The St. Johns herald., 1901-09-14
Caught Per Telephone.
PROPOS of bank note f

o PROPOS of bank note thieves" IA\ said Inkster, my detective friend, SS did I ever tell you how 1 caught one with the assistance of a girl? Well, here is the yarn:
 Ring-r-r-r-ring! goes the telephone bell in a Liverpool bank.
 Well, who are you?" asks the at- tendant clerk. ads Mir. Silverton, of Silverton, Sons & Co., Princes street, London" comes the answer. "Is MT. Golden imp
 "Yes," says the clerk.
 'Then ask him to speak to me at once, please" requests MT. Silverton.
 Are you there? Ah, how are you, Silverton"
 ''Dreadfully worried and annoyed, and I want your assistance. One of my most promising men, Cecil Hamp- ton, has gone away on his holidays, and as large number of notes are missing, 1 fear he has absconded."
 Well" queries Golden, "how am likely to be of any use in the mat terF"
 Among the notes," answer the Lon don banker, ''there are two thousand pound notes, and, as I expect he has some relations in the States, that will be his destination. It Is quite likely that he will call at your bank with the notes and a plausible story, and ask you to cash them"
 'I suppose am to have him arrested out of hand, then?" interrupted MT. Golden.
 "No; nothing of the kind!" testify an- swered Silverton. You must get him into your office and give him thorough good lecture and f5O0. Please do not interrupt. Tell him to go out of the country and begin an honest life. Tell him also that 1t is entirely owing to the position his father holds in the world of politics, and my respect for him as a man, that I give him this chance. 1 will not blast the lives of his father and his family for the sons peculation. Don't talk to me about cOndOning a felony, or give me any ethical defini- ton. I consider that, apart from giv- ing the youngster another chance after his first misstep, it is infinitely prefer able to marking the family with shame for the rest of their lives"
 'Is this the opinion of your part ners?" asked MT. Golden.
 "No," answers Silverton; "they know nothing of it as yet; but, if they did, 1 am convinced they would agree with me. I will remit the f500 to you, and you will then send the recovered notes by a trusty man, whom 1 will recoup for his out-of-pocket expenses"
 every well; I agree" said Golden, at length. And if, as you suspect, he comes to us, I will do as you desire. But give me a description of the man, so that there can be no mistake, and will instruct my tellers how to act"
 "Thank you, Golden" said the Lon don banker; II knew you would help. The lad stands about five feet ten inches tall, 25 years old-but looks more like 3O-rather sallow skin, with very dark hair and short, pointed beard. He has very slight limp, owing to some accident to his left ankle when a boy"
 "That is a very good verbal DOT trait" said Golden. 'and think we'll not mistake him. I'll ring you up after he has been here, and report progress"
 .'Kindly do nothing of the kind," said Silverton, sas am going to Brighton this afternoon, and will prob ably be there a week or two. 1 will telegraph to you either tonight or to- morrow morning, telling you where 1 am staying, as the place is pretty full up. I understand; then you can write me at the address given. Thank you very much for falling in with my view of the case ,Good-dayw
 "Good-morning, answered Golden, and the conversation ended.
 Mir. Golden proceeded to describe Hampton to all the clerks at the coun- ter and ordered his luncheon to be sent in in order to be at hand if the
 
 thief turned up.
 At luncheon time, when the bank was very quiet, Hampton walked in and boldly asked a teller to change the two notes.
 "I am one of SilvertOn's men," he said, "and on the firms business.
 Certainly, sir" said the teller. 'Will you just endorse them as usual?"
 AS Hampton was writing his name on the notes, the teller gave sign 10 the watchful commissionaire. and also sent a junior for his principal. Mir. Golden was soon behind the counter and addressing Hampton across the in- tervening mahogany.
 Please walk into my office, MT. Hampton; wish to speak to you. Don't attempt to escape, as the commission aire will prevent it at a sign from me-"
 Once inside the office and the door closed, he dropped into the first chair and shamefacedly. buried his face in his hands.
 "Well,, young man," said his captor, 'you have soon launched yourself on l the sea of iniquity. and in most skill