The herald., 1912-11-14
An Important
Leak
By THOMAS r. DEAN

failing on the ground floor.
One day just before closing the
doors were all locked and every EN-
ployee was ordered to a large room
where the head Of the firm spoke to us
He told us that there was a leakage of
diamonds in the establishment and we
must all be searched This was done.
but didn't learn that diamonds were
found on any one
The leak cOntinued-that was evi-
dent from the fact that a number Of
methods were adopted for catching the
thief. though all of them were fail
ures. \ detective was introduced on
the premises who went to work with
us as an employee. We rarely had any
change in the force, and a new man
going to work among us. at a time
when goods We're missed, made me
suspicious of this person-Erhart was
his name-and fell TO watching him
l soon saw enough to convince me
that he was what took him for.
In order to facilitate matters, the
firm offered reward Of 50, 800 for evil
dence that would convict the perpe-
traitor Of the theft. 1t struck me that
the reward would be more effective
than Mr.. Erhart But | hadn't much
confidence in either. Doubtless the
thief had found some ingenious way of
getting away with the plumber. and
diamonds are so small that they could
be removed without much chance of
detection.
l was working on a small salary
doing boys work. Boys are the most
observing creatures in the world, and
l was no exception to the rule. | was
not confined to any one department.
was doing odds and ends in all parts
OF the building. 1t struck me that
would like to earn that $500. | was
ambitious to set up in some kind of a
small business of my own. and the re-
ward would be far more than enough
capital for any | would think Of going
into.
Nevertheless | did not go about the
matter deliberately or methodically. l
didn't know how to make a beginning.
l supposed the detective would know
all about that, and | envied him his
experience.
About the time the diamonds were
missed mice began to appear on the
premises. Traps were set in different
places. and every day one or more mice
were caught. But somehow the num-
Der Of mice didn't seem to diminish
Then cat was introduced. The cat.
so far as could he seen. didn't catch
any mice. but the traps did
That gave me suspicion that the
mice might possibly have something
to do with the missing diamonds. For
my part l would rather trust a cat to
catch mice than a trap. | have known
mice to go all about trap and let 1t
severely alone. The next time | saw
q mouse In a trap l noticed that it
had been caught in such a way as to
kill it. Indeed, | couldn't find that one
Of them was ever caught by the foot
or the tail or in any way that would
not kill it.
My suspicious having grown in this
direction. | resolved to watch one of
the traps. But this was easier said
than done. The traps were placed in
secluded corners. Any one could go
to them at any time, but they were
not in position to be watched. gained
nothing by this idea.
One day l found a mouse in a trap
and concluded to throw it out l did
so and tossed it out through a window
In the rear, where it fell in the small
space between our building and the
one behind it. leaned on the window
and to my surprise l saw a sash that
stood about a foot above the ground
raised. hand reach out and take the |
mouse in.
The problem was solved. The dia- |
monds were removed in the mice.
After taking time to consider what | !
should do | went to the head of the |
firm and told him that / could tell |
him of the way in which the diamonds
were removed. though | did not know
who stole them or who received them |
was told that II my information |
should lead to the detection Of the |
thief I would be paid the reward. |
then gave an account of my suspicious
as to the mice being the means of
conveyance for the diamonds, how |
had thrown out the dead mouse and |
had seen ii taken in through a base
ment window.
was relieved of further RESPONSE |
bility in the matter. the management |
of the concern using its own methods |
to trap the guilty parties. They put
confederate in the building into which |
the dead mouse had been taken. who |
watched for the reception of another
mouse. while q watch was also set on
every trap. 1t was not long before
both persons concerned in the theft |
were caught. They were convicted.
and | was paid the reward.
With the capital acquired | set up
small shop for the sale of stationery
and miscellaneous articles. and since
my expenses were small made money.
/ went from that business TO larger
one. growing in prosperity all the
while. and I am now merchant In
good standing. When asked how l
got nv start i'm life | reply Through