The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1911-03-02
-,~l.stAn
A CLEW
BY ALLAN G. LAMOND
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.

taSiOhs, le" VI 10 SeltinS away OS-
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 1t on and, thrusting
my hand into a pocket for my gloves.
pulled out a package done up In brown
paper. Unrolling it. l saw a thick
layer Of bank bills.
/ 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 mistake?
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 dishonesty?
Here a new idea came to me. He
might have stolen the bills and put
them temporarily where they would
not compromise him. II so he would
probably come for them.
Young as l was. recognized the i'm
portance Of the matter. l might appro-
pirate the money to my own use I
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 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
flash said to me: GO hang your coat
where it hung before. But stop a mo-
ment. The package filed 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 1t is Of the ut
most Importance that we discover the
thief"
l ran back with the coat, put it 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. / 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 start,
looked for my overcoat. Running to
II, l 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 told them the story.
went to bed, but all desire to sleep
had been driven out of me. / re-
manned awake till dawn, and my
mother awakened me half an hour
later.
"Get up, my son." she said. 1--WE
have a clew to the thief"
/ sprang out Of bed, dressed and
after swallowing a cup Of coffee vert
to the factory. When Mr. Humber
saw me he looked relieved.
81 thought you had failed me-" he
said.
told him the story Of my going to
sleep on watch. Then added:
"My sister found a clew in the peck
ct of the coat last night after I went
to bed. She will not trust me with 1t
after my carelessness last night, but
says she will give it to any one you
may send for it."
"Tll go myself" he said. "Come,
show me the way"
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
Der, "after my brother had gone to
bed I instinctively took up the coat
and examined 1t thoroughly, thrustins
my hand in every pocket successfully
When from the right lower pocket
where he tells me the package was
placed, l withdrew my hand I noticed
a hair that had been caught between
two Of my fingers. Here 1t Is"
She opened the paper very carefully
and showed him the hair. 1t was 9
fiery red.
"Goodp said Mr.. Humber. 81 thinf
that you might as well have shown me
the thief"
He refolded the paper about the hal
and went back to the factory.
Mr.. Humber told me that had beer
instrumental in saving the concern
$1,000 and at the same time proved m!
honesty. He also said that the servic'
| would he recoonized in fine but no