The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-11-14
AN ASSAYlNG=
ROOM PUZZLE.


Tor ny my employer: tne head Oh auetecl'Fe
agency, and found 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 have been speaking to you
about
Mr. Vincent bowed and | returned the
salutaton THAT is my card, sir" he
said, handing me the piece of pasteboard as
he spoke
| looked at the card; it bore the name;
"Mr Horace Vincent and in the corner
the name of Mr.. Vincents firm, ''Legeit &
Vincent Assayers to the Bank of Great
Britain
eve are in great trouble" said Mr..
Vincert, after short pause; 1--WE have
reason to believe that one of our assistants
is robbing us daily of the gold dust which
passes through his hands"
'Indeed" returned; Chen why not
have the gentleman arrested at once?"
"That is impossible" he said-"quite
impossiblc.'
"NIay asl, why?' l slid, briskly.
1--WE cannot Ito so because there is not
one iGt of proof to justify such an arrest.
Every man is searched nightly on leaving
the premises, and this man whom we sus
pact has undergone the same treatment.
Not tenth Of an ounce of the dust has
been found on his person on any occas-
ion.''
"Then why suspect him?" l asked, some
What impatiently.
There is no one else to suspect At
our establishment we have some 20 assay
irg rooms, and each room has made up its
accounts perfectly with the exception of
the room in which young Renshaw is en-
ploved. Month after month a considerable
deficit occurs there.
"If it is your wish that | should take
the case in hand, | will come and have
a look at your place and employees without
delay"
Mr.. Vincent shook hands with the chief,
and I, having made few necessary pre-
variations. set out with the assayer for the
scene of the trouble.
As we walked along, | said:
GLOW much of the dust has been missed
altogether" l asked, after short
pause.
"Close on $50 ounces. You see, the
rahhtries have been extending over some
time now, and we are determined to either
find the thief or discharge every man in our
employ"
81 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 to follow him,
passed rapidly into the room, No. IS,
where the robberies had been COM
mittcd.
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 pre-
scnce, looked up. l am something of a
reader Of physiognomy, and reading that
face, | distrusted it at once.
MIR. Vincent was the first to speak.
"Renshaw," he said in low voice, 81
am indeed grieved that should have to
speak to you as | am going to speak, but
there is no alternative. This gentleman is
a private detective. He has come to in
quire into the mysterious disappearance of
the gold dust from this room"
"Wel," 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 moth
ing to do with you," returned Mr. Vincent
sadly: "but the facts are SO black against
YOU that | have determined to take up
The matter now and pierce the heart of the
mystery. Renshaw, it is not too late to
confess. will not be hard on you, nor
will Mr.. Leggett.
81 have nothing to confess" he returned
modify; 81 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, chow do you
explain that there is such remarkable
deficit at the end of each month in the
accounts connected with room Is? Nobody
besides yourself is allowed in hereto
whom else can we look for au explana-
ton?
81 cannot help you, SIR" he said,
quietly. ~ am very sorry, of course, for
what has occurred, but it is out Of my
power to do any thing in the matter"
He paused, and then broke out, almost
passionately:
Haven't you searched me night after
night, as il 1 were dock laborer?" he
said. "Surely, if had stolen anything, it