Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-12-09
A CLEW
BY ALLAN c. LAMOND
Copyright, 1910, by American Press
Association.

factory, Few of us getting away be-
fore midnight One evening | went
to sleep at my work. and the foreman
told me to go home and to bed. 1t was
D O'clock and there was little chance
Of the others getting away till II.
Going to the coat room, | took down
my overcoat. put it on and. thrusting
my hand into a pocket for my gloves,
pulled ont u package done up in brown
paper. Enrolling it, | saw a thick
layer Of bank bills.
l looked about me and, seeing that !
was alone in the room, rerolled the
package and put it back in my pocket
Having taken this precaution in
stinctively | began to consider the sit
uation. It was evident that a mistake
had been made. But what mistake?
Had the owner of the bills been mad
vertently using my coat and put his
money in my pocket, thinking it was
his own, or had he thrust them in
hurriedly as it hung on the hook?
We're they his own, or had he come by
them dishonesty?
Here new idea came to me. He
might have stolen the bills and put
them temporarily where they would
not compromise him. If so he would
probably come for them.
Young as was, recognized the i'm
portance of the matter | might appro-
pirate the money to my own use. II
had no intention of doing so. A dread
came to me that If the money had been
stolen and it were found in my pocket
1 would have to go to state prison.
1 decided quickly what l would do
and did 1t at once. l carried the coat
into the counting room. where found
the treasurer of the company, Mr..
Humber, and handed him the package.
He opened it and his eyes at the same
time, counted the bills and quick as a
fash said to me: GO hang your coat
where 1t hung before. But stop a mo-
ment. The package filled with ordi-
nary paper must be in 1t. There; thatl
will do. Now carry the coat back,
hang it up and take position where
| you will be hidden and watch and see
who takes the property. l don't wish
|
present and rely upon you to be
watchful. These notes have been stol-
en- from this office, and it is of the ut
most Importance that we discover the
thief"
l ran back with the coat, put 1t on
Its hook among a number of others
and, ensconscing myself behind a door
! opening against a corner of the room,
stood ready for the spying. 1 soon
tired of standing and took a seat on
the floor, there being just room enough
for me to sit.
An hour passed. and though several
persons came in for their coats, none
took mine. Then there was long in
terval, during which no one came. Be-
fore that interval was broken | had
fallen asleep. Awaking with a start,
l looked for my overcoat. Running to
1t, | thrust my hand into the pocket
where the dummy had been put.
1t was impossible for me to face Mr..
Humber that night Taking the over
coat with me- | went home to find my
mother and sister waiting for me.
They were both very much troubled
at my appearance and greatly excited
when l told them the story.
l went to bed. but all desire to sleep
had been driven out of me. | re-
NAMED awake till dawn, and my
mother awakened me half an hour
later.
Get up, my son." she said. I'VE
have a clew to the thief"
cpropO o,,t of bod IraSoad ou1
after swallowing a cup of coffee went
to the factory. When Mr. Humber
saw me he looked relieved.
II thought you had failed me-" he
said.
told him the story of my going to
sleep on watch. Then l added
my sister found clew in the pock-
ct of the coat last night after l went
to bed. She will not trust me with it
after my carelessness last night. but
says she will give it to any one you
may send for it,"
"I'll go myself" he said. Come,
show me the way"
l led him to my home, and a few
moments later Maggie came down with
a bit of white folded paper in her
hand.
Last night" she said to Mr.. Hum
ber ''after my brother had gone to
bed I instinctively took up the coat
and examined it thoroughly, thrusting
my hand in every pocket successfully.
When from the right lower pocket.
where he tells me the package was
placed, withdrew my hand l noticed
hair that had been caught between
two of my fingers. Here it is
She opened the paper very carefully
and showed him the hair. 1t was
fiery red.
"Goodw said Mr.. Humber. IT think
that you might as well have shown me
the thief"
He refoded the naner about the hair
and went hack IN the factory