The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1910-12-05
A CLEW
By ALLAN C. LAMOND
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.

We were working very hard at the
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
8 o'clock and there was little chance
Of the others getting away till IL.
Going to the coat room. | took down
my overcoat. put it on and. thrusting
pulled out package done up in brown
paper. Unrolling it, | saw thick
layer of bank bills.
/ looked about me and, seeing that /
package and put 1t back in my pocket
Having taken this precaution in
sttnctively, l began to consider the sit
uation. 1t was evident that 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?
Were they his own. or had he come by
them dishonesty?
Here new idea came to me- He
might haye stolen the bills and put
them temporarily where they would
not compromise him. If so be would
probably come for them.
Young as was. recognized the i'm
portance Of the matter. I might appro-.
pirate the money to my own USE l
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
I would have to go to state prison.
/ decided quickly what 1 would do
and did it at once. / 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 it hung before. But stop mo-
ment. The package filled with ordi-
nary paper must be in it. There; that
!. will do. Now carry the coat back,
| hang it up and take position where
|
who takes the property. | don't wish
| to have any one else in the secret at
| 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 it on
its hook among number of others
and, ensconscing myself behind door
opening against corner of the room
stood ready for the spying. | soon
tired of standing and took 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
it, l thrust my hand into the pocket
where the dummy had been put
b 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. we
have a clew to the thief"
| sprang out of bed, dressed and
after swallowing cup of coffee went
to the factory. When Mr. Humber
saw me he looked relieved
II thought you had failed me-" he
said
1 told him the story of my going tC
sleep on watch. Then l added:
MY sister found clew in the peck
ct of the coat last night after | went
to bed. She will not trust me with il
after my carelessness last night, but
says she will give 1t to any one yor
may send for it,
''I'll go myself" he said. Come
show me the way"
|
moments later Maggie came down witt
a bit of white folded paper in hel
hand.
Last night" she said to Mr.. Hum
Der, latter my brother had gone Il
bed I instinctively took up the Goa
and examined it thoroughly, thrustin!
my hand in every pocket successfully
When from the right lower pocket
where he tells me the package wa
placed, l withdrew my hand l noticed
! a hair that had been caught between
two of my fingers Here it is
She opened the paper very CAREFUL.
and showed him the hair. 1t was
fiery red.
Good" said Mr. Humber. II thinl
that you might as well have shown m
the thief"
He refolded the paper about the hal