The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-01
SIMPSON, Detective
BY MAURICE VOLTMAR REED.

EssEusHsIarTNSIsrslaIs llsIIsTsIsIsEsIslglsI1g !
Copyright, 1915. by W. G. Chapman)
Pettigrew Simpson had "a case"
1t appeared that twice within month
the Planters National bank had lost
a package Of bank notes. In both in
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 a
Miss Elfrida Burrows, dainty, pretty.
for five years trusted employee OF
the bank.
Simpson, detective, had Swallowed
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-
tire3y 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
it not to that section Of the bank that
the missing money belonged?
What he saw was Roy Desbrough
pass from his desk and 60 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 it into his own pocket
passed on.
This was like saying, "Get up" to
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 a restaurant, Swallowed him
thence to the street. Then at con-
venient doorway he deftly edged him
off the pavement.
"Hello!" hailed Roy. whats the
e idea of 80 much roughness?"
q Want to see you" was the brisk
a response. "See?"
Roy did sea coat lapel thrust
: back, a seven-pointed silver badge
v flashed into view.
q Detective. eh?" smiled Roy. quiet
4 ly. where's my INTEREST,""
q Letter in yoHr pocket-right
v there" and Simpson smartly tapped
the spot where he knew the letter
|. from the pretty currency pen reposed
a "Treasure-"
9 All, a treasure. indeed, was thu
= writer of that missive! Roy's eyes
g glowed at the thought. Then he won
:. dered what this bold stranger had t.
do about 1t.
It Save time, trouble, giving it up
l. announced Simpson.
3 Then Roy laughed. Then he tool
Q out the missive in question. removed
its Enclosure, read its contents ant
g. handed the sheet to Simpson.
" Dear Roy" 1t read, uncle Il
q cross. SO you had better defer call un
d til Thursday. ELFRIDA."
If "U-um!" muttered Simpson T.
70 tones of mingled disappointment an
g chagrin. False trail. Wrong clue
e. 81 guess So" nodded Roy. "if your,
y trying to connect that estimab.
young lady with the disappearance o
d those money packages"
n Pettigrew Simpson felt persuade
that his usefulness in the present cas-
fe was at an end. He allowed Roy 4
II depart without further question. II
r went back to the bank, but not to hi
IL former covert.
&c Simpson went the rounds OF tn
- place, studying the faces Of the variou
workers. No intuition" came to hin
however, that might start him on tn
- trail of the guilty criminal Thought
70 fully, somewhat mournfully, he neare
the currency pen. Simpson felt III
= tie ashamed of himself as he We've
the charming Miss Burrows at clos
: range.
1.-THE owner OF that sweet fac
- could never engage in theft" he toll
=, himself. "Hello!"
- With a startling scream the youn
=. lady had jumped upon stool.
~ why, what has happened?' e!
80 claimed her companion in the cage.
Il. "a rouse!" faltered Miss Burrow
pale and frustrated. "Oh, dear!" an
be she shivered as she gathered the skirt
no closely about her shapely feet.
an Then there was a quest for the II
Mt truder, and then Pettigrew Simpson