Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-20
int Linen meO Innocent loaAr Wa ed
S& T HS
BY JOSEPH GOLLOMB.
(Aathor OF "MGster Men Hunters"
Master Spies" Etc.

chinery of justice as operating
the lock of a safe within which
II precious human rights are
guarded The steel walls of the
safe Itself may be proof against dyna-
mite. But occasionally gifted burglar
Uses sensitiveness instead of high cX-
plcsives and successfully picks the most
complicated lock. And since the ma
chlnery of the law is after ali operated
by merely human beings, some talented
villain out Of real life, by subtle sensi-
tive study of those who would other
wise make him pay the full price Tor
his crime, will succeed in picking the
locks of justice. This is the story of
such an attempt.
TN Ireland, outside of Belfast, thrived
linen bleacher. Shane Sinclair, IN
honest, unimaginative gentleman. He
took people at their word, and his own
was as good as gold and brought him
prosperity-untn some thief began TO
trouble him. Sums of money, at first
small, then larger, came to be missed
from the cash box. Sinclair was IN
distress 1t was not so much the loss
of the money that troubled him as the
thought that there was some one in his
family of employees he could not trust.
His Oldest employe and closest friend
was Edward Halloran, his butler. This
man of 81 had served Sinclair for al
most half century, until the relation
between them became close-knitted
friendship. Halloran had been full
blooded youth, but had curbed his appe-
titles and primal urges by devotion to
his employer, satisfying the primitive in
him by shooting at painted targets until
he became medal marksman with fire-
arms. Otherwise he semed to find N
service to Sinclair all that he wanted
out of life.
More than 40 years of such service
made him the perfect butler and trusted
adviser of his employer. Halloran was
tall, we'll built, carried himself with the
dignity of man who knows how to
serve without being servile: his grave
snooth-shaven face and his white hair
inspired every one with trust and re-
spect; and his all-around intelligence
made his employer come to him with
his problems.
Sinclair had his shop, his home and
The yards where his linen bleaching was
done all in one establishment. The
butler, therefore, could be expected to
bring his intelligence to bear on the
problem as to who among the shop en-
ployes-if the thief was among them
was robbing the cash box.
p II can't get myself to think that
any of my people would do that to mel"
Sinclair said to Halloran.
Halloran pondered the possibilities,
then shook his head,
Neither can I. You know in
-vestigated every one of them for you
before you took them into your es-
Enlistment. And I am convinced the
thief is not among them!"
~ who then?"
perhaps little extra watching will
reveal that" Halloran said.
Then do it for me. Edward" said
Sinclair, with relief that he did not
have to start at once an inquisition
among those he trusted.
Halloran now found excuses for look |
ing into the shop more often than he |
used to; and the money thefts |
dwindled considerably.
But the thief or thieves transferred |
their activities to the yard where the |
costly linens hung out overnight be- |
gan to be missed in the morning. That |
was worse than the losses from the |
cash box. The lines belonged to Gus |
toners and had to be replaced: some |
of them were so fine that their loss
was a grave affair. Sinclair's profits
began to wane. Worse than that-so
OIb6It HOW 1ulCIlS N6I6 oJOlC1t 4lOul Oil
clair's bleaching yard-the insurance
companies finally refused to take risks
on goods sent to him for bleaching.
This hurt his, business so badly that
eventually he found himself not only
making no money but operating at an
increasing loss.
!, He set Waterman in the yard-and
still the losses continued.
What shall I Go, Edward?" Sinclair
finally appealed to his butler. If this
continues am done for!"
Halloran rubbed his chin refiectively
ut seems to me that no one man
sadi. why not offer large reward
say, E100. One thief may be tempted
to inform on the other"
Sinclair approved.
Have posters printed and diStrib-
uted, Edward One hundred pounds
for any one who helps us catch the
thief"
The offer Of the reward-which
would have meant fortune to any
of the needy families in the neigh
borhood-had the effect of lessening
somewhat the thefts Of linen. But not
enough to cure Sinclair'S business OF
the blight that had descended upon it.
OUTSIDE Of his employer, Halloran
~ cultivated but few friends. Among
them, however, was a sensitive, shy.
red-faced youth of 10, Jimmie O'Brien,
the son of small farmer nearby.
Jimmies father worked his son from
tust as little relief from drudgery.
e Life for Jimmie held little pleasure
except Halloran's kindness to him.
The stately butler, after his employer
would 90 to bed, used to get Jimmie to
steal over for bite and a chat before
the fire in Halloran's quarters. Halo
ran, who cooked for Sinclair on state
occasions, would prepare some dish for
the boy that brought tears of appreci-
alton to his eyes. At home Jimmie
knew only toll, poor fare and early to
bed if he wanted nights sleep before
his father woke him for work. At Hal
loran's hearth were warmth, friend
ship, good things to eat and kindness
that was more than nourishment TO the
youth.
The visits, however, had to be kept
more or less secret. Jimmie used to
steal from his garnet when he was sup
posed to be asleep; his father would
have resented the outings that cut in
on his laborer's need of rest.
Halloran, on the other hand, deli
cately explained that Mr.. Sinclair was
q light sleeper and anything might
wake him. Would Jimmie therefore
come to the house quietly and by the
back way, so that Mr.. Sinclair would
not be disturbed
Jimmie used to arrive with the quiet
of one who is taking part in pleasant
conspiracy; and would leave as quietly,
feeling the conspiracy success.
Then the thefts at Sinclair's seemed
to take up Halloran's whole mind; for
Jimmie had no word from him for a
long time. One noon, however, when
the youth was alone in his fathers field
eating his lunch he saw Halloran ap-