The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-09-03
AN ASSAYING.ROOM PUZZLE.

AN ASSAYlNG-ROOM PUZZLE.
One morning, early in June, I was sent
for by my employer, the head of q detec-
tive agency, and found q visitor with
him. The latter rose when entered,
and the chief formally introduced us.
'Mr. Vincent" he said, addressing the
gentleman, "this is Mr.. Borland, the
detective whom I had been speaking to
you about"
Mr.. Vincent bowed and returned the
salutation. THAT is my card, sir" he
said, handing me the piece of pasteboard
o. he spoke.
Hooked at the card; it bore the name:
'Mr. Horace Vincent" and in the corner
the name of Mr.. Vincent's firm, 'Leggit
& Vincent, Assayers to the Bank OF
Great Britain"
1--WE are in great trouble" said Mr..
Vincent, after q short pause; I'VE have
reason to believe that one of our as
sistants is robbing us daily of hegold
dust which passes through his hands, y
Indeed" returned; "then why not
have the gentleman arrested at once?'
"That is impossible" he said-"quite
impossible"
'sMay I ask why?" I said, briskly.
1--WE cannot do so because there is not
one jot of proof to justify such an arrest.
Every man is searched nightly on leav-
ing the premises, and this man whom
we suspect has undergone the same
treatment. Not a tenth of an ounce of
the dust has been found on his person
on any OCCASION"
'"Then why suspect him?' asked,
somewhat impatiently.
''There is no one else to suspect. At
our establishment we have some 20 as
saying rooms, and each reom has made
up its accounts perfectly with the ex-
ception OF the room in which young
Renshaw is employed. Month after
month a considerable deficit occurs
there.
IF it is your wish that I should take
the case in hand, I will come and have
a look at your place and employees with
out delay"
Mr.. Vincent shook hands with the
chief, and I, having made few neces-
sary preparations, set out with the as
sayer for the scene of the trouble.
AS we walked along, said:
allow much of the dust has been
missed altogether?" asked, after a
short pause.
"Close on $50 ounces. You see, the
some time now, and we are determined
to either find the thief or discharge
every man in our employ"
II 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."
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 COM
mitted.
A young fellow was bending over a
pair of hair scales as we entered.
'That is Renshaw," whispered Mr..
Vincent; quite a youngster, as you
see."
Renshaw, becoming aware OF my
presence, looked up. I am something
Of reader of physiognomy, and read
ing that face, distrusted it at once.
Mr.. Vincent was the first to speak.
"Renshaw," he said, in q low voice,
81 am indeed grieved that T should have
to speak to you as am going to speak,
but there is no alternative. This gen.
tleman is private detective. He has
come to inquire into the mysterious
disappearance of the gold dust from
this ROOM"
"Well," said Renshaw, sulkily, "what
has that to do with me, sir?"
II only hope for your sake and your
dead fathers sake that it has indeed
nothing to do with you," returned Mr..
Vincent, sadly; "but the facts are so
black against you that I have deter
mined to take up the matter now and
pierce the heart of the mystery. Rem
shaw, it is not too late to confess.
will not be hard on you, nor will Mr..
Leggett."
81 have nothing to confess" he re-
turned, modify; II have never taken
anything out Of this room that was not
my own property"
IF you are speaking the TRUTH" said
Mr.. Vincent, not unkindly, show do you
explain that there is such remark
able deficit at the end of each month
in the accounts connected with Room
Is? Nobody besides yourself is al
lowed in hereto whom else can we
look for an explanation?
II cannot help you, sir" he said,
quietly. II am very sorry, of course,
for what has occurred, but it is out of
my power to do anything in the mat
ter"
He paused, and then broke out, al
most passionately:
Haven't you searched me night after
night, as if were dock laborer ?" he
said. "Surely, if I had stolen any
thing, it would have been found on me
then. What more do you want?'
"We want to find the culprit, my boy,
that's all. There is some great puzzle
here-some strange mystery, black as