Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-10-24

pc mcaSurcu were longer tnun ms
reach.
The Wall street entrance of the
Knickerbockcr bank led directly into
the space to which the public was adj
nitted. This space was partitioned off,
as usual, from the bookkeepcrs' and
cashiers departments. At the farther
end door led to 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 q small room occupied
| by the presidents secretary and type
writer, and into the vestibulc of the
Exchange place entrance to the bank.
On the right OF the vestibulc was a 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 in TO
the cashiers department, 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 crawed about on his hands
and knees; at others he climbed upon
the furniture, the better to examine
some spot upon the wall. In the pres-
dents Office he stopped to pick up u
great number of tiny scraps of paper
which lay in and arounr 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
a magnificent oldfashioned carved
| mantelpiccc. The artistic beauty Of
the structure did not seem to strike
Sturgis, but he appeared TO derive a
great deal of satisfaction from an iu-
spection of the large tiled hearth. Pres
emily. removing his coat and his cuffs.
he plunged his hand into the grimy
chimney and removed Il handful Of
SCOT, which he examined carefully and
then threw away. He repeated the op-
Grafton again and again. until at last,
with evident satisfaction, he picked out
small object which he deposited in
an envelope. Then, after washing his
hands in the clerks room. he passed in
to the cashiers depart ment. In Il corr
ncr stood the telephone closet the door
of which was open. The receiver OF he
instrument was down. The reporter
took it up and gazed at it long and ear
ncStly.
Sturgis' examination of the banl,
must have lasted over two hours. At
first Richard Dunlap looked on with Il
mild curiosity, in which amusement
struggled with good-natured skcpti-
rism. But as time wore on the banker
began to show signs of impaticnce,
and when at last Sturgis returned 20
the private Office and CAREFULLY dcpo--
tied upon a sheet of white paper mis-,
cellancous assortment of tiny SCRAPS
and shreds, the banker could scarce y
conceal his issatisfaction.
"Well, Mr.. Sturgis," he said, Il hope
you have nearly completed your inve
tigation; for my leisure is not so ablu-
lant that | can afford to waste it Ike
this"
81 need one more witness at least"
replied the reporter, land ] am afraid
shall have to ask you to help me OBJ
tain it.
"Rut," he quickly added, as he noted
Dunlap's impatient gesture, 81 think |
can promise YOU that the time you are
rcgrettiug has not been wasted
The financicr did not seem convinced
by this assertion; but he ncverthele. $
consented with an unwilling grace o
assist the reporter to the best Of h 5
ability.
well, then" said Sturgis, "tell me,
first of all, whether you keep firearms
in the bank"
YES" replied Dunlap; "thc cashier
has a small revolver which he keeps in
his desk as a means of defense in cast
of IA sudden attack by bank thief"
"lIave you the key t o the desk?"
eyes, replied the banker.
"Will you kindly see if the revolver
you mention is in its place."
at ought to be- said Dunlap pick
ing out the key on bunch which he
took from his pocket and walking to-
wards the cashiers department with
Sturgis at his heels.
"Yes, here it is in its accustomed
place"
He handed it TO the reporter, who ex-
amined it attentively.
"EXactly," said Sturgis, with salts
faction; this is what | was looking
for"
What do You mean?" asked Dunlap.
81 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 Stur-
gis, smiling; zone thing at a time. We
, shall perhaps come TO that soon. For
the present, if you will come back to
your private Office, shall endeayor to
piece together the scraps of evidence
which | have been able to collect.
There, sit down in your own armchair,
II you will, while fit these bits of pa