The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-04

her. 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 gloves?" asked quick
ly.
"Ah, that's the point which I am
more certain about than any other
am positive he wore no gloves, because
l remember remarking how shockingly
his finger nails we're bitten. There was
hardly anything of them"
l jumped up so suddenly that he
looked ms though he thought me mad.
What's the matter?" he ash2d
whats wrong?"
"Nrong" I echoed. "On the con-
trary; everything's as right as can
he. BY Jova--the blackguard! Excuse
me taking a hastv leave. Mr. Wilson,
llt. really, I think your information
Is more than sufficient. Good.hy,
Hope ycu'll soon he better; and thanks
very much"
Rushing down the stairs, bade Mrs.
| Wilson n hasty good afternoon, and,
jumping into my cab, ordered the man
70 drive back to the bank where l had
engaged him.
Curiously enough. the manager was
| just issuing from the building as we
| drove up.
MIR. Venp," I said, speaking very
! quickly, Il think I have a ciew. May
I ask YOU to accompany me in this
cab at once to follow the same up?"
! lie seemed rather surprised at my
| mannerbut acquiesced without a word.
Where are we going?' he asked, as
! the cab drove off.
I'VE are going" answered. "to Mr.
| Pennythorpe's office. We shall find our
man there, unless l am very much
| mistaken"
| The cab set us down in Golden Square
! in twenty minutes, and we at once
| took our way to the room which 1 had
| quilted that morning.
! pennythurpe was seated writing as
we entered. He recognized the man.
ager, and wished him good afternoon.
| Then he turned to me and said:
Have you found a clew?"
"NIore than that" I cried. II have
found the man. John Pennythorpe, I
arrest you, in the queens name, on
the charge of attempting to defraud the
London and Suburban Bank in the sum
of $500"
In my time I have seen many cases
of moral and physical collapse, but
never have seen such an utter break
down as took place in that little room
on that afternoon. Pennythorpe seemed
to Shrivel up--his face blanChed with
terror-his eyes were well-nigh glazed
his knees shook. If ever guilt was
written on a mans face, it was writ
ten on his face then. He clung to the
table for support as he gasped out:
"The proof--what proof have you?"
quite enough" ] answered cOOlly;
"your disguise. Mr.. Pennythorpe, which
represented you as a dignitied old
gentleman of 60, was doubtless exceed.
ingly artistic, and would probably have
insured you against detection had you
taken the simple preCaution Of wearing
gloves"
He looked rapidly at his hands. and
l could see that he understood all and
realized the clew which had tracked
him. There was a long pause, at the
end of which he turned to the man.
ager, who had stood a silent specta-
tor of the scene, and said brOkenly:
Mr.. Nenn, | admit the charge.
was at my wits end to know where
to obtain a thousand pounds. and l hi
upon the idea of obtaining 500 by this
| trlCK, the Otner oUU, OF course, cOnlnS
to me in the ordinary way. I wrote
and signed the cheque, and. disguised
beyond recognition, l cashed it at the
bank. There have confessed all now
and l trust you will not be too hard
on a man who took a desperate ster
because his position was more desper.
ate still" He broke down and sOObed.
The three of us then went to the po
lice station, where Pennythorpe wa!
given into custody.
: The trial came on shortly afterward
but as the bank did not press tn
charge the prisoner escaped with n ligh
sentence His case is interesting il
view of the fact that it furnishes on
, more proof of the carelessnPss Of tn,
most ingenious criminals, for had h
taken the precautiOn to wear gloves OF
that fatal morning, the mystery of tn
, forged" check on the London an,
Suburban bank would doubtless hav
remained a mystery until the end o
time.