Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1915-06-29
SIMPSON, DETECTIVE
BY MAURICE voLTMAR REED.


Pettigrew Simpson had "a case"
II appeared that twice within a month
the Planters National bank had lost
a package of bank notes. In both In
stances they we're small parcels. Each
had contained ten one thousand dol
lar bills.
The packages had mysteriously dis
appeared from the currency pen.
There we're 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 shadowed
the young man for a week. His hab-
its 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 a 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 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
IL 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 a guilty
person. In flash young Desbrough
seized it, thrust 1t 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 dari
and dreary loft He got to the street
in time to overtake Desbrough.
Simpson followed the young banl
man into a restaurant, Swallowed hin
thence to the street. Then at a con
venient doorway he deftly edged hin
off the pavement
'Hello!" hailed Roy. What's the
idea of so much roughness?"
Want to see you" was the brisl
response. "See?"
Roy did sea coat lapel thrus
back, a 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"
All, 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 tc
do about 1t.
Save time. trouble, giving 1t up,
announced Simpson.
Then Roy laughed. Then he took
out the missive in question. removed
its Enclosure. read its contents and
handed the sheet to Simpson.
Dear Roy" 1t read, uncle Is
cross. so you had better defer cali un
til Thursday. ELFRIDA."
"U-um!" muttered Simpson In
tones OF mingled disappointment and
chagrin. False trail. Wrong clue. y
Il 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 lit
tie ashamed of himself as he viewed
the charming Miss Burrows at close
range.
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