The Monticellonian., 1916-07-27

that he had concealed in his pockets
were worth according to the prices
marked on them. nearly four hundred
dollars. There were stick pins, gold
rings and other small pieces of good
iewelry. Thinking that possibly he
had not emptied his pockets, | in.
speeted them myself and found a
memorandum book, in which Erfert
had kept an accurate account of all the
articles which he had stolen from the
jewelry firm. the cost price of each
article 10 the company, and the piice
he had received for a large lot of
articles of which he had already dis
posed This book was written In
cipher also found a key to a safe
deposit vault
Fred l said to him, you have
stolen thousands of dollars worth of
jewelry from -FOUR employers. You
We're practically raised by them. hav-
ing been in their service nearly all
your life. and the company has al
ways treated you we'll and justly.
Now that you have been caught red
handed | think it will be to your in
terest to tell the whole truth about
what you have taken. and to do all in
your power TO return as much of the
plumber as possible.
The Office was on the fourteenth
floor of the Chemical building Erfert
turned suddenly and made d lunge for
the window, with the purpose of fling
ing himself into the street below. |
caught him just in time.
After a few moments the cu1prit
admitted everything He said that he
had been stealing from the company
for the past two years, and had re-
Gently been assisted by another of the
employees. He added that his grand
father conducted a jeweiry and nov.
city store in South St Louis, and that
nearly all the stock which he and his
confederate had stolen had gone into
the old mans stock. He also stated
that he had a quantity of the stolen
property concealed in the attic of his
mothers house, and agreed to go with
one of my men and deliver the stolen
goods This he subsequently did
After Erfert had completed his con-
fession | sent a message to Mr.. Boil
land, asking him to come to my office
at once, as ] had succeeded in cap
turing the thief
Mr.. Bolland arrived about ten in
the evening, accompanied by his wife
and Clarence White. | met them in
the front office.
The messenger told me that you
had captured the party who has been
robbing u.s." said the owner
Yes Isreplied. THAT is why /
sent for you
Whom have you eaught?"
Fred Erfert is the principal party.
Mrs. Bolland and White exclaimed
simultaneously: Why, surely you
have made mistaket"
I told you not to bother with Err
fert; that | believed he was all right"
said Mr.. Bolland angrily
Why Furlong. you have got your
loot in it, White continued "Erfert
surely had nothing to do with these
thefts. and you have made great
mistake by even accusing him. He
has been practically raised by Mr.. Boil
land and in his service for many
years and we have always had inn
plieit confidence in his honesty
Yes l understand all that I an
swefed. but Mr. Bolland employed
me to apprehend the party, or parties.
who were robbing him. which I have
done. Erfert knows that he is guilty
and he has fully admitted his guilt,
and | am satisfied from the evidence
that / have found on his person that
he told the truth when he said he was
guilty. I, of course, realize Mr. Boil
lands disappointment in finding that
Erfert was the guilty person, but
cannot help his feelings. have sim
ply done what was my duty in the
matter. and now it remains with Mr.
Bolland as to what shall be done with
Erfert .
Where is Erfert?" Mr. Bolland
asked
He is in there and waiting to see