Year: 1861

I
ance, and all money received had to pas
through my hands. Sometimes l had mad
up my cash account at night, and sometime
not till the next morning. In the latter cas-,
l generally put the money drawer in the safe
and locked it up. This key to the safe wa
kept in q small drawer to which there wert
two keys, one of which I kept, and Mr. War
ton the other. The only other person who evel
helped US in the store was Henry, Mr.. War
tons son, young man twenty years old. He
was preparing for college, under private tu
tor, but found time to help US when business
was driving. He was a kind hearted, gener-
Gus fellow, and strong attachment had growr
up between US. At first thought of getting
him TO assist me in finding the thief; but, as
Mr. Warton had promised to speak to no one
else upon the subject, l concluded to keep 81
lent also.


That night counted my money but made
no entry of the amount There were three
hundred and forty odd dollars. put it into g
new calfskin pocket book, placed it in the mo
ney drawer, and locked the whole up in the
safe. On the following morning found fifty
dollars gone. My suspicious took very I'M
welcome turn.


During the day pondered on the subject
and finally bit upon the following experiment
When had locked up the safe for the night
l spread upon the knob of the door, and
upon the moneydrawer, some pale, red lead
being careful not to get enough to be easily
noticed. l had left the cash account open
to be closed up in the morning. When
next opened the safe all was as l had left it
The next night l fixed the knob in the same
manner, and on the following morning found
forty dollars gore. Upon the pocket book
were finger marks of the red lead, and when
came to open the cash book | found the same
kind of marks there. So l had learned one
thing the thief knew enough to see whether
any account had been made of the money be-
fore he took it. I felt more unpleasantly than
before, for my unwelcome suspisions were be-
ing confirmed. There was popularity in the
red finger marks which told me sad story
Still wished to try further.


For two nights after this the safe remained
undisturbed but on the third night l missed
seventy-fve dollars, and had now set my trap
more carefully. The red pigment was not only

used, but | had put private mark on every
bill in the drawer. The pocket-book and cash
book were fingered as before, and the marks
were clear and distinct.


When the week was up, Mr.. Warton came
and asked me what had found.


"Ah," said he, as he noticed the sorrowfu
expression on my countenance, you have fail
ed to discover anything"


Alas! l wish 1 could say so,'' replied
l have discovered too much. In the first
place, the money had been taken from the safe
and the key left in its proper drawer and lock
ed up as usual. Also the cash book has been
examined each time TO see if any entry had
been made of the money. There has been one
hundred and sixty-fve dollars, in all, taken. u


" But how do you know the cash book has
been examined ?" asked Warton.


Producing the book, said, Do you not
see those marks l fixed a red pigment upon
the door-knob of the safe, and also upon the
edges of the money-drawer. You can see the
marks"


Yes" he whispered.


And now," l continued, "just examine
them carefully. See how the leaves of the
cash-book were turned over and also see how
the strap of the pocket-book was turned into
its place. Do you see anything peculiar about
it?"


Only that the fnger-marks are very plain. "


But can you not distinguish the thumb
marks from those made by the fingers p


d" Yes-I can"


"Then tell me this" said I: " Which hand
was used to make those marks?"


Warton gazed upon the works and finally
said" the left.'


Is, Sulu L. anu all tuc uIdL NO Law I
been made the same The thief is left hand
ed one, and must be acquainted with the store
and with our books, and can gain easy access
here. But l have yet another mark. The
last bills were all marked with small red
cross upon the numerical figure in the right
hand, and upper corner. You can follow those
up, for l have neither the courage, nor heart
to do it,


The merchant sank back as pale as death.


Henry is the only left handed person upon
the premises y be groaned, gazing on me as
though he wished me TO deny the statement
but could not, for he indeed was the guilty
party.


"Ask me no MORE" said, with tears in my
eyes-for the fathers agony deeply moved me.
The secret is locked up in my own breast,
and neither to you or any living being, will
ever call the name of him l suspect"


The stricken man, with sobs and tears,
grasped my hand, begged me to pardon him
for the wrong he had done me, and blessed me
for the assurance | had given him.


On the following morning he brought me
fifty dollars, in eight different bills, all marked
with the red cross.


81 know all now," he whispered BE