The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-10-03
THE THIEF
BY PAUL j. FAY.

"All right, you may go now" he r.
piled CURLY.
Roland Whitman rapidly signed tn
letters and then arose and yawnet
Contentment beamed from every fe,
iture. Mr.. Whitman was successful an
knew 1t. Moreover, at forty, he locke
younger than most men at thirty.
The door opened and handsom
young man Of about seventeen eI
tered.
Hello, dad" he greeted. "Can yo
let me have twenty-five dollars? Som
of the fellows in our class are going t.
have theater party tonight"
"Richard"-a slight frown was OF
his fathers face-"how do you man
age to spend SO much money lately
Your allowance Is plentiful for all you
pleasures and you must make it do"
Mr.. Whitman, since the death of thu
boys mother fifteen years before, haC
iy he had begun to think that the I'm
limited amount Of money was working
him harm.
"All right, father" Richard smiled
rather ruefully. ''If can't have it,
suppose I csn't. I'll try to make the
money have do me. Are you going
home now?'
Eyes, I guess will"
A little oyer 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.
1.-THE safe" he gasped. ut has been
robbed. When went to put away my
books tonight found the cashbox open
and empty. Was there much in it?"
about $4,000. Whether I get the
money back or not the person who
stole it will go to prison.
In half an hour detective was In
the Office.
"Who knows the combination of the
safer" he asked.
The owner replied: "Mr. Holmes,
my bookkeeper; Miss Edwards, my
stenographer, and myself"
"Wel, then" 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.. Holmes?"
II do not. He has been In this bust
ness as long as l. would trust him
as firmly as would my own son"
well, then" the detective contin-
ued, do you suspect Miss Edwards?"
Mr.. Whitman thought a minute.
Eyes l do. This afternoon Mr.. Holmes
and 1 left the office. Miss Edwards
was alone. When we came back her
face was very red and she seemed
nervous. During the rest of the day
she would jump at the least noise.
Didn't you notice it," he asked the |
bookkeeper.
Yes, I did," the old man agreed.
The detective thanked them and |
withdrew.
In remarkably short time the case
of the People VS.. Catherine Edwards |
was brought to court. The prosecuting !
attorney was a friend of Mr.. Whitman.
The girl would say nothing. She was
convicted on circumsta..tial evidence
and sentenced to prison.
As time passed, Mr.. Whitman became
more and more irritable. His content
ed look disappeared. His business be-
gan to suffer.
One night, he was sitting In his room
when suddenly he dropped
his cigar and sprang TO his feet. For
through the smoke he saw the bars of
a prison and back of them the wan
face of Catherine Edwards.
81 wonder-I wonder-No, she stole
from me. But did she?'
For the first time doubt came into
his mind of GATHERINGS guilt. A long
ime he stood thus, thinking-just ,
thinking.
At five o'clock Mr.. Whitman was on
he train speeding back TO town. At {
sight o'clock he was at the home of I
he prosecuting attorney. And at t
hree o'clock that afternoon the two I
men were in the executive mansion at 5
he state capital. !
AS result, a few days later, Cath
,rine Edwards stood outside the pris- I
IN, pardoned by the governor. +
Mr.. Whitman met her in his car and r
ook her to his home. Although she {
objected, he led her in the house, into b
he drawing room. c
Catherine" he said in low voice
hat broke at times. 81 have done you
he greatest injustice a man can do an !,
ther. 1 have had you arrested for a !,
rime you did not commit. l do not i
now who did it. do not care. But 4
vill you forgive me? want you to be- c,
ONE my wife" Il
Mr.. Whitman started and Gather "
1e's face Redeemed as the door opened 4
nd Richard came slowly toward a
hem. {
Father" he said, Il must tell you. ~
know Miss Edwards won't. II stole :
hat money. / never thought she'd be ,
and when she was. was 4
'ell. too cowardly to confess"
why didn't you tell when you were
rrestedT" Mr.. Whitman asked the
irl. :,
Because" she answered quietly, -
he was your son, Roland, and-and 1 "a
wed you" In