Sisseton Posten. [volume] (Effington, Sud Dakota [S.D.]) 1902-19??, 1911-05-25
A CLEW
BY ALLAN c. l-hMOND
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.


fore midnight One evening l went
to sleep at my work. and the foreman
told me To go home and to bed II wal
D O'Clock and there was little chance
OF the others getting away till IL
Going to the coat room. | took dowr
my overcoat, put Il on and, thrustinG
my hand into pocket for my gloves
pulled out package done up In brown
paper. Unrolling IT, I saw n thick
layer OF bank bills.
looked about me and. seeing that
was alone In the room, rerolled the
package and put Il back In my pocket
Having taken this precaution in
stinctively. | began TO consider the sit
uation II 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 I'm my pocket thinking II was
his own, or had he thrust them in
Were 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. II 30 he would
probably come for them.
Young as | was. recognized the i'm.
portance Of the matter | might appro
pirate the money 10 my own use I
had no intention OF doing so A dread
stolen and It were found In my pocket
I would have TO go 10 state prison.
/ decided quickly what would do
and did II nj once. | carried the coat
into the counting room. where found
the treasurer Of the company, Mr.
Humber, aad handed him the package
He opened II and his eyes at the same
time, counted the bills and quick as a
dash said Il me: Go hang your coat
where II hung before But stop n mo
ment. The package filed with ordi
nary paper must be In Il. There: that
will do Now carry tho cont back.
hang II 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 II Is Of the ut
most importance that We discover the
thief"
! ran back with the coat. put II on
Its hook among number OF others
and, enscouscing myself behind door
opening against q corner OF the room,
stood ready for the spying. soon
tired Of standing and took q seat on
the floor. there being just room enough
for rne 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 I had
fallen asleep. Awaking with start.
| looked for my overcoat Running TO
Il, thrust my hand into the pocket
where the dummy had been put
II was impossible for me To face Mr..
Humber that night. Taking the over.
coat with me, ! went home 10 find my
mother and sister waiting for mo.
They were both very much troubled
at my appearance and greatly excited
when told them the story.
went 10 bed. but all desire to sleep
had been driven out OF me. re-
manned awake TIL dawn, and my
mother awakened me half an hour
later.
Get up my son." she said. I'VE
have a clew to the thief"
sprang out Of bed. dressed and
after swallowing n cup Of coffee went
10 the factory When Mr. Humber
saw me he looked relieved.
Il thought you had failed me-" he
said.
told him the story OF my going to
sleep on watch. Then i added:
my sister found clew I'm the pock-
ct OF the coat last night after I went
TO bed She Will not trust me with II
after my carelessness last night, but
says she Will give II to any one you
may send for IT,"
I'm go myself" he said. "Come,
show me the way"
! led him TO my home. and a few
moments later Maggie came down with
bit Of white folded paper in her
hand.
Last night" she said TO Mr.. Hum
ber. after my brother had gone TO
bed instlnctlvely took up the coat
and examined II 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 noticed
hair that had been caught between
two OF my fingers. Here Il is."
She opened the paper very carefully
and showed him the hair II was n
fiery red.
Good" said Mr.. Humber II think
that you might as well have shown me
the thief"
He refolded the paper about the hair
and went back to the factory.
Mr. Humber told me that had been
instrumental IN saving the concern
81 600 and at the same time proved my
Honesty. lie also said that the service
would be recognized In time, but not
TIL the thief had been discovered. Ten
days later one of the clerks In his de
partment with red hair was arrested
n a.