The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-17

Has he been here early this morning.
1 inquired.
Mr.. Paviof takes a tumbler of tea in the
Office at . each day." said Michael. why
should he come earlier?'
This was very awkward. l ought TO tell
Arnold that his cashier had not. as yet.
brought that bundle Of money and de-
posted ii in the safe. Yet If 1 did, Tommy
would laugh me 10 scoru. if not lecture me
as a person with a tendency TO interfere in
matters which did not concern him.
But circumstances ranged themselves
upon my side, and was able to give in my
piece of information without anxiety, for
half an hour before the time fixed for our
iceboat spin the servant announced "the in
spector."
Now, the inspector is an officer of the po-
lice department who would not dream Of
calling upon a private individual excepting
upon matters Of considerable Importance,
and his arrival somewhat surprised Ar
/ mold.
What in thunder does the inspector
wanJ?" he asked. and, receiving no reply
from the obviously anxious servant, he
added: Show him in"
That inspectors interview with Arnold
was a memorable circumstance, and gave
me a very high opinion Of the alertness Of
the Russian police. When ne was seated
and busy with one Of Tommy's cigars. our
friend plunged into the middle of things.
"You have a cashier called PavlOf?" he
began.
Arnold bowed amrmatively.
Does he bear a good character"
The very best possible said Arnold.
"Ah. utterly above suspicion, no doubt q"
Entirely"
"You are satisfied Of this?"
Absolutely, Mr.. Inspector; Pavlof has
served my father and myself for upwards
of fifteen years. He is a devoted servant. 1
should consider myself the most ungrateful
of employers if 1 were to permit him to be
suspected. TO what do your inquiries
tend?'
Il should be sorry to break down idols, -
said the inspector; but if Mr.. PavlOf has
permitted the suspicion of the police TO rest
upon him he has no one to thank but him
self"
please explain, Mr.. Inspector" said Ar
mold.
Twice within a year Mr.. Pavlof has eX-
cited comment by spending more money
than, in his position, he would seem to be
able TO afford. The first occasion was about
R"NAhS ~ SAAAND I'm GtNOAAA VS. u.s.
night. Mr.. Pavlof entertained a party at
supper at Pivato's restaurant, parting very
freely with large sums of money. May L
ask the amount of Mr.. Pavlof's annual sal
ary?"
Two thousand roubles," said Arnold.
"Ah, he spent last night more than half
his annual income; one year ago he enter
tanned three times in one week on this
scale. In a man who enjoys a salary of two
thousand roubles. but whom the course of
business-comes in contact with large sums
of money which do not belong TO him this
is suspicious"
Arnold bit his lip with annoyance. ST will
look into it, Mr.. Inspector he said;
though I do not care for interference in
the private affairs of my employees"
Take my advice said the inspector,
land let your books be carefully examined
by an expert; meanwhile, Mr.. Pavlof is
under our surveillance. This morning,
doubtless fatigUed with the designations of
the night, he has not repaired to the Of
flee"
do you mean to tell me-" I said, when
our friend had departed, that the Russian
police always act the guardian angel in
this fashion, watching the private expendi-
ture of peaceful inhabitants and warning
all those who might by any possibility have
been robbed by them, in case they should
seem to be spending too much?'
81 know a case where, quite lately, a fell
low robbed his employer. who knew moth
ing about it until such a warning as this
from the police caused him to look into
matters; then he examined his books and
found that the rascal had been quietly rob-
bling him for years, and might have con-
tinued to do so unsupported but for the po-
lice observing that he spent too much
money"
''Then you suspect Pavlof?" 1 asked. Ar
mold laughed.
Not the least bit in the world" he said.
IF he chooses to bummel around occa-
sionally, it isn't my business"
well, 1 don't want to alarm you, Tom
N.Y." 1 said; "but 1 had the curiosity to call
in at the office while 1 was out, before 9
o'clock. and 1 was told there that Pavlof
never called in last night"
1.-The dickens, he didn't!' exclaimed Ar
mold. Evidently this hit his
faith in the cashier somewhat hard.
mo, he didn't. I'm very much afraid
there's something in the suspicious of our
wonderfully astute friends"
Arnold considered awhile. mo. I don't
believe IT,, he said; not or PaVlof. The
chap is really fond of me; he wouldn't rob
me. He had that party on last night. you
see, and-and I daresay it was beastly in
convenient for him to go TO the office in the
evening. 1 don't know what precautions he
may have taken, but the money will have
been all right in his rooms or on his per-
son. He's accustomed 10 handle lots of
-money-perhaps not quite such large sums
in cash, as a rule-but still he could rob me
at any time. No, it's all right. 1 don't sus-
pect him; the police nave been a little bit
too clever this time. A chap needn't be a
thief and a hypOcrite because he drinks q
couple of glasses of champagne with his
friends one night! Come, we must be off.
ordered the trap for IL. and it's 10 past.
We've three miles to drive to the yacht
club, and the breeze is too good TO waste. &"
Aren't you going TO the officer" I asked,
surprised.
Certainly not,' said Tommy. "why
should Ig'
So 1 drove down to the yacht club with
this prince of employers. Innocent or
guilty. 1 reflected. Pavlof was a fortunate
man 10 have such a chief to deal with.
Then we boarded the ice yacht. and in the
lii. a-rf-A. - -