Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-11-15

"Why," exclaimed Dunlap, surprised,
shat looks like the key to the Ex-
change place door. Where did you
find it?"
"In the gutter, near the sewer open
ing at the corner
"But how did it get there?" asked
Dunlap, anxiously.
Perhaps I shall be able to answer
that question presently" said Sturgis.
.'''Shall we go in now? No, not that
way. Let US enter by the Wall street
side, if you please
A couple of minutes later the outer
door of the Knickerbocker bank was
unlocked.
Excuse me If pass in first" said
Sturgis. entering. Il wish to see
something here"
He bent low over the tiled entrance,
with the magnifying glass in his hand.
ut is too bad" he muttered to him
self presently. "They nave trodden
all over the trail here. All! what is
this?"
''What?" inquired Dunlap.
The reporter vouchsafed no reply to
this question, but asked another.
is Thursday a general cleaning
day at the bank?"
Eyes," answered the banker.
"Eyery evening, after the closing
hour, the floors are swept, of course,
and the desks are busted; but Mon
days and Thursdays are reserved for
washing the windows, scrubbing the
i floors, and so FORTH
"Then it is lucky that yesterday
was Thursday" observed Sturgis.
''Will you please hand me the key to
this gate, and that to the inner door,
Upon entering the bank Sturgis re-
quested his companion to seat him
self on particular chair, which he
designated. He then began critical
examination of the premises. Inch by
inch he scrutinized the walls, the floor,
and even the ceiling; sometimes with
the naked eye, sometimes through the
magnifying glass. He also constantly
brought into play tape measure; and
several times he called upon Dunlap
for assistance, when the distances to
be measured were longer than his
reach.
The Wall street entrance of the
Knickerbocker bank led directly into
the space to which the public was adj
mitted. This space was partitioned off,
as usual, from the bookkeepers' and
cashiers departments. At the farther
end door led to a reception room COM
municating with the presidents Office.
This Office itself opened into the CASH
ier's department. on one side, and on
the other into a small room occupied
by the presidents secretary and type
writer, and into the vestibule of the
Exchange place entrance to the bank.
On the right OF the vestibule was large
room in which the bank employees kept
their street clothing, and to which they
could retire when they were off duty.
| A door from the clerks room led into
the cashiers departments, while anoth-
er one opened into the private secre-
tary's room.
After he had finished his inspection
OF the space open to the public, Stur-
gis, followed by Dunlap, passed into
the presidents reception room, and
thence in turn into the other rooms,
and finally into the cashiers and book
keepers departments.
Several times he stopped, retraced
his footsteps to some particular point
and then began his search anew. AT
times he crawled about on his hands
and knees; at others he climbed upon
the furniture, the better to examine
some spot upon the wall. In the presi-
dents Office he stopped to pick up a
great number of tiny scraps Of paper
which lay in and around the waste
basket. These he carefully placed in
an envelope, which he laid upon the
presidents table.
On one side of the room there stood
q magnificent old-fashioned carved
mantelpiece. The artistic beauty of
the structure did not seem to strike
Sturgis, but he appeared to derive a
great deal of satisfaction from an in
spection Of the large tiled hearth. Pres
emily, removing his coat and his cuffs,
he plunged his hand into the grimy
chimney and removed handful Of