Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-07-15

is not, send downstairs for me, and
shall be in waiting at the door with q
couple of plain-clothes men. Your next
action will be to have every door in
the place locked, and allow nobody to
leave until he has been thoroughly
searched. If you have u cloak-room OF
hat-room, that must be searched also
as it is quite as likely the thief would de-
post the stolen property in his over
coat as anywhere else"
Mr.. Cardew rose and paced the room
exeitably.
my dear sir" he said, speaking in a
quick, nervous tone, II really don't
think could possibly sanction such a
course as that. 1t is most un-English-
most arbitrary-most humiliating."
Doubtless it is" returned the other,
coolly; "but it's about the only way 1
can see of clearing up this business.
If you'll allow me to make the remark,
sir, would remind you that just now
you said you would give a thousand
pounds to do So"
$50 would, so would, but cannot
humiliate my assistants, some of whom
are old and trusted servants"
"There will be no humiliation. You
can explain the circumstances, and l
am sure every sensible man-jack of
them will see that the course taken is
the only one under the circumstances.
Besides, you can tone 1t down by an
nouncing holiday, or something OF
that sort, to make up for their tenn
porary inconvenience"
Eyes, / might do that" replied Mr..
Cardew, musingly; "and after all, -
you say, when they realize the circum-
stances, they cannot possibly take Of
Tense. Well, WE'LL" and here he sighed
slightly, IF you are convinced that this
course is for the best, take 1t, by all
means"
HVery good, sir" said the detective,
as he rose to take his leave. "On Satur-
day next, then, ut one p. IN. I shall be
at the door. If you want me you had
better let me know yourself, as in cases
of this kind third persons are always
dangerous. Goodnight, SIR"
BE left the room quickly, Mr.. Cardew
accompanying him to the door, and let
ting himself out at the same time.
Then Mayhem slowly took his way
home, thinking deeply all the time.
Here was n chance at last, glorious,
wonderful chance OF getting his rival
Jack Langley into disgrace. 1t would be
as easy as smoking cigarette On Sat
urday he would find an excuse for en-
tering the partners room and he would
then take the purse, secreting itin Lang
ley's overcoat pocket downstairs in the
cloakroom. He would have no diff
fculty in finding the coat among the
large number there, for Langley's peg
was No. &c, just above his own, which
was IS.
Then there would follow the finding
of the purse in his hated rivals pocket,
and then, perhaps, the police station,
and the subsequent disgrace of Grim
inal trial. Perhaps the firm would let
him off, but at any rate he would be
dismissed, and his talents and popular
ity would rankle no more in the plot
ter's heart. Yes. It could be done, and.
by Jove, it would be done.
He knew that young Langley had
lately been little pressed for money,
and had obtained advances from the
cashier. This would make his guilt all
the more palpable, and it seemed to him
as he thought over the foul plot that
fate itself was on his side, aiding him
and abetting him in the vile scheme
tha.t now was alive in his subtle brain.
Saturday morning came in du
course. At II o'clock Mr.. Cardew en-,
tered the large Office where all the
workers were engaged, and said to the
cashier in voice shat all could hear:
I'm going down to the works. Ishall
be back in an hour or So"
Within 20 minutes of his departure.
Mayhem cautiously approached his
room, and there, sure enough, on the
partners desk lay small purse. He
did not stop to examine the contents,
but, hastily putting it in his pocket, he
rushed downstairs into the cloakroom,
which, fortunately for him, was deserted,
Yes. That was Langley's coat, but he
must make sure by looking in the pock-
ct and seeing some documentary evil
dence, to make certainty more certain.
He accordingly pulled out the first pa
per that came to hand, an envelope nd
dressed ~. Langley, Esq" The right
coat, of course. With n quick move
ment he placed the well-tllled purse in
the right-hand pocket of the overcoat,
and then carelessly sauntered back to
the Office and went on with his work.
At one o'clock Mr.. Cardew returned.
Very agitated, he went rapidly to his
room, and found the purse missing. In
an instant he was out in the great Of
flee, where he said in loud tone:
gentlemen, q disgraceful robbery
has lust been committed in my room.
Let no one leave the Office on pain OF In
slant dismissal"
Everybody except one we know sat
dumfounded. Mr.. Cardew-went on:
"a detective and two of his men are
waiting below to make thorough
search of ever. body in these offices.
have to apologize to you, one and all,
for submitting to such process. but II
is inevitable. If anyone objects. he must
resign his position in our employment"
No. No one objected. Messrs. Cardew
& Co.'S employees were too we'll off &c
risk losing their comfortable situa'
tions, and they would rather have been
searched every day and night than have
resigned the same. Mr.. Cardew, finding
all going smoothly, summoned the de-
tectives, and, one by one, each employe
was taken into the partners room and
thoroughly searched.
The inquiry proved useless; but the
detective die not give in.
with your leave" he said, turning te