. after numerous theories
all which fell To the ground-we con
cluded to call IN the aid OF some re-
pu ed. able. Il t..ctve Off GER. AMI, hav-
ing applied IN the proper quarter for
such u person, W. were recon ,ncndcd
To Mr. Peter Schildorg. a gentleman,
who, by the wink he gave me after
had told him. the whole story, and the
assertion that. We'll fix this job up
IN half an hour convinced me that he
would, achieve nothing. Mr.. Schildorg
commenced his operations by glover
,ng upon my employees. one by one.
and looking into my money-drawcr.
and handling my money lovingly, 50
that | somewhat feared that he meant
to contiscate II As part of the evidence /;
and ended hy settling upon poor old
Conway. who. he my sterlously inform
cd me. was the guilty man, but could
give me no reason for it save that Mr.
Conway could not look him in the eye :;
tor which did not hlaine Conway, for
a more rascally. unpleasant eye sescr
nehcld in mortal man. had some
trouble in getting rid OF Mr.. SchlIdors
which was only accomplished bv br,b-
lag him of and submitting 10 his hints
tina, th r: must be some -nIne wroig IL
.iI, self. ina,mucli a- | was not willing
that the investigation should proceed
then though, ,ha, would play rnv
own detective. and. having put my
money in the drawer. as | always did,
watched the movements of every one
"lth the closest circum,pection. al
though appearing not 50 careful as
usual. Before going 10 lunch. each
day, l counted the money. and again
when returned: bat no result. until
one day. ON making up my daily ac-
counts 4 little before three O'Clock.
found myself Que thousand one hun
,lred ami thirty-two dollars short.
almos, jumped in as,onishtne.it from
INV seat, for the abstraction must have
occurred within threc-Quarters Of an
hour. and with myself In the room nil
the time. This was staggering ani
serious, aat. .-.l >y.ss. .Os. .-..... la ins.
self. Here were four thousand four
hundred and seveuty-three dollars
gone. and not the shallow of 4 clew.
Aiter another consultation with ms
partners, it hasLed across my mind 10
hunt up one B. ho IN his day hal
been celebrated as detective, but o.
whom had not heard for years. and.
If he were still alive. 10 submit the
matter 10 his judgment. The Direct
ory gave me his address. and in an hour
| WAS with him. B-sas interested.
but he had retired from business, rheu-
lna,ism was the only thing he detected.
and that /, his sorrow. He. hosever,
would recommend me 10 a gentleman
who. if he would take the job, could
unravel it. if it were TO be unravcllel
bv human skill. and he gave me let
ter TO the doctor. or Robert Blaisdell,
Nj. d.. as he strangely directed the
envelope Before went 10 bed that
night, | found Blaisdlell, and not only
engaged him, but, as could see, in
,eres,ed him, and he agreed TO meet
me the next morning AT the Office, and
So conduct himself that there would be
no suspicion OF his bus ness.
lie was there promptly, and opened
matters in the h,.aring of the clerks by
talking coffee, and proposing to sell
cargo of Rio TO arrive. He never APP
peared To look AZ any of my people,
but, with his pencil, As he was suppos-
ed TO be computing quantity aud price.
asked several questions. and in a'few
moments communicated 10 me his
belief that the clerks were all right.
That was a relief. Iopened the draw
er, freel, handling the money, and
giving him every opportunity to see It's
working. He was bothered. ] saw
that by his face. He asked me fthe
clerks could be sent out and we could
be alone for half an hour. Yes. at
lunch-time. in an hou'. all would 90
but Mr.. Conway, and | would contrive
an errand for him. Blaisdell went
away, and returned at that time, and
we were alone.
This thing is done by somebody
outside of your clerks, sir. but by whom
or how puzzles me. Let me examine
that drawer" said Blaisdell. Have
you any mice about!
lnere had been a stray one seen once
and hiie.
because you know such things have
been as mice using the soft paper Of
bank-notes TO make their nests. No."
he continued, after close examination
of the drawer-''nO mice" an he drew
the drawer completely out. and peered
back into the opening. 1T seems to
90 chOck up against the wall, and to
fit too close for even a mouse to get
in."
examined and found he was right;
but in a moment saw his face tighten
up, though | could not see at what.
Again he peered into the depth that
the drawer WAS taken from, and slip
ped it back quietly to its place. Then
he got up absently. took survey Of
the room, looked out Of the window,
and, saying. II will be back in few
minutes. walked into the street. and,
returning in less than five. said: