Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-10

street door to speak to clerk; and he was
joined almost Immediately by his son.
WELL Paul." said the father, have got
down here before you after all. and in spite
of your running away last nignt?'
mo" the son responded. II was the first
to arrive this morn!ng-!uckily."
Luckily" echoed his father. II suppose
that means that you have been able to ac-
comp!ish your Representatives, it was.
You didn't tell me. you know"
I'm ready to tell you now, father" said
Paul, "since l have succeeded
Walking down the store together they
came to the private Office.
AS the old bookkeeper saw them he start
ed up and made as though to leave the
office
Keep your seat, major" cried Mr. Wheat
croft, sternly, but not unkindly. Keep
your seat, please"
Then he turned to Mr.. Whittier "I have
something to tell you BOTH he said, ''and
1 want the major here while l tell YOU.
Paul, may I trouble you to see that the
door is closed so that we are out of hear
irg?"
Certainly" Paul responded, as he shut
the door.
well, wheatcroft." Mr.. Whittier asked.
what is all this mystery of yours now?'
The Junior partner swung around in his
chair and faced Mr.. Whittier.
my mystery?" he cried. ITS the mys
terry that puzzled us all-and I've solved it"
What do you mean?" asked the senior
partner.
What I mean is that somebody has
been opening that safe there in the corner
and reading our private letter book and
finding out what We were bidding on i'm
portant contracts. What I mean is that
this man has taken this information
llched from us and has sold it to our COM
retitors. who are not too scrupulous as to
be unwilling to buy stolen goods!
I'VE all suspected this, as you know,
the elder Whittier said. ''Have you any
thing new now?''
Haven't -" returned Mr.. Wheatcroft.
1--WE found the man! that's all"
you, too?' calculated Paul.
"Who is he?" asked the senior partner.
"Wait minute" Mr.. Wheatcroft begged.
Don't be in hurry, and I'll tell you.
possessed me, but 1 felt drawn down town
for some reason. I wanted to see if any
thing was going on here. 1 knew we had
nade that bid Saturday, and 1 wondered
day. So I came down about o'clock-and
l saw a man sneak out of the front door
of this office. I followed him as swiftly
as 1 could and as quietly. for didn't want
to give the alarm until l knew more The
man did not see me. and as he turned to
go up the steps of the elevated railroad
station at the corner 1 saw his face"
Did you recognize him?' asked Mr..
Whittier.
YES" was the answer "And he did not
see me. There were tears rolling down his
cheeks-perhaps that's the reason. This
morning l called him in here and he has
finally confessed the whole thing"
''Who-who is it?' asked Mr. Whittier.
dreading to look at the old bookkeeper,
who had been in the employ of the firm
for thirty years and more.
1T is Major Van Zandt" Mr.. Wheat
croft declared.
There was a moment of silence; then
the voice of Paul Whittier was heard say
rg. Il think there is some mistaken
"a mistaken" cried Mr.. Wheatcroft.
What kind of a mistaken"
"A mistake as to the guilty man. re-
spcnded Paul.
do you mean that the major isn't
guilty?" asked Mr.. Wheatcroft.
That's what l mean" Paul returned.
But he has confessed" Mr.. Wheatcroft
retorted.
Il can't help that" was the response.
"He isn't the man who opened that safe
yesterday afternoon at half-past and
took out the letter book"
The old bookkeeper looked at the young
man in frightened amaZement.
Il have confessed it," he said, piteously.
Il have confessed it,
Il know you did. major" Paul declared,
not unkindly. And l don't know why you
did. For you were not the man."
and If the man VINO confesses is not
the man who did it. who is?'
Il don't know who he is-although I
have my suspicious" said Paul. But I
have his photograph-taken in the act"
(To be continued on Wednesday,