The daily Alaskan., 1914-02-12
A Successful
 Hiding Place
By JOHN L. LARNED

1t is to put them in such plain view that the seeker can look right at them. i A good way Is to give them to him.
 1 never felt so much doubt as to my being fitted for detective work as once when I was fooled by an old woman crook whom I knew to be guilty of what I was trying to prove on her. | My chief told me one day that num- Der of banknotes had been stolen from a cashiers drawer, and he wanted me to get on to the thief l interviewed the cashier, who told me that a certain man had been in the store when he placed the bills in the drawer and saw him do it. The cashier was called to the rear for few minutes, leaving the man where he was outside the counter. When he returned the man was gone and so were the notes.
 Fortunately the cashier could give a pretty accurate description of the bills. They were all fves. all new and all on the same bank The suspected man was arrested, but nothing was found on him but little silver change. It was evident that he had got rid of the bills l uosed around among his haunts for awhile. hoping to learn something. At several stores in the neighbOrhood left description of the bills and asked the proprietors to let me know if any of their customers presented one of them.
 Happening in at one of these stores later on was shown a bill answering description of those stolen. It had been paid for groceries by an old wo- man who lived near, she receiving S2 or S3 in change. gave the. grocer another bill for it and took it to the cashier from whom the money had been stolen He identified it as one oT the lost notes.
 Investigation showed me that the old woman and the man suspected of stealing the money were known to be cyonies. She was notorious receiver of stolen goods, and there could be no doubt that she was spending the stolen money. Doubtless she had the whole or what was left of it in her posses sion, for the man who had been arrest ed for stealing it would not dare carry or pass any of it himself and would not be likely to have more than one confederate in the matter. Added to this, I was told by one of her neigh bors that she knew the old woman had the money in her possession.
 I preferred not to take the chances of making a slip by getting out a search warrant, so I suddenly appear ed at the womau's house, locked the door on the inside and went to work. Beginning in the garret, l found 1t pret- tv dark and called on the occupant for a light. She gave me a candle, making no comment on my proceedings what ever taking the trouble to light it her self. Having finished the garret, rip ping up loose boards in the floor and tearing away plasterlng. descended to the second story. where l ranSacked every nook and cranny. Being an old hand at the business, looked especial ly in shoes. in crOCkery, in stOves-in' deed. in any receptacle where one would ordinarily not expect a hiding Dlace because 1t was in such plain view. I stretched an arm up q chim- nev and pulled lot of soot down on me, but no bills. Coming on down to the main floor, 1 looked in closets, uD- der carpets. in everything hollow. Having finished this floor, l went through the cellar, extending my can dle between the jOiSts where they rest ed on the brick walls and turning over everything it contained. From the peak of the roof to the cellar floor nothing was found.
 Going to the main floor. found the old woman peeling potatoes as uncon- cernedly as if she were not under the slightest suspicion. Placing the can dle on the table, sat down on a chair to rest and think over what I had bet ter do. I did not think to blow out the candle. which had burned low. h. deed. it had reached some folded pa Der that had been wrapped around its bottom to keep it steady in the socket. which was too large for it.
 Are you through with the light? asked the old woman.
 Yes. l confess you've beaten me. I know there are some stolen bank notes in your possession, but I can't find them"
 She blew out the candle and resum- ed her work Of peeling potatoes.
 "Tell me where the stuff is, mother" I added after some thought. and I'll get you off"
 "Oh. you'd better go over the house again. You might find 1t next time, and you may do enough damage to make it pay me to collect from you"
 She gave me a knowing look when she said this. l knew it meant some thing. but I was a trife slow in inter- preting it.
 "Oh, yes" 1 said presently. You should be paid for the damage I've done. How would one of the bills suit you?"
 Its worth two of 'em."
 "All right. Tell me where you've