Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1910-11-18
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
o 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
my hand into pocket for my gloves,
pulled out package done up in brown
paper. Unrolling it, 1 saw n thick
layer of bank bills.
| 1 looked about me and, seeing that l
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. 1t was evident that mistake
had been made. But what mistaken
Had the owner of the bills been mad
vertently using my coat and put his
money in my pocket, thinking 1t was
his own, or had he thrust them in
hurriedly as 1t hung on the hook?
Were they his own, or had he come by
them dishonestlyf
Here q 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.
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
would have to go to state prison.
/ decided quickly what I would do
and did it at once. / carried the coat
into the counting room, where 1 found
the treasurer of the company, Mr..
Humber, and handed him the package.
He opened 1t and his eyes at the same
time, counted the bills and quick as a
flash 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
you will be hidden and watch and see
who takes the property. l 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"
! 1 ran back with the coat, put it on
its hook among number of others
and, ensconscing myself behind door
| nc r. nf tho
stood ready for the spying. / 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 1 had
, fallen asleep. Awaking with start,
looked for my overcoat Running to
; it, / 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, l 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.
/ went to bed, but all desire to sleep
had been driven out Of me. I re-
: mained awake till dawn, and my
? mother awakened me half an hour
later.
"Get up, my son." she said. "We
a have clew to the thief"
II 1 sprang out of bed, dressed and
q after swallowing q cup of coffee went
to the factory. When Mr. Humber
saw me he looked relieved.
> 81 thought you had failed me-" he
, said.
., 1 told him the story of my going to
y sleep ON watch. Then 1 added
{ my sister found clew in the pock
ct of the coat last night after went
to bed. She will not trust me with II
after my carelessness last night, but
says she will give 1t to any one you
. may send for it,"
: "I'll go myself" he said. "Come
4 show me the way"
led him to my home, and few
moments later Maggie came down witt
| u DlI VI WhitC AoidSu PopSh III hSA
0 hand.
Last night" she said to Mr.. Hum
y ber "after my brother had gone tt
D 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
U | oJoood 7 xyitbdraxu INV hand I noticaf
hair that had been caught between
= two of my fingers. Here 1t is.'
She opened the paper very carefully
y and showed him the hair. 1t was ,
fiery red.
"Good" said Mr.. Humber. II thinl
: that you might as well have shown m'
a the thief"
He refolded the paper about the hal
a and went back to the factory.
kfr IIunha, fold mo thaf I had haaY