Year: 1866

| Now, said l, have given you an honest
statement, and will you be equally frank, and
tell me all that has happened toexcite these sus-
| picions p Sc $3.50 gas aaEaat nI
l. Twill, he replied taking seat near me-
Within the last year must have lost over two
thousand dollars 1t must have been taken from
the store i know this, for know the amount
of goods which has been sold, and know how
much cash | have received. | began to be
watchfnl four months ago. Two months ago a
man paid to me, in the afternoon, five hundred
dollars. ! put it in the drawer, and on the next
morning, before you came, Hooked at your cash
account, and found only two hundred dollars OF
| that set down. From that time have been very
watchful, and have detected dozen similar ca
ses. | have noticed every dollar that came in af-
ter the bank account was made up, and have al
80 taken note of the amount entered upon the
book; and during that time there has been a
leaking of over seven hundred dollars Now
who has access to that drawer, and to the safe p


] was astonshed. / could only assure my
employer that knew nothing of it and | saw
that he wanted to believe me- asked him if he
had spoken to any one else. Not TO a living
soul, but me, he replied / pondered a few
moments, and then said


Mr.. Warton, could be made to believe that
even ignorantly had wronged you to the value
of dollar | should not feel the perfect con-
seriousness OF honor now feel There must be q
thief somewhere. Some of the clerks may find
access to the money. But are you willing to let
the matter rest for few days | will strain eve
ry nerve to detect the evil door,


He finally consented to let me try my hand at
detecting the thief He promised not to lisp d
syllable upon the subject to any one else, and al
so to leave the matter wholly in my hands for one
week. He gave me warm grasp when we part
ed, and said he hoped would succeed.


On the following morning entered the store
with all my energies of mind centered upon the
work before me. There were four clerks, or
statesmen, and one boy, beside myself, in con-
stant attendance, and all money received had TO
pass through my hands. Sometimes made up
my cash account at night, and sometimes not un-
til the next morning. In the latter case | gener-
ally put the money-drawer into the safe, and
locked it up. The key to this safe was kept in a
small drawer to which there were two keys, one
of which kept, while Mr. Warton kept the 9TH
er. The only other person who ever helped us
IN the store was Henry Warton, our employer S
only soma youth twenty years of age. He was
preparing for College, under private tutor, but
found time to help us when business was driv-
ing. He was kind hearted, generous fellow,
and strong mutual attachment had grown up
between US. At first thought of getting him to
assist me in finding the thief but as Warton had
promised to speak to no one else upon the sub





That night counted my money, but made
no entry of the account There was three hum
dred and forty-odd dollars. l put it into a new
calt-skin pocket book-placed that in the money
drawer-and locked the whole up in the safe.-
On the following morning found fifty dollars
missing l counted the money over carefully
and was not mistaken. | began TO feel un-
pleasantly. My suspicious took very unwel-
come turn.


During that day pondered upon the subject
and finally hit upon the following expedient :
When had locked up the safe for the night,
spread upon the knob of the door, and upon the
money drawer, some pale read lead, being care
full not to get on enough to be easily noticed
| had left the cash account open to be closed up
in the morning. When next opened the safe
all was as had left it. The next night | fixed
the knob in the same manner, and on the morn
ing following found forty dollars gone Upon
the pocket book were finger marks of the read
lead and when | came to open my cash book |
found the same kind of marks there So | had
learned one thing the thief knew enough to
see whether any account had been made of the
money before he took it felt more unpleasant
ly than before, for my unwelcome suspicious
were being confirmed. | had gained new light
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
undisturhed, but ON the third night missed sew
enty-fve dollars and had now set my trap
more carefully. The red pigment was not only
used, but had put private mark upon every
bill in the drawer. The pocket book and the
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 OUT


All, he said, as he noticed the sorrowful ex-
preston upon my couutenance, you have failed
to discover anything


Alas wish could say SO, ! replied. Il
have discovered too much. In the first place,
the money has been taken from the SAFE and the
key left in its proper drawer, and locked 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-fye dollars taken in ALL


But how do you know 1.-The cash-book has
been examined p Warton asked.


will show you,' said, producing both the
cash and the pocket books You see these red
marks. l fixed red pigment upon the door
knob of the safe and also upon the edges Of the
money-drawer. You see these finger marks z?


Yes he whispered.


And now, continued, just examine them
carefully. See how the leaves of the cash-book
were turned over and also see how the strap of
Tue pOCk6l-UOOh WIS luCh6u lutO us place. 10
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


Yes-I can.'


Then tell me this, l said Which hand did
the thief use most derterously IN has a0ork p


Warton gazed upon the marks, and finally
he gasped-


Tue LEFT 7


So he did, returned And all the marks
have been the same. The thief is a left-handed
one and he is acquainted with the STORE and
with our books, and can gain easy access here.
But have yet another mark. The last bills that
were taken were all marked with a small red
cross upon the numerical figure in the right hand,
upper corner You can follow those up for
have not had 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 7 he groaned gazing upon me as
though he wished would deny his statement.
But could not. knew that his own son 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, nor to any living being, will
ever call the name of the one whom suspect


The stricken man grasped my hand, and,
with sobs and tears, he begged my pardon 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


l know all now, he whispered, in broken ac-
cents. Be kind to me, and let this go not out
to the world =


/ kept my promise, and lived to the old
man smile again for Henry saw the deep agony
of his father, his heart was touched, and he not
only acknowledged all his wild sins, and humbly
begged for pardon, but he became true and
good man, and an honor and ornament to So
ciety,'