Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-05-10
iHE TELL-TALE DIAMOND.
"A LEAF FROM A DETECTIVES
LIFE

S"' vi Jauuary lO, 10,
the Clifton bank was robbed by burg.
'ars' who made good their escape with
'S3O,OOO IN their possession. As soon
AS the robbery became known. re-.
paired TO the bank and sought the
PRESIDENT, to whom | presented my
credentials and made known my in
tentlon of commencing work at once.
Inc old gentleman readily acquiesced,
and together we passed into the main
Office, where several spruce looking
men were scratching away as uncon
cernedly as if they had not been en-
gagged IN an animated discussion of
the robbery only minute before.
glanced at them sharply, but saw
nothing suspicious in their looks, and
concluded 1t would be waste of time
to question them.
| examined the lock of the door
opening upon the street. aud found
1t had not been tampered with, al
though the first arrival had found
the door sjar next turned nv at
tention upon u door opening upon the
rear, and found it securely locked. in
which condition it had been, so the
President assured me. since the night
before.
"Who has charge of the kew of this
DOOR" enquired.
"Mr ". the Cashier. has one,
and our Janitor the other"
"Can either of these gentlemen be
summoned"
"Yes, both, if needs be. Here
Warren, run around to Mr.. N--'s
and tell him that wish to see him
Immediately"
The clerk addressed was about to
obey, when II sudden thought struck K
me and called him back.
"Nou need not trouble Mr.. N;
but if the JanitOr can be found ask
him to step down for minute or
two"
In less than two minutes the clerk
returned with the janitor-a broad
shouldered lrishman, whose answers
to my questions were given in such a
straight forward manner that AT
once exonerated him from all blame.
"You lock mp after the clerks have
gone home, do you not" | inquired,
looking the man in the eyes.
"Yes, sometimes | does, an some
times | doesn't" was the laconic an
Swcr.
"When do YOU not:'
"When Mr.. worruks late o.
nights, as has been the case much o
late"
Did you lock up last night
"Yis, sir, fwats more tried every
dure afterward."
"At what time did you lock that
door" and pointed toward the front
entrance.
"Well, us near as can recollect
half-past siven."
Are YOU sure You shot the bolt in
to it's socket"
"Aye. | could swear locked that
dure an left it locked"
"How about the windows-did you
fasten them as well?"
''Yis, livery won ov them"
Every good sir; you may 60 now
if you like" and | turned to the
President.
Now then, Mr. !, with your
permission, | will investigate matter,
| below stairs
The old gentleman conducted me
to the vault below. The heavy iron
door of the large vault in which the
banks funds were stored, stood wide
open, atfording a view of the interior
which presented scene of confusion
not unfamiliar to my eyes. Books
and papers lay upon the floor in ev
cry direction, where they had beer
thrown after gratifying the curiosity
of the burglars.
stopped to pick up a crumpled
document thatlay at my feet, and as
did so, the sparkle of gem, heretofore
concealed by the paper, caught my
eye. With a quick motion of thu
hand picked the stone from th'
floor, and held it concealed In th,
palm of my hand, while | peruseC
the document, more for the purpos'
of concealing the exultation | felt n