The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26

per FAN River line to Bagley by &C. V.
o." and ascertain contents if possible.
GEORGE CAss, Of MORE co.
I returned 20 the store somewhat
queted by my walk and energetic ac-
tlon, and others matters occupied the
balance of the business hours.
That very night we lost ten pieces OF
fine black silks and four rolls Of black
satin. The robbery was committed in
the old mysterious, clean, untraceable
manner. After the excitement of the
discovery had subsided, I began to
open my letters. One was from the
chief of police Of New York.
He reported Bagley 20 be a very
small jobber of silks and velvets in
chamber on the third floor No. -
Duane street. His trade was mostly
western; but he also sold q few goods
i'm the city and in Philadelphia. His
capital was reported as small, but his
character was good and his credit
fair. 1t was also added that a strict
watch would be kept for the case to
arrive per Fall River line. and its con-
tents ascertained If possible.
few hours later, while | was de-
batting within myself the advisability
of telling my senior partners what I
had done, an uncommon incident oc-
CURED. A customer who had failed
fifteen years before called and to the
astonishment of the seniors, who had
greeted him heartily. desired to settle
the balance of his failed account. He
had gone into business at the then eX-
treme west. had prospered, and now
desired to clean up his old record. In
the absence of Mills it devolved upon
me to get the books of the year indi-
| Gated.
The books of each year were kept in
separate chests each chest having its
date distinctly painted upon it. There
! were twenty-siX of these ranged in
rows on the floor and on shelves in
! what was called the "book room"
| moderate sized room in the rear of the
second floor. The keys Of the chests
and of the room were kept in "A partic-
/ ular drawer in a large desk in the Of
! flee.
! Selecting the proper keys, l quickly
/ skipped up stairs, and found the prop
! er chest in the row upon the floor. To
my surprise 1 found it unlocked. Has
| tily raising the lid, ] was staggered to
see, not the books l sought, but the
chest full of silks and satins. At a
glance | perceived they were part OF
the goods stolen the night before.
This nerved me up strangely At
length / was getting a clew; something
upon which to work out a solution of
the great problem.
After some search I found the books
carefully hidden away behind the
chests on the shelves. l found all the
other chests locked; and postpOning
| further action l went below and settled
the account of cur conscientious debtor.
l now resolved not to mention my
great discovery for the present. TAX
ing all the chest keys, 1 first returned
the books to their hiding-place just as
| ] had found them, and then carefully
examined every chest The books were
in every case found intact except in
the particular chest | had had occasion
to open.
/ went below, leaving the goods Un-
touched in the chest. and still keeping
my own counsel / wanted time to
think
Hardly had 1 settled Gown into MY
armchair in the private office, when a
chief of police.
1t read as follows:
The &C. V. o." case arrived. Contents,
silks and velvets.
decided upon a rourge If action in
stantly. Calling into The office MIR.
Prince, our best posted snk man, and
impressng upon him s."ict secrecy.
directed him to start that night for
New York, and thoroughly work up ;he
Bagley and &C. V. o." matter.
Armed with letters 10 ,he chief II
police and a fir';-class lawyer, and
carrying also a fun list oG the stolen
goods, he was to act in accordance with
legal advice and his own judgment. end
telegraph me at tho earliest posslb'e
moment. Even if the orieinal tags
marks and numbers had teen removed
Prince would insta ly recognize our
goods, as most of them were especially
made for us and had distinctive char.
acteristics to an experienced eye.
l quickly decided upon another point
namely, that Mills mast come home
at once for a few days at least. |
wanted him surely.
To avoid alarming him, l telegraphed
that we desired him - investigate the
affairs of a debtor, whose financia! con.
|
strictly true, but we could have waited
a few days.
Before night Mills replied that he
would arrive about nooh the next day
And now I determined TO await the re,
suit of Princes trip 10 New York ne.
fore exciting the se1ior partners un.
necessarily, as it mi Snt H. ally appear
| also concluded not to disturb the
goods in the chest. | might alarm the
thieves and give them a chance to'es.
cape detection. I believed ! could wei
afford to take the cha lces for twenty
four hours. BY that time Prince would
probably give me a cue for further ac.
tiOn. Should his report r"Ove unfaI pr-
able, l could still opC 10 trap the thief
or thieves.
1t is hardly necessary to state that
did not close my eyes that night. | was
feverish with anxiety about the result
of Princes trip, and also as to the ef-
feet upon Mills of the discovery | had
made in the book room
Early the next morning | was at the
store. Going directly to the book room
l found the goods i'm the chest had not
been disturbed
Evidently | had lost nothing, and per.
haps might have gained a good deal. by
leaving the goods untouched in tht
chest. | must now wait as patient a.
possible for few hours. The forenoon
seemed intermnably long. evaded al
conversation with my partners on tn
topic of the robberies, but kept up 4
cheerful, hopeful style as they still
looked TO me to unravel the mystery.
utt