Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1919-01-22
THE THIEF
BY PAUL ). FAY.

Signature, MIR. whitman.
Miss Edwards laid the neat pile of
letters on his desk.
aAll right, you may go now" he re-
nlied CURLY.
Roland Whitman rapidly signed the
letters and then arose and yawned.
contentment beamed from every fea-
t,re Mr.. Whitman was successful and
knew 1t. Moreover, at forty, he looked
vonnger than most men at thirty.
The door opened and handsome
voung man of about seventeen en-
tered.
~Helln, dad" he greeted. Can you
lot me have twenty-five dollars? Some
= the fcslows In our class are going TO
have tlleater party tonight"
enichard'--a slight frown was on
HE fathers face--''how do you man
ACE 10 spend so much money lately?
yopr allowance is plentiful for all your
measures and you must ma.c 1t do"
Mr.. Whitman. since the death of the
boy's mother fifteen years before, had
been too indulgent 10 him. But recent
IL he had begun to think that the I'M
limited amount of money was working
him harm.
IAN right. father" Richard smiled
rather ruefully. "If l can't have 1t,
suppose | can't I'll try to make the
money | have do me. Are you going
hone now?"
yes, / guess / viii"
A little over an hour later, Mr..
Whitman answered the phone and
heard his bookkeeper excitedly ask
him 10 come to the Office.
When he reached there he found the
man with nerves unstrung.
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 / get the
money back or not the person who
stole it will go to prison"
In half an hour detective was In
n the Office.
WHO knows the combination of the
safes' he asked.
The owner replied: "Mr. Holmes,
Il my bookkeeper; Miss Edwards. my
4 sienographer. and myself"
Well. th~n" said the sleuth, sit
n must be one of the three who took the
u money. MS the safe was not opened by
4 force. OF course you would not rob
Il yourself. Do You suspect Mr.. Holmes?"
Il II do not He has been in this busl-
a ness as long as |. would trust him
q as firmly as would my own SON"
Well, them" the detective contin-
ued, do you suspect Miss Edwards"
"a Mr. Whitman thought minute.
ayes do. This afternoon Mr.. Holmes
and 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
hookkeeper.
Yes, did," the old man agreed.
81 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 friend of Mr.. Whitman.
n The girl would say nothing. She was
convicted on circumstantial evidence
S 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
smoking. when suddenly he dropped
mis- cigar and sprang to his feet. For
through the smoke he saw the bars of
prison and back Of them the wan
face Of Catherine Edwards.
i wonder-I wonder-No, she stole
rom ne. But did she7"
sz FOR the first time doubt came into
us mind of GATHERINGS guilt. A long
ihe he stood thus, thinking-just
thinking.
Al nve O'clock Mr.. whitman was on
ne train speeding back to town. At
inn isht O'Clock he was at the home Of
ne prosecuting attorney. And at
III nree O'Clock that afternoon the two
zen were in the executive mansion at
pc state capital.
AS result, few days later Cath
& me Edwards stood outside the prls-
4 H. pardoned by the governor.
mr' whitman met her in his car and
her 70 his home. Although she
esseu' ne led her in the house, into
e drawing room
oatherine,' he said in low voice
LAY broke at times. II have done you
: greatest injustice man can do an
.i ner' l have had you arrested for a
5a 'lne you did not commit. / do not
& ~, VINO did it. do not care. But
M ~ you iorigve me? want you to be-
Plne my wife"
a Sr. whitman started and Gather
race Redeemed as the door opened
lem. 'o"i! 'o"'u
falher," he said, II must tell you.