Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-07-14
petty stealing. He took down bis ha.

On the following morning Mr.. Dock
felt arrived early, as he was to be his
own cashier. In fact, he was the first
man in the store, with the exception of
the shipping clerk. An unexpected GUS
toner came in, and Mr.. Dockfelt made
sale, and, forgetting that there was
10 one in the cashiers desk, sent the
carrier along. He quickly remembered,
however. and making change for the
customer from his own pocket, fol-
lowed the cup, which had barely passed
out of his sight. He advanced into the
desk and took the carrier down. Mar
velous! Could he believe his eyes?
Both tip and bill were gone.
If Mr.. Dockfelt had ever been utterly
bewildered in his life it was at this
moment. He was positive he had put
the money in the carrier, and equally
sure it was not there now. He shook
the cup, and hunted carefully about the
desk. but in vain. Then he muttered,
half audibly: There is but one thing
TO do in such case as this. / will see
my friend, John Garner, the detective.
and let him straighten out the mystery,
if he can"
During the course of the afternoon.
in response to Mr.. Dockfelt's message.
a thin. awI<ward-looking man entered
the merchants private office. Mr.. Dock
felt held out his hand. cordially. 'Well,
Garner" he cried, 81 can truthfully say
that I was never more glad to see you
in my life" He then gave Garner a
complete history of the affair which
L. 1aI. hrax-
prepared a statement of points. which
you can study at your leisure" FL"
then handed Garner the following:
1. Theft always occurred on the first
sale in which bill was rendered in
payment.
2. Theft always bills, never silver.
3. Theft was generally between Bal
four and Thomas.
4. On the last morning several cups
were stolen from.
5. Dockfelt himself put money in car
rier. which reached it's destination
empty.
Mr. Garner put the paper in his pock-
ct and asked. abruptly: ''Who opens
the store in the morning?"
Somewhat surprised at the question.
Mr.. Dockfelt replied: "Charles Hurst.
the shipping clerk"
THAT is all for the present" said
Garner. Then he rose and left the of
flee.
During the next few days there were
repeated consultations between Garner
and Dockfelt, each time the detective
being in disguise. The third day the
l-4., hot NV-h
felt greeted the appearance of an APP
parentIy ill-bred and boorish fellow
with sharp: "Well, sir"
The detective bent forward. Car
ner," said he.
"Well. WE'LL" cried the merchant.
Your disguise is complete. How is it?
Have you solved the problem?"
Have / solved the problem? Well,
nv dear sir. it's one of the most pc
culiar cases-yes, think l may say
have"
Mr.. Dockfelt at once became all ex-
citement. His cheeks glowed with eN-
element and his eyes shone brightly
"Well-Mr. Garner-let me hear about
it," he exclaimed, drawing his chair
nearer to the detectives.
Garner took a small vial from his
pocket and said: Look at this"
Nr. Dockfelt took the bottle and saw
i 2, tanned scarlet liquid. 81 don't
cxastiy see the significance of this"
he said.
wait" said Garner; hear me
through. Charles Hurst, the shipping
clerk. is the cause of all this trouble.
II ho
same girl. Thomas has been accepted
Hurst burns for revenge. supposed
l was the only person who knew the
secret of the powerful composition you
see in that bottle. But it seems that
Hurst has discovered it also. Watch
the effect Of the stuff
Garner took small piece of paper
from his pocket, laid it on the table and
uncorked the vial. He poured a small
quantity of the liquid on the paper
and in ten seconds all that was left
of the latter was an almost impalpable
gray ash.
"The effect" said Garner, ''of the
upon the wood bottoms
of the carriers is TO render the wood
soft, so that it Immediately absorbs
the ashes of the paper. Hurst, every
morning. put some of this liquid in Bal
tours carrier-a very small amount in
deed. The money was, of course, de-
stroyed. I think / can explain the
counts in your statement" he added,
taking from his pocket the slip of pa
per which Dockfelt had handed him a
few days before. Theft always oc-
Cured on FIRST bill sale of the morning
because the liquid used was only strong
enough for one bill. The loss
was always in bills. because any
meta: is proof against this strange
composition. The theft was always be-
tween BaIfour and Thomas. because
Hurst wanted to make mystery about
it in the beginning and then suddenly
convict Thomas ny having several cups
stolen from. This also explains count
four. II is needless to explain
why the money did rot arrive which
Mr.. Dockfelt himself put in the car
rier. Hurst had not provided for this
contingency"
The grocer was both astonished and
delighted at the unraveling of the mys-
terry. You are deucedly clever man,
Garner" he cried. Now tell me how
on earth you got at the facts, so far as
Hurst is concerned?"
Easily enough" replied Garner LAS
you know. am interested in chemistry,
and have often experimental with the
stuff used by Hurst. l saw immediate
" how the deed was done. The next
thing was to determine who did il.