The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-10-30
zfiSccllancnslE
PUZZLED DETECTIVE.

| II L LEEIID III / III 1 / Il.
One morning early in June was sont
for by my employer, tho head Of Il detect
frc agency, and found visitor with him.
The latter rose when 1 entered, and the
chief formally introduced Us.
Mr. Vincent" ne said, addressing the
t;antlcman, This IS M. Eorland, the de
'cc:ivc, whom have been speaking to you
| about"
Mr. Vincent bowed, and I returned the
ti,lGtation. This is my card, sir" he
said, handing me the piece of pastebOard
as he spoke.
looked at the card. 1t bore the name,
Mr.. Horace Vincent" and in the corner
the name Of Mr. Nincent's firm, ''Leggctt
& Vincent Assayc!e; to the Bank of Great
| Britain"
We arc in great trouble said Air.
Vincent after 4 short pause. I'VE have
reason to believe that one of our assistants
is robbing us daily Of the gold dust which
passes through his hands,
"Indccdn' l returned. "Thdn why not
have the gentleman arrested ut oncG?'
Mr. Vincent shook his head.
That is impossible" he said, quite
impossible"
May ask Why" said brisllly.
1--WE cannot do so, because there is not
ore iot OF proof to justify such IN arrest.
Ever man is searched nightly on leaving
the promises. and this man whom we sus-
pcct has undergone tho same treatment.
Not one-tcnth Of an ounce Of the dust has
boon found on his person on any occasion. >
Then why suspect him?'' asked some
what impati"@tiy.
There is no ono clsoto suspect. At our
establishments we have some 20 assaying
rooms, and each room has made up its ac-
counts perfectly. with the exception of tho
room III which young Rcnsia4w is en-
piovcd Month after month consider
able deficit Occurs there.
How arc your searches conducted" [
asked after a short pause. do they pre-
rludo the slightest possibility OF any con-
ccalmcnt.''
They da-mcst thoroughly. If Rem
shaw carried on him one grain of dust it
could not escape the eyes of our se2rcher
1t is Z dreadful mystery"
If it is your wish that I should take
tho case in hand, VIII como and have n
looll ar your place and employees without
delay"
Mr.. Vincent sho0t hands with tho CHEF.
and I, havin- made 4 few necessary prep
| arations. sc1 oat with the ;sss&yer for the
scene Of the trouble.
AS he walked along I said: "Wha5 sort
Of follow is this young Rcnshaw? Where
did You pick him mp"
"Ah, that is tho most sorrswfU1 part
! cf the whole business, - replied Mr. VIM
| cont. His father WAS ny oldest friend,
md when he lay dying he contided the boy
to me. He showed great aptitude for the
! business, and l gave him full control of
! room 10 1t is the most important room
III the place, and the amount Of raw mate
rial that passes through it daily is enor-
NOUS"
| Glow much of the dust has been missed
| ogcther:" | ask i after short pause.
CLOSE or $50 ounces. You see, tho r0ll-
! berries have been extending over s"cnc time
now, and VIC are determined to either find
the thief or discharge every man i'll our
! employ"
| Il hope that there viii be no need for
| such an cxtremo measure" l remarked
Doubtless we shall bo able to bring home
! the crime to the cUlprit.
Il hope 50, indeed" he said, earnestly.
The worry ontailed on my partner and
| me by these dsgraccful GcprCdGtions has
been very great, and we would willingly
| forfeit Il large amount of money to run the
! thief TO earth.
No more was said until we reached Ghc
assaying rooms. Mr.. Vincent opened the
| door and, bidding INC follow him, passed
! rapidly into the room, No. II, whcrc the
robbcrics had been committed.
! y youn.. fellow was bonding over d pair
OF hair scales as we entered.
"That is Renshaw," whispered MIR Vim
cent. Quito 4 youngstcr, IS you see"
Rcnshaw, becoming aware Of my pres
| cnCc, looked up. / am something of q
reader of physiognomy, and, reading that
face, distrus5ed it ut once.
Dissipation had sot its mark on his ica-
lures, and his eyes bore 4 shifty, dcccittul
light, which gave them Il repuisiyc look,
! Although L am not given to jumping at
! conclusions, I could not help saying tc
myself, ''That is our bird"
Mr. Vincent was the first to speak.
"Renshaw, - he said in low voice, 81
am indeed aricyed that l should have tc
| speak TO you rs | am going 10 speak, but
there is no alternative. This gentleman is
IL private detective He has como TO in
quirc into the mysterious disappearance OF
the gold dust from this room.
we'll" said Eenshaw sulkDy, "what
has that to do with me, SIR
II only hope fer your sake and your deat
fathers sake that it has indeed nothing It
do with you. " returned Mr.. Vincent sadly
But the facts are 50 black against you
that I have determined To take up the mat
ter now AID pierce the heart of the Inys
tory. RCnshaw, it is not too late TO con
TESS l viii not bo hard on you, nor vii
Mr.. L2ggetr"
81 lave notning to confess" he re
turned modify. Il have never takc1
anything out Of this room that was no
my own property
If You are speaking the truth" sait
Mr.. Vincent not unlindly, how do YOU
explain that there is such a remarkable
deficit at the end OF each month in tho &c
counts connected with room II? Nobody
besides Yourself is allowed in here. II
! whom else can we look for an cNplana
/ Ji0n:'
Il cannot hclpyoul sir? no said quietly
/ Il am very sorry. G.! course. for what In!
occarrcd, tut it is out of my power to d,
anything in the matter
liz paused, ard tAeu broke OUT, aimos
pasSionat y:
"Harr4'U you sog"rhsd me night GEtc
night as i 1 were dock llGnrcT:" Il,
said. "Sur-ir j. ! hal .tialgn anything
it world h@,1 been found on me then
What more dn You WANT
Mr.. Vincent pu5 his hand gently On al
shoulder.
I've want to find tho culrrit, my hoy
that's all There is some great puzzl
Iarc-somc strange mystery, black a
night Rcnshaw, if you will take a las
chance, offer it to you now. If you Gr