V
AN ELECTRICAL DETECTIVE
"Orr, Mr. Black wants you."
Jack, who was passing through the business department of the Hammertonoffice, toward the stair which led to the operating room, promptly turnedaside and entered the manager's private room.
"Good morning, Jack. Sit down.
"My boy," began the manager, "can you keep a secret?"
"Why yes, sir," responded Jack, wondering.
"Very well. But I must explain first. I suppose you did not know it--wekept it quiet--but the real reason Hansen, the janitor, was discharged amonth ago was that he was found taking money from the safe here, which hehad in some way learned to open. After he left I changed the safecombination, and thought the trouble was at an end.
"Last Tuesday morning the cash was again a little short. At the time Isimply thought an error had been made in counting the night before. Thismorning a second ten-dollar bill is missing, and the cash-box showsunmistakable signs of having been tampered with.
"Now Johnson, the counter clerk, to whom I had confided the newcombination (for it is customary, you know, that two shall be able to opena safe, as a precaution against the combination being forgotten)--Johnsonis entirely above suspicion. Still, to make doubly sure, I am going toalter the combination once more, and share it with someone outside of thebusiness department. And as you have impressed me very favorably, I havechosen you.
"That is, of course," concluded the manager, "if you have no objection."
"Certainly not. I am sure I appreciate the confidence, sir," said Jackquickly.
"Very well, then. The combination is 'Right twenty, twice; back nine;right ten.' Can you remember that? For you must not write it down, youknow."
Jack repeated the number several times; and again thanking the managerfor the compliment, continued up-stairs to the telegraph-room.
Two mornings later Jack was again called into Mr. Black's office. For amoment, while Jack wondered, the manager eyed him strangely, then asked,"What was that combination, Jack?"
"Right ninety--no, right thirty--Why, I believe I have forgotten it,sir," declared Jack in confusion.
"Perhaps you have forgotten this too, then?" As he spoke the manager tookfrom his desk a small notebook. "I found it on the floor in front of thesafe this morning."
"It is mine, sir. I must have dropped it last night. I worked extra untilafter midnight, sir," explained Jack, "and on the way out I chased amouse in here from the stairway, and when it ran under the safe I droppedto my knees to find it. The book must have fallen from my pocket.
"But what is wrong, sir?"
"The cash-box is not in the safe this morning."
Jack started back, the color fading from his cheeks as the significanceof it all came to him.
"And now you pretend to have the combination entirely wrong," went on themanager.
Jack found his voice. "Mr. Black, you are mistaken! You are mistaken! Inever could do such a thing! Never!"
"I would prefer proof," Mr. Black said coldly.
Jack caught at the idea. "Would you let me try to prove it, sir? Will yougive me a week in which to try and clear myself?"
"Well, I did not mean it that way. But, all right--a week. And if thingsdo not look different by that time, and you still claim ignorance, youwill have to go. That is all there is to it."
"Thank you, sir."
At the door Jack turned back. "Mr. Black, you are positive you returnedthe box to the safe?"
"Positive. It is the last thing I do before going home."
During spare moments on his wire that morning Jack debated the mysteryfrom every side. Finally he had boiled it down to two conflicting facts:
"First: That the box was placed in the safe the night before, and in themorning was gone; and that, besides the manager, he was the only one whocould have opened the safe and taken it. And,
"Second: That, of course, he knew his own innocence."
The only alternative, then, was that Mr. Black had been mistaken inthinking he had returned the box to the safe.
Grasping at this possibility, Jack argued on. How could the manager havebeen mistaken? Overlooked the box, say because of its being covered bysomething?
"Why it may be there yet!" exclaimed Jack hopefully. And a few minuteslater, relieved from his wire for lunch, he hurriedly descended again tothe manager's office.
"Mr. Black, may I look around here a bit?" he requested.
"Look around? What for?"
"To see if I cannot find something to help solve this mystery," respondedJack, not wishing directly to suggest that the manager had overlooked thebox.
"So you keep to it that you know nothing, eh? Well, go ahead," said themanager shortly, turning back to his desk.
Jack's hopes were quickly shattered. Neither on the desk, nor a tablebeside the safe, was there anything which could have concealed themissing box.
Stooping, he glanced under the table. Something white, a newspaper,leaning against the wall, caught his eye. With a flutter of hope hereached beneath and threw it aside. There was nothing behind it.
Disappointedly he caught the newspaper up and tossed it into thewaste-basket. Suddenly, on a thought, he recovered the paper, and openedit. On discovering it was the "Bulletin," a paper he knew Mr. Blackseldom read, the idea took definite shape. And, yes, it was ofyesterday's date!
"Mr. Black," exclaimed Jack, "this is not your paper, is it?"
Somewhat impatiently the manager glanced up. "The 'Bulletin'? No."
"Were you reading it yesterday, sir?"
"Well, I don't see what you are driving at--but, no. It was probably lefthere by Smith, one of the express clerks next door. He was in for a whileyesterday on some telegraph money-order business. Yes, he did have it inhis hand, now I remember. But why?"
At the mention of Smith's name Jack started, and there immediately cameto him a remembrance of having a few days previously seen the expressclerk on a street corner in earnest conversation with Hansen, thedischarged janitor.
In suppressed excitement he asked, "When was Smith here, Mr. Black? Whattime?"
The manager smiled sardonically, and turned back to his work. "No; youcan't fasten it on Smith," he said shortly. "It was after he went outthat I returned the box to the safe. But, if it's any good to you--he wasin here from about five-thirty to ten minutes to six, and was talkingwith one of the boys in the outer office when I left."
"And Mr. Black, were you outside during the time Smith was in here?"
"No, I--Yes, I was, too. About a quarter to six I was over at thespeaking-tube for a minute.
"But enough of this nonsense," the manager added sharply. "The box was inthe safe when I closed it. Don't bother me any further with your pretenseof investigating. I don't believe it is sincere."
Despite this cutting declaration Jack turned away with secretsatisfaction.
Just outside the office door he made a second discovery--a small one, butone which further strengthened the theory he had formed.
It was a small coal cinder and an ash stain in the shape of a heel,apparently overlooked by a careless sweeper.
They could only have been left by a foot which came from the cellar!
Promptly Jack turned toward the cellar door, and made his way down intothe big basement.
Going directly to one of the rear windows, he carefully examined it. Thecobwebs and the dust on the sill had not been disturbed for months.
He turned to the second, and instantly emitted a shrill whistle ofdelight. Its cobwebs had been torn and swept aside, and the ledge brushedalmost clean. And evidently but a short time before, for the clearedspace showed little of the dust which constantly filtered through thefloor above.
"Fine!" exclaimed Jack. "Now I--" He paused. The window was securelylatched on the inside!
For several minutes Jack stood, disappointed and mystified. Then,examining the latch closely, he laughed, and grasping it with hisfingers, easily pulled it out. It had been forced from the outs
ide, andmerely pressed back into the hole.
But its being replaced showed that the intruder had not made his escapethat way.
Jack began an examination of the end of the cellar under the expressoffice. And the exit was soon disclosed.
The dividing wall was of boarding, and at the outer end, to facilitatethe examination of the gas metres of the two companies, was a narrowdoor. Ordinarily this door was secured on the telegraph company's side bya strong bolt.
The bolt was drawn, and the door swung easily to Jack's touch!
On the farther side all was darkness, however, and Jack returned to thewindow. As he approached it something on the floor beneath caught hiseye. It was a lead-pencil. He picked it up, and with a cry of triumphdiscovered stamped upon it the initials and miniature crest of theexpress company. And, more, a peculiar long-pointed sharpening promisedthe possibility of fixing its actual owner.
Filled with elation, and confident that it was now only a matter of timewhen he should clear himself, Jack hastened up-stairs, determined topursue his investigation next door, where he knew several of the youngerclerks.
"Hello, Danny," he said, entering the express office, and addressing asandy-haired boy of his own age. "Say, who in here sharpens pencils likethis?"
"Hello! That? Oh, I'd know that whittle a mile off. We call 'emdaggers--Smith's daggers. Where did you get it?"
"Smith! Who wants Smith?"
Jack turned with a start. It was the clerk himself.
Instantly Jack extended the pencil. "Is this yours, Mr. Smith?" he asked,and held his breath.
"Yes, it is. Where did you find--" Suddenly the clerk turned upon Jackwith a look of terror in his face. But in a moment he had recoveredhimself, and abruptly snatching the pencil from Jack's hand, proceeded tohis desk.
Jack was jubilant. Nothing could have been more convincing of the clerk'sguilt. Following this feeling, however, came one of pity for theunfortunate man; and after a silent debate with himself, Jack followedhim.
Placing a hand on the clerk's shoulder, he said in a low voice:
"Mr. Smith, I have found out about that cash-box of ours. Now look here,why not confess the wretched business before it is too late, and--"
The clerk spun about. "Cash-box! Business! What do you refer to?"
"Mr. Smith, it was you took our cash-box last night."
The clerk was colorless, but he only faltered an instant. "What nonsenseis this?" he demanded angrily. "I never heard of your cash-box. What doyou mean by--"
"Well then, I'll tell you just how you did it," said Jack determinedly."While you were in Mr. Black's office yesterday afternoon he stepped outand left you alone for a moment. The cash-box was on the table. Youimmediately saw the opportunity (perhaps Hansen had done the same thing,and put you onto it?)--you saw the opportunity, and threw over the box anewspaper you had in your hand. As you had hoped, not seeing the box, Mr.Black forgot it, and left at six o'clock without returning it to thesafe. You made sure of that by remaining about the outer office until heleft. And then, after midnight you came down to the office here, forcedan entrance into our cellar, and went up-stairs and secured the box.
"I'm sorry--but isn't that so?"
The clerk laughed drily. "The great Mr. Sherlock Holmes, junior!" heremarked sarcastically. "Rubbish. Run away and don't bother me with yoursilly detective theories," and turned back to his desk.
Jack stood, baffled and surprised.
THE CLERK WAS COLORLESS, BUT ONLY FALTERED AN INSTANT.]
"Look here, Orr!" As Smith again spun about a hard look came into hisface. "Look here, how do you come to know so much about this business,yourself? Eh?"
Jack uttered an exclamation, and a sudden fear of the clerk came overhim. Was Smith thinking of trying to place the blame upon him?
However, further discussion was clearly useless, and he turned away.
The following morning brought quick proof that Jack's suddenly inspiredfear of Smith was too well founded. As he entered the telegraph officeMr. Black called him and handed him a note. "Now what have you to say?"he demanded solemnly.
In a lead-pencil scrawl Jack read:
"Mr. Black: Your yung operatur Orr can tell you sumthin about thet cash box, he was showin the key of the box to sumone yesteday and i saw him. Mebee you will finde the key in his offis cote.
"Yours, a frend."
"It is the key," said the manager, producing a small key on a ring. "Irecall having left it in the lock."
Jack stood pale and speechless. Despite the disguised writing and poorspelling, the letter was from Smith, he had not a doubt. But how could heprove it? Truly matters were beginning to look serious for him.
Quickly, however, Jack's natural spirit of fight-to-the-end returned tohim, and handing the letter back, he said, respectfully but determinedly,"Mr. Black, I still hold you to your promise to give me a week in whichto prove my innocence. And I'll prove, too, sir, that this key was placedin my pocket by someone else, probably by the one who really took thebox. I believe I know who it is, but I'll prove it first."
Reluctantly the manager consented, for he now firmly believed at least inJack's complicity; and leaving him, Jack sought the operating-room, tospend every spare moment in turning the matter over in his mind.
What next could he do? If only he could find the box! What would Smithprobably have done with it? For it seemed unlikely he would have taken itaway with him. Might he not, after removing the money, have hidden it inthe cellar? Jack determined to search there; and accordingly, at noon,hastening through his lunch, he descended and began a systematic huntamid the odds and ends filling the basement.
The first noon-hour's search brought no result. The second day, returningto the task somewhat dispiritedly, Jack began overhauling a pile of oldcross-pieces. There was a squeak, and a rat shot out.
In a moment Jack was in hot pursuit with a stick. The rat ran toward theold furnace, and disappeared. At the spot an instant after, Jack found ahole in the brick foundation, and thrust the stick into it. The stickcaught, he pulled, and several bricks fell out.
Dropping to his knees, Jack peered into the opening. A cry broke fromhim, and thrusting in a hand he grasped something, and drew it forth.
It was the lost cash-box!
Uttering a shout of triumph, Jack leaped to his feet and started on a runfor the stair. But suddenly he halted. After all, was he absolutely sureit was Smith who had placed it there? Would the producing of the boxprove it?
The question, which had not before occurred to Jack, startled him.
As he stood thinking, half consciously he tried the cover of the box. Tohis surprise it gave. He opened it. And the box almost fell from hishands.
It still contained the money! And apparently untouched!
But in a moment Jack thought he understood. Smith, or whoever it was, hadleft it as a clever means of saving themselves from the worst in theevent of being found out, intending to return for it if the excitementblew safely over.
Then why not wait and catch them at it?
Good. But how?
Jack's inventive genius soon furnished the answer. "That's it! Great!" hesaid to himself delightedly. "I'll get down and do it early in themorning. And now I'll stick this back in the hole and fix the bricks upagain."
Seven o'clock the following morning found Jack carrying out his plan.First conveying to the cellar from the battery room two gravity-jars, heplaced them in a dark corner behind the furnace. Next, finding an oldlightning-arrester, he opened up the hiding-place, and arranged thearrester beneath the cash-box in such a way that on the box being movedthe arrester arm would be released, fly back, and make a contact. Then,having carefully closed the opening, he procured some fine insulatedwire, and proceeded to make up his circuit: From the arrester, outbeneath the bricks, around the furnace, to the battery; up the wall, andthrough the floor by the steam-pipes into the business office; and,running up-stairs and procuring a step-ladder, on up the office wall,through the next floor, in
to the operating room. And there a few minuteslater he had connected the wires to a call-bell on a ledge immediatelybehind the table at which he worked. And the alarm was complete.
Although Jack knew that the clerk next door returned from his dinner ahalf hour earlier than the others in the express office, he had littleexpectation of Smith visiting the cash-box at that time. Nevertheless, asthe noon-hour drew near he found himself watching the alarm-bell withgrowing excitement.
"There might be just a chance of Smith visiting the box," he toldhimself, "just to learn whether I had--"
From behind him came a sharp "zip, zip," then a whirr. With a bound Jackwas on his feet and rushing for the door. Down the stairs he went, threesteps at a time, and into the manager's private office.
"THERE!" SAID JACK, POINTING IN TRIUMPH.]
"Mr. Black," he cried, "I've got the man who took the box! Down thecellar! Quick!
"I found the box, with the money still in it, and fixed up an alarm-bellcircuit to go off when he came for it," he explained hurriedly, as themanager stared. In a moment Mr. Black was on his feet and hastening afterJack toward the cellar stairway.
Quietly they tiptoed down. They reached the bottom.
"There!" Jack said, pointing in triumph. And looking, the manager beheldSmith, the express clerk, on his knees beside the furnace, before him onthe floor the missing cash-box.
Ten minutes later the manager of the express company, who had been calledin, passed out of Mr. Black's office with his clerk in charge, and thetelegraph manager, turning to Jack, warmly shook his hand.
"I am more sorry than I can say to have placed the blame upon you, myboy," he said sincerely. "And I am very thankful for the clever way youcleared the mystery up.
"You are quite a detective--sort of 'electrical detective'--aren't you?"he added, smiling.
And for some time, about the office, and even over the wires, Jack wentby that name--the "Electrical Detective."