Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-05-20
DAILY STORY
AN AMATEUR THIEF.
IOriginal l

Two friends, Wallace NoSt and Clin !
ton Palmer, We're discussing the blum
ders made by criminals in covering |
their tracks. Yost was speaking.
Il tell you the criminal from the mo-
ment he becomes Il criminal has not u
normal control of his faculties"
He should have far keener control
of them than before. Had l committed
crime my faculties would be sharp
as razor"
Il should like to have that statement
tested"
1T is possible. Make it worth my
while, ana will commit a crime
What do you meanT"
Palmer thought awhile before reply
ing Il Will bet you $1,000 to $4,000
that l can steal $4,000 and not be de-
tected for, say, a year. l will take the
money from the safe of my employer.
to which and others have access. The
money can be returned anonymously
at the end of the year with interest"
THE conditions will not be criminal.
If you are arrested, I can como for
| ward and claim that it is merely a
wager"
THAT would not be evidence. Any
thief could get some friend to put in
| such a claim for him"
Il believe you're right. So far as be-
| ing considered Il criminal is concerned,
| there would be no hope for you"
The bet was made. and Palmer the
next day during business hours. while
| the office was crowded, walked delib-
| erately into the safe, which stood open,
| put Il package of bills in his side coat
| pocket, went ana sat down at his desk,
remained there till the hour of closing.
then went out in company with mem
| Der 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
he should be suspected any more than
| others Nevertheless all the office force
would be placed under surveillance. y
detective would he employed, whose
| eye would be open TO the slightest
clew. Palmers room might he 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. l." must get rid of it.
Here was Il risk that he was forced
to take. If he We're seen hiding the
money. if it were discovered in any
place that would incriminate him. the
game would he Up. However. he he
lfevcd that the risk would be intinites-
imal. and he spent several hours max
ing plans for the disposition of the
funds The theft had not been discoy-
cred before the closing hours Of bust
ness and could not possibly he dis
covered till the beginning Of business
hours the next day. He could certain
" not he watched till then. if 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 spade from the
barn. he went a few hundred yards to
a wood. There under tree he knew
welI-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 90 to the office. as
usual. in the morning feeling sure that
the theft could not he traced to him
( All he had to do was to act naturally
He slept fairly well and at . O'clocl;
( In the morning entered the office. The
< employees We're coming in. and one of
the partners, Mr.. Knox. was already
/! there Palmer cast quick glance
( about him and saw that all was as
; usual He sat down ut 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
Z would be made and his suspense end
\ ed. About II o'clock the cashier went
I into the safe and soon returned will
:. serious look on his face. Going t.
Z the head of the firm, Mr.. Devlin, he
: whispered something in his ear. The
! gentleman arose and went to the safe
x with the cashier. Roth entered. and
2 both came out together, the head OF
x the firm taking in with searching
Z glance every man in the office.
: Palmer's heart was heating like {
Z kettledrum. and he felt the blood leav
3 ing his face. Should he look at his en-
& ployer or keep his eyes on his work
s He had wit enough left to choose tn,
& latter course. but he felt that the eye
3 Of his employer was on him. and t.
& look unconcerned was out of the ques
IS ton.
& MIR. Palmer. will ysu step into m,
s private Officer"
& Palmer knew that the first part o
IS his game had gone against him, but h
g was plucky. Indeed, he had to b.
s plucky and nerved himself for a strug
G gle as to the remaining part. He de
8 MED any knowledge of the theft ant
G explained his pallor on the ground tina
* no was not we'll MI. DeVlin nretpnd