The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-04
A Check Mystery.
From lid Bits.

~ to he in want Of money!" He paused
for moment, and then said
well, yes. now l come to think Of
it. only a week ago he asked for an
advance of salary"
THAT may or may not mean any
thing. a man may be hard up and de-
sire an advance, and yet hesitate about
Il deliberate forgery. Have you any of
his writing that can look at?"
Plenty. How will this suit you?"
He handed me a note from the clerk,
in which the latter made some unim-
portant communication. AS | was
something Of a graphologlst, 1 thought
tina. doubtless the youths caligraphy
might give a 'clew to his character, but
a shade of disappointment crossed my
face as l scrutiniZed the letter. 1t was
the stereotyped commercial hand which
is the bughear of the handwriting ex-
pert, and which gives absolutely no
clew to the writer's tendencies. l
tossed the paper from me, and said:
THAT won't help us a hit. Is the
young fellow here today?"
"Oh, yes I could ring for him. and
you could have a look at him without
his knowing your business. Shall do
SOP"
He rang the bell, and tall, thin
young fellow answered 1t. From a
sign made by Mr.. Pennythorpe I knew
that this was the clerk in question, and
| watched him narrowly while his en-
ployer gave him some instructions in
vented on the spur of the moment.
When he was gone the other turned to
me.
We'll" he asked, "what do you think
! of him?"
He looks a simple, honest young fell
| low" l returned, as / rose to go; but,
| of course, appearances are not often
| reliable, My next move will be to go
| down to the bank and interview the
| cashier who paid the $500 over the
| bank counter"
Mr. Pennythorpe rose and held out
| his hand. II am sure you will do your
best for all of us" he said as l took
my leave.
| Arrived at the bank / had to wait a
| few moments before / could see the
| manager. as he was ged with a
| customer. At length, however, the Wis
| itor departed and l was ushered into
| his room.
| Glad to see you," he said heartily.
| IT presume you have just come from
| Mr.. Pennythorpe's office, as he wrote
us that he was communicating with
| Scotland Yard?"
| Yes, I have seen Mr.. Pennythorpe," ;"
I returned; but the interview has elic-
| tied very little. He seems much agi-
| tated about the loss, although it is the
| banks, l presume and not his
| quite So" returned the manager,
| gloomily. LAS you know, the law pro-
| vides that in case of forgery the bank
and not the customer suffers. AS to
| the justice or injustice of that law ]
| will not speak now. Our object is to
find the culprit."
(Which may be far more difficult
than you may think" l said. II have
always found cases of this kind the
hardest to unravel. At least so per
cent. of modern forgers are never
brought to justice"
Let us hope" he replied, quickly,
that this case will belong to the other
fifty"
with all my heart" 1 said; land
now, if you will allow me, should like
to have a chat with the cashier who
cashed the check in question, which
have brought with me from Mr.. Penny
thorpes Office"
The managers face fell. 1T is rather
unfortunate" he said, but Wilson, the
clerk who paid over the money, is laiC
up just now with influenza. Still, yor
might go down to his house and inter
| view him."
What is his address," ] asked
promptly. II will go there without Z
moments delay"
The clerk, it seemed, resided at Clap
ham, and a few minutes later l wa
hailing a cab outside the bank.
Fern Villa, Melthorpe Road, Clap
ham," I cried, and presently we wer,
bowling along in the direction of tn,
southwestern suburb.
During the journey l turned m!
thoughts to other subjects for l hav
always found il a good rule to give tn
brain rest when on hunt of thi
nature To allow one idea to remail
uppermost for any considerable time i
almost runous to the performance o
intelligent work.
p After nearly three-quarters of a.
hours drive the cab turned into
shady street made up of tiny houses
Fern villa being the last on the righ
hand side. Here / alighted and ran
cabman to await my return.
A small, white-faced woman, whor
} ! took to be Mrs. Wilson, opened tn
door gingerly,
What can ] do for you, slr?" sh
asked timidly.
5 is Mr. Wilson able to receive a Wis
= itor?" | asked. Il have just com
| from the London and Suburban Banl
4 the manager of which place tells me h
= is laid up. My business is important.
The doctor is upstairs now. sir" sh
said quietly. but ne won't be Ions
VIII you please walk in"
| entered the tiny parlor and sa
down Presently / heard steps on .th
stairs, then slam of the house dool
| W Uhich led me 70 think thai the phySi
clan had taken his leave. This was tn
case as Mrs. Wilson appeared almos
| Immediately and informed me that
| would walk un her husband wOul
see me.
From the bank, sir?' he said anxl
ously as | entered. Il hope nothing
| wrong"
= Nothing so far as you are concern
), ed. Mr.. Wilson," l returned cheerill
+ ~ have merely come to ask you to h
kind enough to give us a little hell
| am Detective Blake from Scotlan
Yard. I am given to understand thC
this check (here | produced the docu
ment) "was paid over by You to a cel
tain individual some two weeks ago"
He rose i'm his bed and looked at III
!, slip of paper. Five hundred pound
and signed by John Pennythorpe, pay
2 able to Self" he observed. Yes,
have very distinct recollection of tai