The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-07
A FLAW IN THE PLAN
BY G. r. FERRIS.


1t could not be said to be the result
of 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 q card index box between them.
Nothing would be easier than for Da.
Wis to place the empty envelope in che
safe and slip the bills into his pock.
cts. The salaries would be paid be.
tween four and Eve. Davis theft
would remain undetected from one,
when he went out to lunch, till four.
Davis was not 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
nee, and asked just enough questions
to impress his identity upon the clerk,
and raise a lingering interest which
might, under circumstances, become
an active suspicion.
Davis was Twenty-Five, 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 a better offer.
Say, Davis, know why old Krebs
turned you down before?" he asked.
Spruce up, old man. Don't be a slov-
en-. Get a fifty-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, IL you
want to get on his right side"
Davis repulsed Cohen's condolences.
He was too bitter just then to think of
hattering 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
adroitly 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.
Il am thinking of leaving you short
ly, Mr.. Krebs," said Davis.
"All right" said Krebs.
Davis was taken aback. Krebs had
scored there. Davis stood looking at
him uneasily.
Il wish l could stay, sir" he con-
but have the offer of a po-
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 looked
at Davis as If he wondered at the
transformation in the slovenly clerks
appearance. Krebs hated losing men.
Wait a minute." he said. "See
here, young man. If you go to Cuba
you'll get malaria and yellow fever,
and die. I was thinking of making
you an offer. Mr.. Cohen is leaving US
next month. l was counting on you to
ill his place. How much is your new
position WORTH"
I'm not at liberty to say" said Da-
Wis. I'm sorry, sir, that can't recon.
slider the matter"
Krebs redeemed and glared at him.
What do you mean. you cant recon-
sider'?' he growled. "Mr. Cohen is
getting twenty-five hundred. How
would that sum appeal to you?"
1T wouldn't appeal at ALL" said Da-
vis, enjoying his triumph. you've
ground me down for years and paid |
ne dogs wages. You are an in
'ernal old skihflint. and l wouldn't |
work for you for twice that money"
Davis withdrew. He knew that |
Arebs would be gnawing his nails |
With rage that night when he dis
covered the amount of the loss. |
he had recovered his good humor by |
he time he was in the street. He |
made his way direct to the wharf, |
picked up his suitcase en- route, and
boarded the "Boadicea" five minutes
before she sailed
He stood beside the rail looking
Jack at the receding panorama of New
FORK. He lit a cigar.
'Pll take deck chair, steward" he
aid
One dollar. please" said the stew
I'D.
Davis felt in his pockets. He fished
Up a dime and a nickel. He felt for !,
! bill. His pockets were empty.
He had left the coat with the bills
n the Office, in the cashiers cage.
Copyright, 1915. by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)
A holder for ice cream cones has