The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-12-19
The Missing Tools.
Iaa. nsuiau d aani 1900

One afternoon In summer i found
man waiting for me at the Central ONCE
where he had impatiently sat cut TWO
hours-his, dinner hour and another at the
back of it--expectlng me 10 appear.
"I want TO know II you have discovered
any OF the stolen tools taken from the
cabinet workshop OF Wilson AZ Sons, ne
abruptly began, the moment l STOOD De
fore him. I'm James Brockie, one OF the
men, and the principal sufferer, so I've
an interest I'm knowing
"No; I'm sorry 10 say that We nave
neither heard OF them nor traced the
thief" l gravely replied, remembering the
report OF the mysterious robbery by the
foreman of the establishment; lndeeu'
seeing that the thief was supposed TO DC
a drunken tramp who was employed Tor
a short time in your workshop, IL ~ not
likely that we will hear OF him r the
tools for some time.
"It was supposed TO be him., SAID
Brockie, with bitter emphasis, put the
suspicion was unjust
How do you know that? Have you
clue TO the real theft" inquired, with
fresh interest.
II think l have: but whether I'm right
or wrong. Il wasn't the tramp VINO TOOK
the tools. though Archie Hooker, re-
member, was the first to suggest that IL
might have been him." pursued Brockie.
with the same ill-subdued excitement,
"The fact is the tools have been vanish
ing regularly ever since the tramp dis
appeared. I've stood IL long time and
watched my shopm3tes like a lynx, but
/ can make nothing ont against any or
them; so. as a cabinet makers tools
aren't got for nothing. / resolved to come
here and see you on my own responsible
ity."
You've lost some lately them" | said,
pretty sure that more was coming.
Lost some? Az, new ones that had
never touched a plank-that cost me nigh
ten pounds only a week ago" he hotly
returned. Curse the thief, whoever ne is
he knows what tools are-for he always
takes the scarcest and dearest He's
quite above touching an ordinary jack
plane or hand-saw."
Are you beginning to suspect one of
the men now I'm the placer" i asked, af-
ter an awkward pause.
IL am: and that's the truth. though IL
would be a libel j suppose, TO say 1t to
any but the police" said Broc.ie. There's
a man at the bench next to me; goodness
knows he doesn't need 10 steal the tools
out of poverty, for he's quite as good "A
worker as me: and it's him / suspect. His
name is Archie Hooker
What object could he have In taking
your toos?"
Jealousy, I suppose. He gets all the
best work though I'm as good as he. and
wants -te- -keep-Hae- hack, just when he
sees I'm getting my tool chest well filled.
And he wouldn't lend me a tool, not
though l was dying for IL"
"But really I understood that more
than one or two had lwps~ tools" i said.
in demur 10 the vague charge and to the
all oh Guidance summarizing
it,
Yes: but that may be all through his
cunning" returned Brockie; "he may
take some OF theirs just 10 divert suspi-
cion, and make me not too ready In
charging him"
"But how could he take them without
your knowledge?"
That's the mystery--that's what you
must find out" frankly rejpined Brockie.
81 consider myself sharp man, and
cunning as need be. yet II beats me TO
find out how It's done. ] tell YOU he's as
deep as the grave, for I've put tools out
within reach OF his hands. tools that
could have gone into his waistcoat pock-
et and then left the shop for a minute
or two, just to see II he'd finger them.bu,
he was too deep for me. and never touch
I'd them. No; they're taken In way that
seems magical-spirited away. as II
seems"
About what time do they generally
disappear"
"On. at all times, Sometimes in the
day TINA, and sonnet times between night
ana morning. For a time after the last
complaint they did not vanish. but it's
begun again. and with vengeance"
rs IL possible that they can he taker
when the men are absent; at meal hours
for .instance?"
Yes but the place is locked up then
there's a man there for the purpose
harmless old soul. who is naturally much
put about at the report, as he Is as likely
10 be suspected as any one. But, of course
Hooker might have false key TO the
place. indeed, ] remember once when old
Simpson was out OF the way when the
hour was UP, and we couldn't get in
Hooker tried the door with key OF his
own--he said II was hts house key-and
| let us in easily enough"
Then you suspnct that he gets in thus
| while the shop Is empty?'
81 hlame no-one,M gllardedly returned
Brockie. II don't want 10 get into trou-
| BILE myself, or TO land any one else into II
| unjustly. But should say you are not
far wrong. The things can't go without
| hands"
Are you quite sure you have told me
| all YOU known Are you not keeping back
something?" ] asked after a pause. III
your tools are TO be recovered we must
know ALL"
There Is only one thing. though
must say IL was the first that made me
| suspect Hooker answered my visitor,
rather reluctantly. "one day ] had been
using an American spokeshave, a patent
thing. the body of which IL OF iron In
stead OF wood. like oar English made
ones. IL was the only tool OF the kind In
tho whole shop Well, left Il on my
bench at night, but In the morning when
got in II was gone. ! don't know what
made me think OF IL, but went straight
10 Hookers bag, which hangs above his
bench. and hadn't turned over dozen OF
the tools when i found my American
spokeshave."
Might he not have been simply using