The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-06-25

recollection OF taking IN TINS cnecK,
because it happened to be the first l
cashed on my return from my holi-
days"
I frightened considerably.
"That is exceedingly fortunate"
remarked, .'for your description of the
man who cashed it may be of great as
sistance. I presume you are able to
describe him?"
He fell back and shut his eyes, as
though striving to aid his memory in
that manner.
eyes," he said. after pause, The
was a rather tall, thin man, of some
sixty years. He had white beard,
hair and mustache, and wore gold
glasses. His features, as far as l re-
member, were commonplace. 1 think
he was dressed in black frock coat
and he wore no gloves"
"What makes you so certain about
his not wearing glovcs?" 1 asked,
quickly.
"Ah, that's the point which ] am
more certain about than any other: i
am positive he wore no gloves, be-
cause I remember remarking how
shockingly his fnger-nails were bit.
ten. There was hardly anything OF
them"
I jumped up so suddenly that he
looked as though he thought me mad.
whats the matter?" he asked.
"What's wrong?"
''Wrong!' I echoed. ION the con-
trary; everything's as right as can be.
By Jove-the blackguard! Excuse
me taking hasty leave, Mr.. Wilson;
but, really, I think your information
is more than sufficient. Goodby. Hope
you'll soon be better; and thanks, very
much"
Rushing down the stairs, Ibade Mrs.
Wilson q hasty good afternoon, and,
jumping into my cab, ordered the
man to drive back to the bank where
I had engaged him.
| Curiously enough, the manager was
just issuing from the building as we
drove up.
s'Mr. Venn," said, speaking very
quickly, IT think I have clew. May
I ask you to accompany me in this cab
at once to follow the same up?"
He seemed rather surprised at my
manner, but acquiesced without q
word.
"Where are we going?" he asked,
as the cab drove off.
"We are going" answered, $50
Mr.. Pennythorpe's Office. We shall
find our man there, unless ! am very
much mistaken"
The cab set us down in Golden
Square in twenty minutes, and we al
once took our way to the room which
had quilted that morning.
Pennythorpe was seated writing Of
we entered. He recognized the man
ager and wished him good afternoon.
Then he turned to me and said;
"Have you found clew?".
sMore than that" I cried. IT have
found the man. John Pennythorpe,
arrest you, in the Queens name, OF
, the charge of attempting to defraut
+ the London & Suburban Bank in thu
, sum of $500"
In my time I have seen many case
I of moral and physical collapse, blu
. never have seen such an utter break
; down as took place in that little room
!. on that afternoon. Pennythorp'
, seemed to shrivel up-his fac
blanched with terror-his eyes wer
we'll nigh glazed, his knees shook. ]
> ever guilt, was written on his face,
was written on his face then. 81
! chung to the table for support as b
i gasped out:
"The proof-what proof have you?
"Quite enough" answered coolly
= "your disguise, Mr.. Pennythorpe
which represented you as dignifie
. old gentleman of sixty, was doubles
: exceedingly artistic, and would prot
q ably have insured you against detet
!. ton had you taken the simple precau
q ton of wearing gloves.
He looked rapidly at his hands, an
could see that he understood all, an
. realized the clew which had tracke
him. There was long pause, at tn
. end of which he turned to the manages
T who had stood silent spectator OF tn
scene and said, brokenly:
\, INF. Vonn, i aQmlb tno oAdi 20.
: was at my wits end to know where
q obtain q thousand pounds, and l b
upon the idea of obtaining five hui
n dred by this trick, the other five hui
a dred, of course, coming to me in tt
! ordinary way. Iwrote and signed tt
4 check, and, disguised beyond recogn
a ton, I cashed it at the bank. Therel
g have confessed all now, and trust ye
will not be too hard on man WI
N took desperate step because his P
. sition was more desperate still" i
broke down and sobbed.
"a The three of us then went to the p
lice station, where Pennythorpe VI
a given into custody.
% The trial came on shortly afterwar
! but as the bank did not press Il
q charge the prisoner escaped with
:. light sentence. His case is interes
ing in view of the fact that itfurnish
- one more proof of the carelessness
10 the most ingenious criminals, for h'
- he taken the precaution to wear GLOW
a. on that fatal morning, the mystery of {
!" sforged" check on the London q Su
: urban Bank would doubtless have
= named a mystery until the end
90 time. Bits.
IL