The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-11-16
| Booth from Central

., Hubbard. I presumeY

"Mr. Hubbard, I presumeY"
1.-THE same, madame How can ]
serve your" the manager Of the Consol-
idated Investment Company replied.
May l have a private conversation
with your"
Certainly" he responded, conducting
his visitor to an inner room.
The woman, matronly person, neat
~ dressed, as she seated herself, re-
sumed:
I'm April, and again the first Of the
present month, your safe was robbed? p
1T was,' assented Hubbard.
what reward will be paid for the
apprehension of the theft"
"As yet have given the matter OF
reward little thought; consider the
money lost forever and shall send no
more cash after that which has been
stolen" Hubbard replied, decidedly.
But, Mr.. Hubbard" urged the wom-
an, If the thief is captured; what
them?
Then, madame, we will pay suffi-
Gent sum; one amply sufficient
You will pay it to me, maybe, II 1
bring the thief to justice?" she asked.
ITO you" Hubbard cried in astonish-
ment. do you, woman, imagine you
can discover the thief; your suggestion
Is prepOsterous ~ and the manager
waved his hand to and fro, as though
the question was settled.
THAT remains to be proved, sir"
she responded, guardedly.
Pardon me-" said Hubbard, as If
suspecting the woman's object. II sur
mise that you purpose working through
the agency of the detective force of
this city. I've had considerable ex-
perience with the grafters, and I'll not
allow one of them to even try to ap-
prehend the one who robbed me; they
are worse than thieves themselves ~
he declared, emphatically.
"And do | resemble one Of the craft?"
questioned the woman, good-naturedly.
"No; certainly not"
Then you'll consent to my trying to
unravel the robbing Of your safe?"
absurd as is your request I'll yet
grant you the privilege" he replied, as
II acquiescing In something he was con-
WINGED would prove futile.
Every well, sir" she responded. ."And
to prove to you that l am in earnest,
I'll ask you If you ever before saw
this part Of an envelope?" passing Hub
bard portion OF an express wrap
per-
Most assuredly I have seen It be-
fore! It's the one which contained the
money that was taken from the safe in
April!" he exclaimed.
Exactly, sir" she assented. "Now,
I'll be honest with you, and state that
I am working on this case for a two
fold purpose; but Of my personal inter-
est In it, more later. Please tell me all
you know of the robbery"
Hubbard related the details as he
knew them. Then the woman COM
menced systematic inspection Of the
room, it being the one in which the
safe stood.
After looking carefully about, she
went to a window, one that opened on
an eight-foot court between. the wings
Of the American building; and right
here she made discovery.
On small hook screwed into the end
Of Hubbard's desk, which was placed
close to this window, she found q tiny
black ravelling, and on the carpet, di-
rectly below the hook, several minute
black beads
At her request, Hubbard showed the
desk into the center OF the room. She
then picked from the carpet q small
piece OF Jet passementerie.
A woman In the case!" she ex-
claimed, In confident tone
A woman" echoed Hubbard.
~This bit Of trimming goes long
way to prove It. Do you employ 4
woman In your oficeY she asked