Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-03-27
One Hundred
Short
By JACK wooDFoRD
g " Western NewspapcT Union

the state street National bank.
Franklin Heath, the president, and
Ed Connors, head of u local detective
agency sat discussing the situation.
ats plainly up to you, Ed" re-
minded the president impatlently.
Connors' face colored. Finally the
operative whirled about and addressed
the president:
Last night | personally watched
your paying teller Hargraves, balance
his currency--it was o. X. I watched
every move he made between his cage
and the value-nothlng could possibly
have been taken out of 1t; yet, he is
one hundred dollars short again today
Five times in the last month that has
happened-and the worst part of II Is
that 1t only has once more to happen
and then my chances of ever solving
the mystery here are gone forever"
"What makes you think 1t will not
happen more than six times2"
Just this: your bank has not been
the only one victimized For the past
year reports have been coming in
showing that someone Is making
systematic cleanup. II Is always the
paying teller's cage they strike ut, and
never for over a hundred at time.
The teller finds himself short six differ
ent times, always within the period Of
thirty days or less. After the sixth
hundred has vanished the losses stop.
They were interrupted at this juno
ture by a polite tap upon the door.
"Come In" called President Heath
A tall, slim, blue eyed-youth stepped
quietly into the room.
II beg your pardon" began Har-
graves politely. "If you are busy--I
thought that you were alone In here
else"
what Is 1t In reference to, Har-
graves" prompted the president.
"Why, the strange disappearance Of
currency from my cage"
"You may speak freely; Mr.. Con.
ors here, is as anxious to solve the
mystery as you or T."
II had thought that perhaps you
would discuss the matter alone with
me, Mr.. Heath" replied Hargraves.
"The matter Of reward for the APP
prehenslon OF the thief and the show.
Ing up Of his methods; you see, nat
urally, the officer here would ex-
pect
Listen here, son." broke in Con
nors, If you nail this bird ri not only
pass the reward on to you--and alto.
gether | think It approxlmates some
four thousand dollars--but I'll add a
hundred Of my own"
sand I'll do better than that. II you
are smart enough to catch the man
who's been doing this thing and dis
cover his methods. III not only guar
antee you good raise, but promise
you the first thing in the line of ad-
vnncement that opens up around here.
The clerks face frightened
1T hope you gentlemen won't think
me wholly mercenary; but, you see.
was thinking Of getting married and
well-to make long story
short, have already caught the
theft"
There wasn't anything hard about
IT, Wcht WI ThhihIhNeS, dpOlokSilcdi-
ly; "you see, have an exceptionally
good memory. II Mr.. Connors will
stand by my window for the first hour
or so, after we open tomorrow, Pm
sure the man will come In. The next
morning, at quarter Of eleven, Con
nors, noting the movement Of the hand
TO hair by Hargraves the movement
which, by prearrangement had been
agreed upon as a signal, quietly walked
up and snapped bracelet upon the
mans wrist as he received the money
for check he had Just cashed An
other clerk relieved Hargraves, and
they all adjourned to the presidents
office.
The prisoner, one Mr. Henry w
Southmore, addressed the president In
an excess Of purple rage.
"Mr. Heath, what the devil does this
meanT little puzzled, Mr., Heath
turned TO the thoroughly confident
Hargraves.
"Surely there must be some mistake !;
why. opened this mans account here
myself. He was well recommended (;
our dealings with him have been high
ly satisfactory what evidence have
you OF your cOntentIOnsT Young
Hargraves looked down at the check
which he held in his hand
"YOu Just lay this check In front OF
you on your desk and watch II dis
appear" he smiled The detective and
the banker eyed the clerk as though
he were demented
"Will you please explain yourself"
ordered the banker omInously.
Sure" agreed Hargraves easily
II have an excellent memory. The
first time ran my checks on the add.
ing machine. after the first hundred
shortage, thought that | had missed
one OF this mans checks. The second
time | got the notion that I had lost
one Of his checks. I decided that my
memory couldn't have played me
false two times In succession, and
when he came the next time laid his
check aside to be sure that ! would
remember 1t. When went TO get IT,
in tile afternoon at closing time, there
was no check there merely blank
piece OF paper. Not only had the writ.
ing upon II vanished, but even In
forming the printed check itself, he
used sympathetic Ink. It's darn
shame to spoil such a beautiful
scheme, but ! want to get married
pretty bad"
Don't forget to take his fountain
pen as evidence" reminded Hargraves
with a grin, and hustle along the re-
ward check remember. I have an ex