Waterbury Democrat., 1900-11-26

self on s 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 | magnifyin9 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 ad- mitted. This space was partitioned off, as usual, from the bookkeepers' and cashiers departments. At the farther end a door led to reception room com municating with the presidents office. This office itself opened into the cash ier's department G.n one side, and on the other into a small room occupied by the presidents secretary and type i writer, and into the vestibule of the Exchange place entrance to the bank. On the right of t he vestibule was large room ill 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 department, while anoth- CT 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 magnificent old-fashioned carved mantelpiece. The artistic beauty of the structure did not seem to strike Sturgis, but he appeared to derive great deal of satisfaction from an in spection of the large tiled hearth. Pres ently, removing his coat and his cutfs,, he plunged his hand into the grimy chimney and removed a handful of soot, which he examined carefully and then threw away. He repeated the op- eration again and again, until at last, with evident satisfaction, he picked out a small object, which he deposited in of " hands in the clerks room, he passed in to the cashiers department. In cor ner stood the telephone closet, the door of which was open. The receiver of the instrument was down. The reporter took it up and gazed at it long and ear nestly.
 Sturgis' examination of the bank must have lasted over two hours. At | first Richard Dunlap looked on with mild curiosity, in which amusement struggled with good-natured skepti- | cism. But as time wore on the banker began to show signs of impatience, and when at last Sturgis returned to the private office and carefully depos- ! ited upon a sheet of white paper a mis- cellaneous assortment of tiny scraps and shreds, the banker could scarcely conceal his dissatisfaction.
 Well, Mir. Sturgis,'' he said, q hope you have nearly completed your inves tigation; for my leisure is not so abun- dant that I can afford to waste it like this.'
 q need one more witness at least" replied the reporter, "and I am afraid I shall have to ask you to help me ob tain it.
 I
 'But,' he quickly added, as he noted ! Dunlap's impatient gesture, II think I can promise you that the time you are | regretting has not been wasted"
 The financier did not seem convinced by this assertion; but he nevertheless consented with an unwilling grace to assist the reporter to the best of his ability.
 ''Well, then" said Sturgis, tell me, first of all whether you keep firearms in the bank.''
 '4es," replied Dunlap; "the cashier has a small revolver which he keeps in his desk as a means of defense in case of sudden attack by a bank thief"
 Have you the key to the desk?'
 "Yes," replied the banker.
 Twill you kindly see if the revolver you mention is in it's place?"
 Tt ought to be- said Dunlap, pick ing out the key on a bunch which he took from his pocket, and walking to- wards the cashiers department with | Sturgis at his heos.
 "Yes, here it is in it's accustomed | place."
 He handed it to the reporter, who ex- amined it attentively.
 Exactly" said Sturgis, with satis- faction; ''this is what I was looking for''
 | What do you mean?" asked Dunlap.
 q mean that this is the revolver which was fired twice last night in the Knickerbocker bank. See for yourself; two of the cartridges are empty, and | the weapon has not been cleaned since | these shots were fired.' | "But who can have fired the pistol, and at whom was it fired, and why?" Hold on! hold on!" exclaimed Sur gis, smiling; lone thing at time. We shall perhaps come to that soons For the present, if you will come back to | vo,1r rriy0fa offce T cb ep6aouo,. z,