The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1915-07-15
SIMPSON, Detective
BY MAURICE VOLTMAR REED.
Copyright, 1915, by w. G. Chapman

stances they were small parcels. Each
had contained ten one thousand dol
lar bills.
The packages had mysteriously dis
| appeared from the currency pen
| There were only two persons behind
| its secure grating One was the son
| of the president of the institution,
learning banking" and, as he was
Independently rich personally from his
mothers estate, there was no reason
to suspect him. His assistant was
Miss Elfrida Burrows dainty, pretty
for five years a trusted employee OF
the bank.
Simpson, detective, had Swallowed
the young man for week. His hab-
It's were beyond criticism. AS to Miss
Burrows, she lived plainly, dressed
modestly and about all that Simpson
learned concerning her was that she
was engaged to the credit manager
of the bank, Roy Desbrough.
Now new and brilliant idea had
come to Simpson, which he had just
impaired to the bank president. En-
tirely surrounding the sides OF the
lofty bank room was an ornamental
grill to shut off the barren unfinished
space just under the roof. The plan
of the sleuth was to locate himself
there with a pair of opera glasses, and
select anyone of hundred interstices
in the grill work to secure complete
unsupported view of every worker in
the bank.
It was at the noon hour that the
giant discovery was made. Ever and
always Simpson had kept his gaze
fixed upon the currency pen, for was
it not to that section of the bank that
the missing money belonged?
What he saw was Roy Desbrough
pass from his desk and go by the in
ner end Of the enclosure on his way
to lunch AS he did this he decreased
his gait. AS he reached little slot
in the high wire netting through
which was taken and given out notes
and other documents, the detective
saw Miss Burrows cast furtive, hur-
ried glance all about her. Then she
drew an envelope from her pocket
She shot it through the slot with the
precipitation and manner of guilty
person. In flash young Desbrough
seized it, thrust it into his own pocket
passed on.
This was like saying, Get up" to
a horse. Simpson got up. He scram-
bled across the rafters. He nearly
fell down the stairs leaving the dark
and dreary loft. He got to the street
in time to overtake Desbrough.
Simpson followed the young bank
man into restaurant, Swallowed him
thence to the street Then at con-
venient doorway he deftly edged him
off the pavement,
"Hello!" hailed Roy. whats the
idea of so much roughness?"
Want to see YOU was the brisk
response. "See?"
Roy did sea coat lapel thu ust
back, seven-pointed silver badge
flashed into view.
Detective, eh?' smiled Roy. quiet
ly. where's my INTEREST,""
Letter in your pocket-right
there" and Simpson smartly tapped
the spot where he knew the letter
from the pretty currency pen reposed
Treasure"
Ah a treasure, indeed, was the
writer Of that missive! Roy's eyes
glowed at the thought. Then he Won
dered what this bold stranger had to
do about it,
Save time, trouble, giving 1t up"
announced Simpson.
Then Roy laughed. Then he took
out the missive in question, removed
its Enclosure, read it's contents and
handed the sheet to Simpson.
Dear Roy" 1t read, uncle is
cross, SO you had better defer call I'M
til Thursday, ELFRIDA.'
"U-um!" muttered Simpson In
tones of mingled disappointment and
chagrin. False trail. Wrong clue"
81 guess so,' nodded Roy, "if you're
trying to connect that estimable
young lady with the disappearance Of
those money packages"
Pettigrew Simpson felt persuaded
that his usefulness in the present case
was at an end. He~allowed Roy to
depart without further question. He
went back to the bank, but not to his
former covert.
Simpson went the rounds of the
place, studying the faces of the various
workers. No intuition" came to him,
however, that might start him on the
trail Of the guilty criminal. Thought
fully, somewhat mournfully, he neared
the currency pen. Simpson felt a lit
tie ashamed Of himself as he viewed
the charming Miss Burrows at close
range.
Tile owner OF that sweet face
could never engage in theft" he told
himself. "Hello!"
With a startling scream the young
lady had jumped upon a stool.
why, what has happened?' ex'
claimed her companion in the cage.
"a mouse!" faltered Miss Burrows,
pale and frustrated. "Oh, dear'" and
| she shivered as she gathered the skirts
closely about her shapely feet.
Then there was quest for the In
truder, and then Pettigrew Simpson.
| the great detective, sneaked away,
For in a little vacant space under
| the partition was discovered a com
| Portable rats nest-an expensive con
triyapca foy II was formed or rag