Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-12-29
PUZZLED DETECTIVE.

PUZZLED DETECTIVE.
One morning early in June was sent
for by my employer, the head of detect
i've agency, and found visitor with him.
The latter rose when 1 entered and the
chief formally introduced us.
"Mr. Vincent, he said, addressing the
gentleman, this is Mr. Borland, the de-
tective, whom have been speaking to you
about"
Mr.. Vincent bowed, and returned the
salutation "This is my card, SIR" he
said, handing me the piece of pasteboard
as he spoke.
I looked at the card 1t bore the name,
"Mr. Horace Vincent" and in the corner
the name of Mr. Vincent's firm, "Leggett
& Vincent Assayers to the Bank of Great
Britain
we are in great trouble" said Mr.
Vincent after a short pause "We have
reason to believe that one of our assistants
is robbing us daily of the gold dust which
passes through his hands,
"Indeedp' I returned. "Then why not
have the gentleman arrested at once?"
Mr. Vincent shook his head.
"That is impossible he said, "quite
impossible"
May ask WHY" said briskly.
eve cannot do SO, because there Is not
one jot Of proof to justify such an arrest
Every man is searched nightly on leaving
the premises, and this man whom we sus-
pect has undergone the same treatment.
Not one-tenth Of an ounce of the dust has
been found on his person on any occasion. !"
"Then why suspect him?'' asked some
what impatiently.
There is no one else to suspect. At our
establishment we have some 20 assaying
rooms, and each room has made up it's ac-
counts perfectly, with the exception of the
room in which young Renshaw is en-
ployed. Month after month consider
able deficit occurs there
How are your searches conducted"
asked after short pause. edo they pre-
clude the slightest possibility of any con-
cealmentP"
"They do-most thoroughly. If Rem
shaw carried on him one grain of DUST it
could not escape the eyes of our searcher.
1t is a dreadful mystery"
IF it is your wish that l should take
the case In hand, will come and have a
look ut your place and employees without
delay"
Mr.. Vincent shook hands with the chief,
and I, having made few necessary prep
arations, set out with the assayer for the
scene of the trouble.
AS he walked along said: "What sort
of fellow is this young Renshaw9 Where
did you pick him up?"
''Ah, that is the most sorrowful part
of the whole business, /" replied Mr. Vim
cent. Ellis father was my Oldest friend,
and when he lay dying he contlded the boy
to me. He showed great aptitude for the
business, and 1 gave him full control OF
room 10. 1t is the most important room
in the place, and the amount Of raw mate
rial that passes through it daily is enor-
NOUS"
Chow much Of the dust has been missed
altogetherP" asked after short pause.
"Close on $50 ounces. You see, the rob-
berries have been extending over some time
now, and we are determined to either find
the thief or discharge every man in our
employ"
IT hope that there will be no need for
such an extreme measure" remarked.
Doubtless we shall be able to bring home
the crime to the culprit.
II hope SO, indeed" he said, earnestly.
"The worry entailed on my partner and
me by these disgraceful depredations has
been very great, and we would willingly
forfeit a large amount of money torun the
thief to earth
No more was said until we reached the
assaying rooms. Mr.. Vincent opened the
door and, bidding me follow him, passed
rapidly into the room, No. Is, where the
robberies had been committed.
A young fellow was bending over pair
Of hair scales as we entered.
"That is Renshaw, whispered Mr.. Vim
cent. "Quite youngster, as you see.''
Renshaw, becoming aware of my pros
ence looked up 1 am something of a
reader of physiognomy, and, reading that
face, distrusted it at once.
Dissipation had set its mark on his fea.
lures, and his eyes bore shifty, deceitful
light, which gave them repulsive look
Although l am not given to jumping al
conclusions, could not help saying to
myself, "That is our bird y
Mr. Vincent was the first to speak.
Renshaw," he said in a low voice, 81
am indeed grieved that should have t6
speak to you as am going to speak, but
there is no alternative. This gentleman is
private detective. He has come to in
quire into the mysterious disappearance Of
the gold dust from this room.'
"Well," said Renshaw sulkily, "what
has that to do with me, STRIP
II only hope for your sake and your dead
fathers sake that it has indeed nothing tt
do with you, returned Mr.. Vincent sadly
"But the facts are SO black against you
that have determined to take up the mat
ter now and pierce the heart Of the mys
terry. Renshaw it is not too late to con
fess will not be hard on you, nor will
Mr.. Leggett. .
II have nothing to confess" he re
turned modify. II have never taker
anything out of this room that was not
my own property"
eff you are speaking the truth" sale
Mr.. Vincent not unkindly, chow do yor
explain that there is such a remarkable
deficit at the end of each month in the &C
counts connected with room 15p Nobody
besides yourself is allowed in here. tt
whom else can we look for an explana
tion9'
II cannot help you, sirP" he said quietly.
II am very sorry, of course, for what hat
occurred, but it is out of my power to dc
anything In the matter.
He paused, and then broke out, almost
passionately:
Haven't you searched me night after
night as If I were a dock laborerp" he
said. "Surely, If I had stolen anything,
1t would have been found on me then.
What more do you WANT"
Mr. Vinnonf nut his hand cyantlu 0n his