The Lamar register., 1916-03-01
A FLAW IN THE PLAN
BY C. F. FERRIS.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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The decision to steal came to Davis
as the result of months of reflection.
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 a 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 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 $3.50 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
fee, 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-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 a better offer.
Say, Davis, know why old Krebs
turned you down before?" he asked.
Spruce up old man. Don't be a SLOW
en-. Get a ffty-dollar suit and tickle
the old mans pride. And, say! Ever
notice that your cuffs are frayed?
a ANAAAN AAAA OAh AAdAAs Andht MN Lullh
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
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 Harveys 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.
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.
i wish l could stay, sir" he con-
tinued, but l have the offer of a DO
sition in Cuba, to manage an estate.
and 1t 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.