The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-07
EVENING STORY
Tho Thief.

letters on his desk
"AI right, you may go now he re-
piled CURLY.
She put on her trim little hat and
well-pressed coat, tucked in an unruly
lock-a rarity for Catherine Edwards
and went out.
Roland Whitman rapidly signed the
letters and then arose and yawned.
Contentment beamed from every
feature. Mr.. Whitman was successful
and knew it. Moreover. at forty, he
looked younger than most men at
thirty.
The door opened and a handsome
young man of about seventeen en-
tered.
Hello, dad" he greeted. Can you
let me have twenty-five dollars? Some
of the fellows in our class are going
to have a theater party tonight
"Richard'-a slight frown was on
his fathers face-"how do you man
age to spend SO much money lately:
Your allowance is plentiful for all
your pleasures and you must make ii
do"
Mr.. Whitman, since the death of
the boys mother fifteen years before,
had been too indulgent to him But
recently he had begun to think that
the unlimited amount of money was
working MIN harm-
'tAll right, father" Richard smiled
rather ruefully IF I can't have it,
suppose I can't. I'll try to make
the money 1 have do me. Are you
going home now?"
Yes, I guess I WILL
A little over an hour later, Mr..
Whitman answered the phone and
heard his bookkeeper excitedly ask
him to come to the office.
When he reached there, he found
the man with nerves unstrung.
The SAFE" he gasped. 1T has been
my books tonight 1 found the CASH
box open and empty. Was there much
in it 2"
About $4,000. Whether I get the
money back or not the person who
stole it will go to prison.
Mr.. Whitmans face was black with
rage.
In half an hour a detective was in
the office.
who knows the combination of the
safe?" he asked.
The owner replied, Mr.. Holmes, my
bookkeeper; Miss Edwards, my stenog-
| rapher, and myself
well, them" said the sleuth, sit
must be one of the three who took the
money, as the safe was not opened by
force. OF course you would not rob
yourself. Do you suspect Mr..
| Holiness.
81 do not. He has been in this
business as long as I. 1 would trust
him as firmly as would my own son."
We'll, then" the d tective con-
tinued, do you suspect Miss Ed
wards?''
| Mr.. Whitman thought a minute.
Eyes. do. This afternoon Mr.. Holmes
and I left the office. Miss Edwards
was alone. When we came back her
face was very red and she seemed
|
sha~woslld jump at the least noise.
Didn't you notice it?" he asked the
bookkeeper.
Yes. ! did," the old man agreed.
The detective thanked him and
withdrew.
of the People VS.. Catherine Edwards
was brought to court. The prescott
ing attorney was friend of Mr. Whit
man. The girl would say nothing. She
was convicted on circumstantial evil
dence and sentenced to prison.
AS the days went by a new stenog-
rapher took GATHERINGS place. She
had loose, untidy hair and cheweo
gum. Mr.. Whitman compared hel
with GATHERINGS neat appearance and
quiet ways, then discharged her.
The next stenographer was inatten
| tive; she, too. was discharged.
| ] Thus, every few days, a new face
was, seen in the stenographer's chair
None of them could come up to the
standard of Catherine.
AS time passed, Mr.. Whitman be
came more and more irritable. Hi
contented look disappeared. His bus
mess began to suffer. At last he con
cluded he needed rest and went tt
the seashore. But here he found NJ
satisfaction.
One night, he was sitting in hi
room smoking, when suddenly h,
dropped his cigar and sprang to hi
feet. For thru the smoke, he saw
the bars of a prison and back of then
the wan face of Catherine Edwards.
IT wonder-I wonder-No, sh'
stole from me. But did she?'
He folded his arms and looked GU
over the sea. For the first time
doubt came into his mind of Gather
ines guilt. A long time he stood thus
thinking-just thinking.
At two o'clock Mr.. Whitman wa
still standing there, staring at tn
waves
Yes" he unused. ''She has servec
me faithfully for six years. That i
what's the matter with me. I mis-
her I really believe Yes. I know
1 am. Catherine, at last I believ
you are innocent"
At o'clock Mr.. Whitman was OF
the train speeding back to town. A
prosecuting attorney. And at o'clocl
. that afternoon the two men were il
the executive mansion at the stat
capital.
Mr.. Whitman possessed politica
power and he was determined to us
it to the utmost. In the last guber
Material campaign his money ha'
: flowed freely into the party treasury
, AS a result, a few days later, Cath
, crime Edwards stood outside the pris
{ on, pardoned by the governor.
[ Mr.. Whitman met her in his ca
, land took her to his home. AlthO Sh
: objected, he led her in the house int
! the drawing room.
) Catherine" he said in low voic
that broke at times, Il have done yol
the greatest injustice a man can d
another. 1 have had you arrests
for a crime you did not commit.
/ do not know who did it. 1 do no
care But will you forgive me?"
why do you ask me this?" sh
uueried What is my forgiveness t