The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-27


We'll" said Bates, almost patron
izingly, las long as we commenced we
might as well act out the whole affair
in theatrical style. 1t will explain it
self and save time and words Come
down to the store and / will finish in
one more act"
/ had long known the craze Bates
had for theatricals; but now realized
that even with the disgrace and pen
atty of a great crime hanging over him,
he had almost a professional pride in
his cleverness, criminal though it was.
So, not attempting to smile in
sickly way, as he did at the conclusion
of his remarks, / simply assented to
his proposition.
Arm in arm, followed at a short dis
tance by the officers, we passed up the
street and down town, greeting many
acquaintances as we went.
When fairly on the way. grasping
him convulsively by the arm, l said in
a low but earnest voice:
For Gods sake. Bates, what prompt
ed you to commit this crime?"
Revenge, primarily" said he in
hard voice. Revenge at not being
taken into the concern of Moire & GO.
when you were, and, second, further
on, a need of money to retrieve on
secret outside speculations in Whlch l
lost the savings of years. | never
showed any disappointment at the
treatment of Moire & Co., but after
getting into the other concern | swore
to run yours down, if possible. My
first work was in petty snatch thiev-
ing as opportunity offered in my fire.
quent calls on you and Mills. That
was merely to fret you all and break
your pride in your so-called perfect
| stock system. Later l planned for
regular operations, still from malice.
| But when | got cornered for money
| planned, night and day. for safe sys-
tenn that would fill my purse and break
| the credit Of the hated concern. | VIII
| only add now" said he as we entered
| our street, that that piling up of goods
| by the open window was not part or
my direct system. 1t was done to con-
| fuse you and divert your attention
/ from a deeper study of the situation. L
only took about my usual steal that
| night, you remember, and took that IN
| my usual way
| We were now nearing our stores
which were adjoining ones. That or
Moire & Company stood on the corner
of the block and next door came that
Of Lynee & Company, the name of
Bates being the last on the prominent
gilt sign over the entrance.
TO my surprise Bates said. Il will
take jerks into my store and you
and Sampson go into yours. Take all
your partners with you to your book
room at once. | will be there pres
entity" he added.
"Go with Bates. jerks" said I as
that officer came UP.
| Taking Sampson with me | hurried
to the private counting room.
There / found Mills, who had ar
rived during my absence. Something
| in my manner made him look anxious
and worried.
Cheer up and brace up. my boy"
whispered ! as we shook hands warm
ly. Come with me and keep still.
Don't ask any questions yet"
| With a look of surprise he Obeyed,
and went with the other partners,
| who, with puzzled and troubled faces,
| followed me at my request to the back
room. Evidently they expected some
fresh disaster.
Closing the door behind us l referred
to the incident of few days before,
which called for the book of IS, fif-
teen years back.
In the absence of Mills" said |, Il
came here for the books. This is the
particular chest" said !, touching it
with my foot.
ITO my surprise" continued | with
| sharp look of caution to Mills, Il
found it unlocked and the books gone
Mills gave a start and turned pale. Il
| found the books, however, resumed
I, addressing the now startled seniors,
hidden away up here behind these
chests on the shelves. But the chest
was not empty, gentlemen" l was
| about to step forward and raise the
lid when, to the surprise even of my
self. that particular chest moved
steadily, yet noiselessly, directly to the
front toward us, and instantly came
the voice of Bates: 1T is on nicely
adjusted rollers. you perceive, gentle
men"-and the head of the speaker APP
peared above the top, thrust through
an opening in the wall.
Then with the jump Of a gymnast
he was in a second on the floor before
us with pale and hard-drawn features
Without pausing or looking up he
quickly turned the chest and raised
the lid. The last lot stolen is still
there in part, gentlemen and it is
positively the last"
Then Strengthening up and turning
squarely upon his dazed and half
stunned audience he looked them full
in the face. The effort was too great
He could no longer sustain the severe
strain. With a sudden swerve he fell
senseess to the floor. jerks, who had
followed him closely through the wall
at once took measures TO restore him
to consciousness. In five minutes
Bates was able to sit in an arm chain
that had been brought; but he was q
changed man. He seemed to be utter.
ly broken in spirit and looked old and
haggard. With weak and irregular
speech he gave the additional informa.
tion necessary to supplement the brie1
statement | now made to the firm.
II was again the old story of a simpll
method under peculiarly favorable con.
ditions, worked with great talent ant
nerve. The block in which our stor,
was situated was, like others of it's age
built without ventilators. As a conse
qucnce the atmosphere, in the office.
especially, was often close and oppres
sive.
When the subject Of ventilation be
came matter of general public inter
est, our firm insisted upon adopting th'
new ideas. Accordingly a large box o.
ventiating shaft, beginning on the frs
floor was put into the partition divid
ing our store from the adjoining one
To avoid breaking up our office space
the projection Of the shaft from IN
line Of the partition was. by agreement
entirely in the other store. The onl!