Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1919-02-21

let them go. Still, feei convinced
they're honest. although Despard, per
haps, is trifie doubtful. The yisesi
thing is to have him watched. I'll get
detective at once. ! have let the
thing go too far already"
In spite Of all precautions. however,
and Notwithstanding the many watch.
ers. the thefts continued. The employ.
ees were now searched each time they
left the store. The hired detective
was positive that the culprit was one
Of the assistants, and while 1t was not
impossible for one Of them to purloin
an article and slip II into his pocket
unseen, 1t seemed absolutely beyond
belief that the booty could be carried
of under the very nose Of everybody.
One day an odd idea occurred to
Beekwith. AS luck would have 1t, that
same day his opportunity to test it ar
rived. At about five-thirty he went up
stairs to the Mushroom to wash him
self preparatory to going home. There
he found Calvin, who, having hung his
waistcoat on hook, was about to
wash his hands.
In an instant Beckwith made up his
mind. fastening downstairs, he went
up to Brown.
"Say. Brown" he whispered hur-
riedly, help me minute. I'll explain
afterward. I'm going up into the wash
room. When have reached the top of
the stairs want you to call up to Gal
win. When he comes to the head of the
stairs, ask him whether he took that
package to Mrs. McCarthy's this after
noon; we know he did, of course hold
him there a couple of minutes; ask
him to whom he gave It, and what they
said. This Is important; will you do
it?"
Sure" said Brown, wonderingly.
whats the matter? If you look like
that you'll have the detective come
over and sit on you"
Beckwith hurried upstairs without
replying, and Browns voice promptly
called out: Hello there, Calvin"
Calvin was drying his face as Beck
with reached his side.
"Hellol" answered Calvin, crossing
the room and standing just out of
Beckwiths sight, at the head of the
stairs.
In an instant Beckwith had Galvin's
huge, great-grandfather's watch out Of
the pocket of the suspended waistcoat.
The first thing ne noticed was that one
Of the hands had fallen off.
THE thing isn't going" he said to
himself. He placed it to his ear.
"Ah, hal"
He said no more, but hastily unfas-
tened the silver chain and put the
watch into his own pocket.
Calvin was still at the head of the
stairs. "Sure / did. Dyer think I
swiped the package?" he demanded in.
dignantly. "What dyer take me for
anyway" s
.All right, Calvin said Brown.
MY mistake, that's ALL"
II amt no thief" growled Calvin,
entering the room. "That Brown gives
me pain in the neck"
Without staying to turn of the run
ming water, Beckwith hurried down
the stairs. AS he entered the store, Mr..
Wallenstein, who was counting some
gold watches in tray prior to placing
them in the big safe for the night. ut
tered tremendous oath. A.t
Everyone in the store turned to him
In startled amazement, and the detec-
tive hurried over to his side.
There's a sixty-dollar gold Elgin
missing herew cried Mr.. Wallenstein.
A couple of customers, not liking the
look of things, made move to go.
Lock the door," ordered the detec-
tive. Everybody stay where they
are"
Beckwith, with conflicting emotions
Of doubt and assurance warning with
in him, went up to his employer and
whispered to him.
Eagerly Mr.. Wallenstein held out his
hand. and Beckwith handed Galvin's
huge watch to him.
Without a word, the jeweler quickly
opened the back OF the watch, and then
the inner cover. All eyes were fixed on
him, and heads were craned forward
as ne revealed the interior OF the I'M
couth timepiece.
An exclamation of wonder broke
from the group Of watchers, for there,
In place of wheels and springs, was
snugly ensconced the missing gold FL
gin. 1t fitted into the larger watch
with some room to spare. and little
cotton wool had been hastily stuffed
In as packing.
At once all was commotion.
Arrest the scoundrell" cried Mr..
wallenstein. crimson with anger. Ar
rest himl
I'm the Mushroom. second floor"
said Beckwith. nodding to the detec-
tive.
The man sprang up the stairs. fol-
lowed by Beckwith. Entering the wash
room. they were surprised to ind Il
empty. Even Galvin's waistcoat had