The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1917-06-07
An Amateur
Detective
How He Located the Miss
ing Securities.
BY cLARIssA MAcKIE

Z 3
Livery three minutes he consulted
bis watch and compared it with the
electric timepiece on the wall be-
tween the windows. He had an
important engagement at II o'clock,
and it was now 1890. Smithers
was getting more stupid every day.
He brought his feet down from
the desk with a thump as the Sec
rotary returned with worried ex-
preston on his long, pale face. Mr..
Ord reached for his hat and held
out his hand.
Give me the securities, Smith
ers," he said.
Il can't find them, Mr.. Ord, ("
said the clerk diflidently. Il thought
perhaps you might have them in
here"
"Herew snorted Mr.. Ord i'm
patiently. IF had them in here
Why did / send You to the vaults
after them 2"
Il have looked everywhere, sir.
They are not in the vaults nor any
other place in the office. will
question
No need to question anybody"
cut in Mr.. Ord, sinking back in his
chair and tossing his hat into the
ticker basket. Il gave YOU those
securities day before Yesterday,
with instructions 10 lock them in
my private box in the vaults. You
returned the kew 10 me then. and
| have just handed it to You now.
| haven't had occasion to 60 to the
box since Thursday. Now, where
are those securities 2"
Il don't know, sir" returned
Smithers respectfully.
ssNow, Smithers, this is the third /
time this has happened-seeurities
have disappeared in this same way
during several days until the mar
ket interest in them has abated.
It's an old gag and won't work
again. Now, who do you think is
at the bottom Of this -
Smithers fidgeted neryously and
looked out Of the window at the
blank wall Of another building.
Really, Mr.. Ord, haven't formed
an opinion" he said rather mine
ingly.
Haven't, Ell? Well, l have"
Numbered his employer, fixing the
chief clerk with a hard stare.
Smithers jumped nervously. @In-
deed. sir" he said.
~Yes. indeed. Mr.. Smithers. Pm
going 10 ferret this mystery out
before ? o'clock. See. This Office
Is the worst managed affair in the
,ity Of New. y ork, and YOU are the
most inefficient chief clerk / ever
Got. thatfy
"Yes, sir
~See that row OF books on the
ihelfsv Mr.. Ord pointed his ruler ,
Il a narrow shelf laden with cloth
,ound copies of Conan Doyle's
looks.
Smithers bowed respectfully.
Detective stories, every one Of
I'm. I've read ,em ell, said Mr..
)rd. Il shall solve the mystery Of !
he disappearance Of those securi- !
les by the same methods as those !
mployed BY Sherlock Holiness" ]
tent on AIr. Ord. do You wear t
lasters, Mr. Smithers?' he asked b
DOLLY.
The chief clerk stared at this per-
onal question, fred so abruptly g
rom the lips Of the great Mr.. Ord :
great in the financial district. n
Sometimes" he said guardedly. n
"Haye you one on now z" snapped
Ir. Ord. .
"Yes. sir, blushed Smithers. q
Mr.. Ord smiled with satisfaction.
Mr.. Smithers, sir, YOU have been a
it'll me for three years, and up to l
lis time / have never detected Won 1
> grave error. / have trusted u
,u implicitly, and l have always v
,und You faithful and honest. In z
let, l have no fault to find save
TAT the office has no system what b
Ter, and can never find anything o.
hen | want it. Got that p b
ssYes, sir" Smi.Aers replied al
lzedly. nc
Nov, sir, you admit you are "
caring a plaster. How do / know =
at those securities are not con- m
aled within your plaster, huhy" ca
r. Ord looked from his astonished W
ark to the red bound volumes Of so
lerlock Holmes adventures and
tied his chest knowingly. ~How tn
I know, STRIP he repeated. po
REALLY, l couldn't say, Mr.. Ord" sh
gan Smithers and then as if the IN
Il meaning Of his employers in
luation had pierced some sensi-
Re spot at last he added forcibly: