The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-06-08

every likely" assented Sturgis. IT,
is quite possible that from bankers
point of view the problem is wholly
devoid OF interest; but from a de
tectiye's standpoint it appears to b.
full Of promising features There
| fore, whether or not you intend te
look farther into the. matter yourself
beg you will at least authorize me
to make survey of the field by day
light in the morning"
Dunlap looked anything but pleased
as the reporter spoke these words
He thought before replying.
Frankly, Mr.. Sturgis," be said, al
length, with studied courtesy, II will
not conceal the fact that what yor
ask places me in rather awkward
position. You are friend Of my
friend sprague, and my personal in
tercourse with you this evening has
been pleasant enough TO make me
hope that, in the future, I may be
50 fortunate as to include you in my
own circle of acquaintances. There.
fore, on personal groulids, it would
give me great pleasure to grant your
request. But, on the other hand, you
are journalist and I am a banker;
and it is with banks as with nations
happy that which has no history
Capital is proverbially timid, you
know"
IT see," said Sturgis; "you fear that
the reputation of the Knickerbocke1
bank may suffer If the mystery Of
the pistol shots is solved"
"No, no, my dear sir; not at all
not at all. You quite misunderstood
me-" replied the banker with just a
shade of warmth. ut is not ques.
ton of the banks credit exactly
since there has been neither robbery
nor defalcation; but depositors do not
like to see the name of their bank
mentioned in the newspapers; they
take fright at once. Depositors are
most unreasonable beings, Mr.. Stur
gis: they are liable to become panic
stricken on the most insignificant prov
ocation; and then they run amucl
like mad sheep. The Knickerbockel
bank does not fear any run that
might ever be made upon it. It's
credit stands on too secure founda
| ton for that. But nevertheless rur
on bank is expensive, Mr.. Sturgis
very expensive"
1.-THE banks affairs being in so sat
! isfactory condition. observed the
| reporter, cit seems to me that what
ever harm publicity is likely to dc
has already been done. The magma
tons of your depositors are now al
work sapping the foundation of tn.
Knickerbocker bank. If the truth
cannot injure its credit, it can only
strengthen it; and to withhold tht
truth under the circumstances is tc
invite suspicion"
Dunlap did not appear to like the
turn the conversation was taking
He walked along in silence for a few
minutes, irresolute. At length hi
seemed to make up his mind.
perhaps you are right after all
Mr.. Sturgis. At any rate we have
nothing to conceal from the public
If you will be at the bank tomorrow
morning at nine o'clock, I shall be
! pleased to meet you there"
Sturgis nodded his acquiesoence.
swell, gentlemen, here is my
street." continued the banker. "Goot
evening, good evening"
And he was off.
"Whither are you bound now,
Thurston?' asked the reporter, as the
| friends resumed their walk.
Home and to bed like sensible
! fellow replied the physician.
Don't you do anything Of the sort.
Come along with me to my rooms. I
must arrange the data so far col
lected in the two interesting cases
that l have taken up to-day; and in the
cab mystery, at least, you can. prob
ably be of assistance to me, if you
will"
"Very well, old man; lead on. am
curious to know what theories you
have adopted in these two cases."
"Theories!" replied sturgis;." II never
adopt theories. l simply ascertain
facts and arrange them in their proper
sequence, as far as possible. When
this arrangement is successfully ac-
complished, the history of the crime is
practically completed. Detection Of
crime is an exact science. Here, as in
all other sciences, the imagination
has an important part to play, but that
part consists in coordinating and in
terpreting facts. The solid foundation
| of facts must invariably come first"