Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-03-09

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salesman. The name of their disappear
ance was, for a time, as p~uzzling a mvs-
terry as the name of the song OF the sirens.
Jacob Wallsnstein, the proprietor, who
tool great pride in his brilliant Chestnut
street ~leWelry store, said little on the oc-
casion Of The FIRST loss. though he no doubt
did q good deal Of thinking and kept a
wary eve on his assistants; but. when a
gold watch. number two, value. sixty dol
lars, was missed, things began to liven up
considerably.
j The DISAGREE bic affair placed Beckwith
in an uneomfort Bile position. Being a
new. mtried sale. 7~n, he guessed that a
big share of the general suspicion would
rest ON him. ~Uncommonly sensitive as to
his honor, he chafed sorely under the in
cubus of doubt which intangibly threaten
ed it, and he determined TO do his utmost
TO find the culprit.
He felt il impossible to containue to work
for very long under a cloud of distrust /;
for. a. he was very fond of remarking, one
could never tell what dirty trick chance
might play a fellow.
There were two other clerks in the
store; decent fellows, respectively Brown
and Nevin by name. There was a young
man OF twenty, Ted Calvin, who wrapped
packages, made deliveries, and busted; and
Despard, a silent, grumpy man, who re-
paired watches and jewelry.
After c~arfully considering the situation,
Beckwith decided to keep a close watch on
Despard. Your taciturn man is usually a
mark for the arrows of suspicion. Some
of Despard's actions, he thought, were "off
color but nothing definite came OF the
doubt, for either the man was innocent or
he was much too cunning to be- caught nap
ping.
Despite the general watchfnlness, it was
not long before another valuable watch
was stolen. 1t was missed on a Saturday
evening. All that day, owing 10 a special
reduction sale, the store had been crowd
ed with people, but Beckwith, Brown and
Nevin swore that they had taken the great
est care To show only one watch al q tame,
and TO see that il was handed back before
they submitted another.
No sooner had the discovery Of the
missing watch been made than Nevin star
tied every one by pronouncing his stock OF
| diamond rings incomplete. Two had been
stolen.
Twenty ve-dollar ones, they were he
said, gazing helplessly around.
Mr.. Wallenstein looked black. IL don't
understand it," he said. frowning. II have
noticed that this sort OF thing happens
during my absence from the store. don't
know what TO make Of IT,"
He passed his fingers through his thick,
black hair, and stared hard al his EN-
ployees.
Gentlemen" he said, after a long pause,
"if Won are certain no stranger has rob
bed you during the rush today, the culprlt
must be- IN the store, and If You have the
welfare Of the business at heart, a. | be
lieve you have, YOU will each personally
permit yourself to be searched. Does any
course. bat | must ask the innocent 10 sub
init gracefully in order that the guilty may
be arrested. | trust no one obiectst"'
His sharp eyes rapidly scanned their
faces for any ~telltale expression OF fear.
There was no sign of concern apparent on
the features of any Of his employees. Only
on the face of Despard was there a looI
that was strange. and he was ~scowllng
menacingly.
II object TO being searched" he said
shortly and sharply.
All eyes were turned on him, and Mr..
Wallensteln's face hardened a he stared
at him. Despard Redeemed, then paled.
every WELL" said the ieweler stiffly,
with a hint Of threatening in his voice. 81
trust you know what j. best for Yourself.
You must see that such an attitude can
not be- of benefit to you. However, this
time ] will ask merely that YOU all show
the watches you carry. Do You refuse 10
comply there, Despardf'
Despard's sole answer was the pulling
forth of a commonplace, three-dollar, gun
metal watch.
Mr.. W~allenstein nodded. Every good" he
said CURLY, and turned to the Others.
Nevin's watch was a common, gold plat
ed one; Browns was a ten-dollar thin
model, pretty well worn; Galvin's was q
huge silver monstroslty, a hundred wears
old ESQ he said). and once the property Of
his great-grandfather. Beckwith's was
the humblest Of them ala nickel time
piece that had been dropped on the floor
more than once and still kept fair time.
.'That will do" said Mr.. Wallenstein.
"You may 60. But, gentlemen, J want yon
TO understand hat ] shall call upon Won.
when necessary, TO submit TO a thorough
-aaroh You ~ ro.IannaiLle for the mnnds