The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-01-30
A Matter of
Conscience ~
BY wILLIAN BLoss
Copyright, 1901, by Authors syndicste.)

II what a stir was made when that
$4,000 package of currency shipped
by the Cook County national bank
OF Chicago to its principal CORE
spondent in hansas, the Kaw Valley
Farmers bank, disappeared between
night and day, between heaven and
earth, in the twinkling of an eye, as
vanishes specter, and left no sign
behind.
Very interesting case, very" said
the superintendent of the Bolerton
private detective agency, rubbing his
hands with discreet enthusiasm, as he
CLEANED from the lips of the manager
of the express company from whose
custody the valuable package had
been lost the brief story of the disap-
pearance. Quite unusual, indeed.
Well have the rascal, and the money,
too, inside of three days, take my
word for it,"
"Do you really think SOP" eagerly
quered the manager, catching sharp
ly at this plank of hope, for he had
felt quite depressed over things.
Sure" answered the Bolerton ex-
pert, "sure." And he went away whis-
Ting cheerily.
But at the end of twice three days
he came back and gloomily asked for
more data. He had to have solAe-
thing to work on, he said.
This rather pleased the managex, in
his secret heart. Indeed, / think he
felt better over this confession of
impotence than he would if the Boiler
ton person had walked in with the
thief in one hand and the money in
the other. You see, the Bolerton per-
son had rather nettled the manager
with his airy ways and his Of
fensive overconfdence. The manager
chuckled, therefore, when he was APP
pealed to for more facts. The Boiler
ton person had quite lost his iaunty
manner and seemed wholly willing to
sit as a disciple at the feet of wisdom.
II told you in the first place, Wins
low, you'd find this pretty tough
nut to crack. I've been in my bust
ness 30 years, and this beats me,
clear But no, you were so cocksure.
Going to get the man and the goods
think you called the money the
goods'-in three days! Now it's
week, and you come pack to me for
a fresh start. l thought you adver-
tised that you ran detective agency
and that you never slept"
Winslow was duly humble and
failed to resent these sarcasms.
81 only asked for some more facts"
he said, mildly.
There aren't any more facts.
You've got 'em all. Here-the bank
hands in its PACKAGE; it's messenger
gets receipt for it; the package is
receipted into a sealed safe the mes
senger on our Kansas City car re-
ceipts for the safe; he delivers it to
Kansas City. Kansas City opens it
and says the $4,000 package isn't
there. There isn't any dummy, there
isn't anything, not even disorder.
That's all we know. AS for suspi-
cions, we haven't any. All of our en-
ployes who had access to that pack
age are old and tried. Besides that,
one man couldn't have got away with
it alone-there would have had to be
two. You've had the whole force under
fire for week and you found out
what? Why, that every mothers son
of the men you have shadowed are
temperate, married, home-loving,
good, honest, decent citizens, with
stake in the community and a good
name to take care Of"
The superintendent made gesture
with his hands outspreading, mean
ing that he admitted all that.
81 wouldn't care so much about the
loss in money" the manager went
on; "this company isn't going to lose
any dividends because $4,000 fell
through a mysterious hole in its pock-
ct and hid itself-but as long as the
case isn't cleared up we are natural
ly in an unhappy state of mind. 1t
isn't pleasant, standing on the edge
of a quicksand, you know. None of
us know when such thing will hap
pen again. And next time the pack
age might be really worth something.
! don't suppose you have any ideas"
The superintendent smiled grimly
and the line of his lips grew very
straight.
But probably you'd better keep
on the case. Maybe some day you'll
have one"
Then the manager wheeled back to
his desk, and Winslow walked slowly
out, with two deep vertical wrinkles
in the middle of his brow.
Brand Mccullough had the night
run on Wednesdays and Saturdays
from Chicago to Kansas City as mes
senger for the Ocean & Lakes Ex-
press company Tuesday nights and
Thursday nights he doubled back.
When he got to Kansas City on Sum
day mornings he. did not have to re-
port for duty until train time Tues
day evening, and this delightful
three-days' breathing oasis in hard
worked and responsiole occupation
he spent almost wholly in the com
pany of the young and charming Mrs.
Brand Mccullough, VINO now had been
a matron nearly half a year, but had
not yet ceased to be sweetheart.