Evening journal., 1907-06-06
An Amateur Thief.
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"He should have a far keener control
Of them than before. Had 1 committed
a crime my faculties would be sharp
as a razor"
Il should like to have that statement
tested"
ut is possible. Make It worth my
while, and 1 will commit a crime"
''What DO you mean"
Palmer thought awhile before reply
ing. II will bet you $1,000 to $4,000
that can steal $4,000 and not be de-
tected for, say, year. l will take the
money from the safe Of my employer,
to which 1 and others have access. The
money can be returned anonymously
at the end Of thS year with interest"
1.-THE conditions VIII not be criminal.
II you are arrested, can come for
ward and claim that Il is merely a
wager"
THAT would not be evidence. Any
thief could get some friend TO put in !
such a claim for him"
II believe you're right. So far as be-
ing considered a criminal is concerned, |
there would be no hope for you"
The bet wns made, and Palmer the
next day during business hours, while
the Office was crowded, walked delib-
erately into the safe, which stood open,
put a package Of bills In his side coat
pocket, went and sat down at his desk,
Of nIr
then went out IN company with MEM
ber Of the firm. Going to his room, he
sat down to think over what he should
do with the money. His brain was
clear, and he was pleased to discover
that he had perfect control OF his fac
ulties. There had been so many peo-
pie In the Office at the time the money
was taken, the safe standing open the
while, that there was no reason why
be should be suspected any more than
others. Nevertheless all the Office force
would be placed under surveillance. A
detective would be employed, whose
eye would be open to the slightest
clew. Palmer's room might be search
ed when he was absent, so he couldn't
leave the money there. He dared not
keep It on his person. He dared not
put It in bank. He must get rid Of it.
Here was a risk that he was forced
to take. II he were seen hiding the
money, II It were discovered in any
place that would incriminate him, the
game would be up. However, he be-
lieved that the risk would be inhnltes-
final, and he spent several hours max
ing plans for the disposition Of the
funds. The theft had not been discov-
cred before the closing hours Of busi-
ness and could not possibly be dis
covered till the beginning Of business
hours the next day. He could certain
ly not be watched till then, II at all.
After dinner he went to his grand
mothers, who lived few miles out in
the country, and when It was dark and
no one noticed him he strolled back Of
the house Taking a spade from the
barn, he went few hundred yards TO
a wood. There under a tree he knew
well-he had often climbed it when a
boy-he buried the bills In a cigar box.
He felt now that the rest would be
easy. He would 60 to the Office, as
usual, in the morning feeling sure that
the theft could not be traced to him.
All he had to do was to act naturally.
He slept fairly well and at o'clock
In the morning entered the Office. The
employees were coming in, and one Of
the partners, Mr.. Knox, was already
there Palmer cast a quick glance
about him and saw that all was as
usual. He sat down at his desk and
tried to lose himself in his work. But
he couldn't. He dreaded the moment
when the money would be missed
Then he began to wish the discovery
would be made and his suspense end
ed. About II o'clock the cashier went
into the safe and soon returned with
a serious look on his face. Going to
the head Of the firm, Mr. Devlin, he
whispered something in his ear. The
gentleman arose and went TO the safe
with the cashier Both entered. and
both came out together, the head OF
the firm taking in with a searching
glance every man in the Office.
Palmer's heart was beating like a
kettledrum, and he felt the blood leav-
ing his face. Should he look at his en-
ployer or keep his eyes on HIS work.
He had wit enough left TO choose the
latter course, but he felt that the eye
OF his employer was on him, and to
look unconcerned was out Of the ques-
tiOn.
"Mr. Palmer, win you step into my
private officer"
Palmer knew that the first part OF
his game had gone against him, but no
was plucky Indeed, he had to he
pluclJy and nerved himself for a strug-
gle as to the remaining part He de-
MED any knowledge OF the theft and
explained his pallor on the ground that
he was not well. Mr. Devlin pretend
ed at least to be convinced Of his inno-
cence and sent him back to work.
That's the last Palmer heard Of the
matter. He could have borne the
strain better had he heard more. For
weeks he endured the tortures Of the
damned and when he could endure IT
no longer went to his aunt's, dug up
the money and, going to Mr.. Devlin,
laid It on his desk.
Palmer. having returned the money
was not prosecuted. The circumstances
Of the bet were given out, but made
little impression. Palmer went forth
with the mark Of Cain upon him and
died IN a few years Of the obloquy IN
der which he lived.
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