Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-12-19


evil After dinner, I escorted her to
her home and left her at the door, at
the same time receiving an invitation
to call upon her.
Despite all my efforts found moth
ing to implicate Mrs. Pixley, and there
was no evidence at the bank to prove
that she was purloining Its funds,
though the president had put Carter
on the watch for this. After time
Carter said that whatever was her
way of taking money, It was so sub
tie that 1t was beyond his penetration.
However, the cash on hand was con-
stantly deficient, and Carter suggest
ed that Mrs. Pixley be simply dis
charged without any reason being CIV
en- her. The president communicated
this to me. and l suggested that he
put the matter of. had become con-
vinced that Mrs. Pixley had a secret
I was steadily gaining her confidence,
and l hoped in time she would let
out something. To this he assented.
A couple of days after this ! re-
ceived a note from Mrs. Pixley, as fol-
lows:
Dear Mr.. Detective-You are on tho
wrong track in shadowing me. Conceal
/ yourself under the steps leading up to
| the bank tomorrow night Cor, rather, the
next morning) at o'clock and wait till
come. NJ. D. P.
I cannot tell why, but I was not 30
much astonished at this as might be
expected. was certainly rejoiced, be-
cause / knew important developments
were to come. At the appointed time
I went to the bank and waited In the
shadow Of the steps. Ten minutes
later Mrs. Pixley went up the steps.
I joined her. She tapped at the door,
and 1t was opened by the watchman.
We went in behind the counters. Mrs.
Pi1ley opened a safe, took out some
heavy account book. which I laid on q
high desk for her.
"How is 1t that you can come here
at such a time and open this safer I
asked her.
"The watchman Is In my secret. I
am allowed the combination Of this
safe, which contains only books"
And here began the revelation. lam
something Of an accountant this being
one reason why I was put on the Job.
Mrs. Pixley spent two hours with me
over set Of books, showing me that
Carterhad manipulated them to conceal
certain peculations. And the entries
bearing upon them were so dovetailed
into certain entries In set Of books
that had been kept by her husband as
to make 1t appear that Pixley was the
defaulter. And I could not see how
Pixley could have shown that he was
innocent in the matter. looked aside
at Mrs. Pixley and asked:
"How about the woman with whom
your husband decamped?"
II was the yelled woman who went
with him to collect the money owed
him, but didn't 60 away with him.
One day he discovered how Mr.. Carter,
to conceal his peculations, had manipu.
lated these books. He came home so
broken down that I, fearing he would
make a poor showing under an inves-
tigation, concocted this plan whereby
I might have an opportunity to study
out the problem for him. The watch
man, Callahan, has always been my
husbands friend and at the risk Of
losing his Job has admitted me here at
dead Of night. I have had an expert
accountant with me at times, and to-
gether we have unraveled this conspir-
acy and can make showing such as I
have given you"
"Where did you get your knowledge
Of bookkeeping?"
~ studied 1t after my husband left
The person you sent to find out about
that caught me unawares. But at the
time I did not know she came from
you"
"Mrs. Pixley." said admiringly, TAX
ing from under my coat my badge Of
Office and handing 1t to her, IT re-
sign in your favor. II am worth SO
day as a detective you are worth
hundred"
As we left the bank handed
twenty dollar bill to Callahan, but he
declined to accept 1t. The next morn
ing called on the banks president
and was obliged to confess that my
work had been done by the woman he
had sent me to watch. Carter's books
were examined without his knowledge.
Pixley was summoned home by his
wife and put in Carter's place. Mrs.
Pixley was given five shares Of the
stock Of the bank, worth $500, and
her husband Is as clipper as before he
was 1ugubrious.
No, sir, I don't believe that woman
Is any more liable to divulge a secret
than a man, especially when It be-
comes her interest to keep It At any
rate, such is my experience.