The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-02-07
A FLAW IN The PLAN

BY c. r. FERRIS.

or impulse. There was not the slight
est extenuation. Calmly and method
ically Davis made up his mind to take
the five or six thousand dollars worth
OF bills which would pass through his
hands on the following Saturday.
The money was taken out of the
bank on Saturday morning and placed
in the safe. During the morning Da-
Wis and Harvey, the cashier, made out
the envelopes. Harvey handed Davis
the bills to place in each envelope.
Harvey was short-sighted, and there
was card index box between them.
Nothing would be easier than for Da-
Wis to place the empty envelope in the
safe and slip the bills into his peck
cts. The salaries would be paid be-
tween four and five Davis theft |
would remain undetected from one, |
when he went out to lunch, till four.
Davis was not a bad man, but his
mind was warped. He believed him
self to be the victim of social in |
justice. He had laid his plans with |
the utmost assurance. At one he
would leave the Office, at 2:30 he would
sail on board the Boadicea for Blu
enos Aires. With the last penny of
his savings he had engaged a passage
for England on board the Laodicea,
which left at three. He had fingered
just long enough in the steamship Of
flee, and asked just enough questions
to impress his identity upon the clerk,
and raise lingering interest which
might, under circumstances, become
an active suspicion.
Davis was twenty-nine, and he had
been with the corporation seven
years, waiting patiently for his chance.
Cohen, the present manager, had told
Davis in strict confidence that he was
leaving; he had had better offer.
Say, Davis, know why old Krebs
turned you down before?' he asked.
Spruce up, old man. Don't be SLOW
en-. Get a ffty-dollar suit and tickle
the old mans pride. And, say! Ever
notice that your cuffs are frayed?
Tickle the old man, make him think
he's paying you fine wages, if you
( want to get on his right side"
Davis repulsed Cohen's condolences.
He was too bitter just then to think of
fattering Krebs. Besides, he had al
ready begun to formulate his scheme.
/ He bought the new suit, however.
That was part of the game. They
chaffed him on his spruce appearance
at the office on the Saturday morning,
but Davis said nothing. He hung up
his coat, put on the old Office one, and
set to work.
He was in high good-humor, and pos
sessed by a sort of reckless audacity
which made the carrying out of the
plan easy. He almost laughed as he
adroitIy slipped the bills into his
pockets under Harvey's very eyes, and
placed the empty envelopes in the
safe. By noon, when the cashier went
out to his lunch, he had amassed near
| ly five thousand dollars.
He waited till Harvey returned
then he went out Of the cage into the
: presidents room.
I am thinking of leaving you short
ly, Mr.. Krebs," said Davis.
Ali right" said Krebs.
Davis was taken aback. Krebs haC
scored there. Davis stood looking a
him uneasily
I wish 1 could stay, SIR he con
tinued, but l have the offer of pc
sition in Cuba, to manage an estate
and it Is too good to refuse"
Krebs seemed to wake up at that
His eyes began to bulge. He looket
/, at Davis as if he wondered at tn
, transformation in the slovenly clerk
: + appearance. Krebs hated losing mer
! wait a minute!" he said. Sc
here, young man. If you go 10 Cub
> you'll get malaria and yellow fever
! and die. / was thinking of maxim
; you an offer Mr.. Cohen is leaving u
next month. was counting on you
:, fill his place. How much is your me-
position WORTH"
I'm not at liberty to say" said ID
Wis. I'm sorry, sir, that 1 can't recol
slider the matter
Krebs redeemed and glared at hin
. What do you mean, you can't recol
>, sider'?" he growled. MIR. Cohen
- getting twenty-five hundred. Ho
= would that sum appeal to your
g 1t wouldn't appeal at ALL" said D
\. Wis, enjoying his triumph. ''You'1
i, ground me down for years and pa
= me a dogs wages. You are an i
?, fernal old skinfint, and I wouldr
y, work for you for twice that money"
k Davis withdrew. He knew tn
If Krebs would be gnawing his mai
g with rage that night when he di
~. covered the amount of the los
r. He had recovered his good hdmor
n. the time he was in the street.
ir made his way direct to the wha
picked up his suitcase en- route, al
boarded the "Boadicea" five minut
before she sailed
n. He stood beside the rail looki
no back at the receding panorama of NJ
ev York He lit a cigar.
ed 'I'll take a deck chair, steward
.a. said.