Honest Ned

Front matter

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Melton shot toward liim like a flash, and caught his hair.

‘BRAVE AND HONEST SERIES. S\\>. 2

Chapter II

Adonijah Shipman, the senior partner of the well-known firm of diamond brokers and jewelers, had been absent several months with his family in Europe at the time of the startling incident just related. He expected to be away until autumn, so that affairs were entirely in the hands of the junior member, who was about sixty years of age, of slight stature, and nervous manner.

There were three employees of the firm, whose duty it was to report daily at the store, except, of course, when one or more of them was away on his vacation. The oldest was Ash Gibbons, about one and twenty years of age ; James McCutcheon, two years younger ; and Edmund Melton, who was barely eighteen. The firm evidently believed in young blood ; but each one of the three named had been in their employ from early boyhood. The duties of the three clerks kept them within the store through the day, except when absent for a brief while on special business ; while it need hardly be said that the firm had agents known throughout the country, and who traversed it from ocean to ocean ; but with them we have nothing to do. The

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explanation I am making it is necessary for the reader to keep in mind, in order to understand the incidents that follow.

Each of the three young men received two weeks’ vacation every summer, arranging it among themselves, so that only one was absent at a time. On the morning that the loss of the black diamond was discovered, Edmund Melton had been away just one week at a seaside resort in New Jersey, and it was fixed that on his return McCuteheon was to take his place, Gibbons being the last to enjoy his play spell. But McCuteheon had been ill at home for a couple of days, and did not return to the store until some hours after the discovery, when he sauntered in, looking pale and out of sorts. Thus it was that Mr. Gumbridge and his clerk Gibbons were the only parties in the place when the young millionaire bought the black diamond, and when its loss was detected by the junior member of the firm.

It should be stated further that each of the three clerks knew the -combination by which the great safe opened, and they had all swung back its ponderous doors many a time. Their employers gave them their unreserved^confidence. Any one acquainted with the thorough system of espionage in Maiden Lane, by means of the electrical system of alarm, policemen, and special watchmen, not to mention the prodigious strength of the safes in which the valuable stuff is

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kept, need not be told bow impossible it is for a gang of the most expert cracksmen infesting London and New York to make any headway there with their tools. Other fields are too inviting for the burglar to waste his efforts in Maiden Lane.

Now, Mr. Wilton Gumbridge would not have lost any sleep because of the vanishment of thirty thousand dollars, though naturally it would have annoyed him to some extent. He was wealthy and liberal; but he was struck almost breathless by the knowledge that something had been stolen from his safe. He remembered distinctly wrapping the diamond in the soft white paper used for such purposes, and placing it in the small drawer, where of course it should have remained until he removed it. Although it was impossible for it to fall out of itself, he made a minute examination of the interior, hoping against hope that it had slipped out in some unaccountable way.

The gentleman did not speak while thus engaged; but his clerk Gibbons quickly saw, from his agitated manner, that something was wrong. He remained quiet a few minutes, and then, hearing the gentleman utter a half-suppressed exclamation, he inquired respectfully, — “Is there anything amiss, sir? ”

Instead of answering, Mr. Gumbridge asked, —

“Are there any articles missing from the trays? Please examine them carefully.”

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The clerk did as requested, and a few minutes later answered, —

“ I do not find anything missing, sir.”

“I fail to find the black diamond which I sold yesterday.”

As he spoke he watched the-nountenance of his employee closely. The expression of wonder and doubting dismay that passed over it was too marked to be feigned. Had he not known that the elder gentleman never indulged in a joke, he would have believed he was essaying a little one now. Gibbons could only stare in bewilderment for a moment, when he half whispered, —

“I — don’t understand — it.”

“ Nor I either ; at present it is a-mystery beyond my ken.”

“ Isn’t it possible that you dropped it on the floor ? ” asked the clerk, looking about the feet of the gentleman, and then stooping down and peering under the safe ; “or perhaps it is inside.”

“It is neither,” said Mr. Gumbridge quietly; “or rather I should say, inasmuch as it must be either inside or outside, that it is not within the safe, nor was it there when I opened it a few minutes ago.”

The most natural thing in the world was for the gentleman to suspect his employee, since, it seemed, no one else could possibly have taken it ; but until now he

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had not doubted the integrity of Gibbons, and though the young man was inclined to be somewhat sporting in his tastes, never before had there been a breath of suspicion against him. He was popular among his associates, the only one to take care of an invalid mother and crippled sister, and the last person in the world whom his friends would have suspected of dishonesty. But who among us is proof against temptation ?

Mr. Gibbons would have been stupid had he not perceived the fearful case against him. He read it the instant he learned of the missing diamond. His suspicion, or rather belief, was confirmed by the action of his superior.

“ Mr. Gumbridge,” he said, his face pale, but his nerves as cool as if he was referring to the most ordinary occurrence, “I perceive your thoughts; I own that the case against me looks bad, but I amdnnocent. However, I wish you to take every step necessary to prove that innocence ; treat me as a thief until such proof is obtained.”

“ From the bottom of my heart, I hope that proof will be speedily forthcoming, but we shalFsee.”

Mr. Gumbridge’s course in the case of the disobedient clerk proved that he was not the one to falter before what he considered his duty. He was a man who rarely if ever showed agitation, and rarely spoke above his usual conversational tone.

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“ You will please place the articles in the window and show-cases, while I attend to some other business,” he said, stepping to the telephone which connected with the police office.

He quickly got his reply, and then sent his message, the words of which of course were heard by Gibbons, while he busied himself in putting the articles in their proper places for the day’s business.

“ Is Mr. Blowitz there ? ”

“ No ; but we expect him shortly.”

“Please send him to Burglar Alarm Company’s office as soon as he arrives.”

“ All right, sir.”

Mr. Gumbridge dropped the tube and walked back into the small room at the rear which served as his office. He did not speak to his head clerk, nor did the latter utter a word to him, but it need not be said that their thoughts were busy. Mr. Gumbridge sat a few minutes in deep meditation. Then he sprang up and put on his hat and hurried around to the office of the Burglar Alarm Company.

Addressing the gentleman on duty, he said, —

“ I wish to learn whether any alarm came from my store last night.”

The gentleman consulted his register a moment and replied, —

“ Yes, sir ; there was such an^larm, or rather call.”

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IT

“ Of what purport? ”

“ It was a signal to us to break the connection, as you wished to open your safe.”

Mr. Gumbridge was interested, but hardly surprised. Such visits from authorized parties to their stores were not infrequent. He had made one himself about a year before, when, forgetting to “call off” the alarm, he found a sturdy policeman on hand by the time he fairly got the doors of the safe open. Any one intending a theft would do just what had been done, in order to save himself from such an unpleasant call.

“ At what hour did the word come to this office ? ”

The official ran his line along the entry, and replied : —

“ At a quarter to one this morning. Jones was on duty last night ; he will explain, if anything more is to be explained.”

“ There is blessed little,” said the diamond broker, who turned to Jones, and made known what he wished to learn.

“ Yes, sir,” said that individual ; “ I was on duty last night : at twelve forty-five there came a call from your store which I recognized as a request to us to sever the connection with your alarm, as you wished to open the safe for a few minutes. I did so, and within the following five minutes we received the notification that everything was all right and the safe was closed. Con-

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nection was re-established, and we thought no more about it. Was it you who visited the store last night?”

“ I rather think not,” replied Mr. Gumbridge dryly.

“ Has anything been taken ? ”

“The individual who honored you with his message over the wire last night, or rather early this morning, walked off with an article which I sold yesterday for thirty thousand dollars.”

The men opened their eyes, as well they might.

“But,” said Jones, “how came he to have the combination ? ”

“ That is what I would be glad to know ; I would be interested also to learn who he is.”

At this juncture Detective Blowitz, one of the best-known and most skilled men in his profession, arrived. He was of slight stature, thin frame, bright eyes, and alert manner. He was an old acquaintance of the jeweler, and shook hands with him. Mr. Gumbridge knew his^worth, and after a few minutes’ chat asked the privilege of a private interview. The two passed back to the inner office, and sat down alone.

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Chapter III

It took Mr. Gumbridge but a few minutes to tell his story. Detective Blowitz listened quietly until it was finished, and then proceeded to ask a few sharp questions.

“You understand, of course, Mr. Gumbridge, that the real protection of your property rests in the safe. Nothing is easier than for a professional burglar to let himself through your front door and, walking to the rear, where you have your safe, open the wooden inclosure. But in doing that he must start the electric alarm, and presto ! a policeman is on him before he can say Jack Robinson. Now, in the Holmes system and most of the others, the call sent over the wires asking them to sever the connection must be made at the regular time for opening. That is to say that, though it may be acceded to, if it should be sent five minutes earlier or later than the usual time, the Holmes folks will instantly send one of their men down to the store to make certain everything is right. Not until he has assured himself that it is so, will the visitor be left undisturbed ; and it takes only five minutes to do that.

u In the system which you employ, the mere sending

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of the alarm is sometimes, but not always, accepted, as the folks at the office suppose that call is only in the possession of the right parties ; besides which, the safe, with its insurmountable combination, still confronts the illegal visitor. Your caller complied with these conditions, and, possessing the combination of your safe, walked off with the black diamond. How many persons besides yourself know the right call and the combination ? ”

“ Each of my three clerks, — Edmund Melton, James McCutcheon, and Ashton Gibbons.”

“ What of Mr. Shipman ? ”

“ He has them of course ; but he is absent in Europe, and will not be back before next month.”

“ What clerks were with you in the store yesterday? ”

“ Only one, — Gibbons.”

“Where was McCutcheon?”

“ He has been home a couple of days sick.”

“ And Melton ? ”

“He has been off on his vacation for a week at Ocean Beach, New Jersey.”

“It looks as if it was on-^Gibbons.”

“ I cannot see how the criminal can be any one^else.”

“ What sort of a fellow is he ? ”

“ I have always considered him one of the best and brightest clerks I ever had.”

“ Has he ever been under suspicion ? ”

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“Never; nor indeed has either of my other clerks. I would rather lose the worth of the missing diamond than learn that Gibbons is a thief.”

Detective Blowitz smiled faintly; and lighting a cigar, after offering his patron one, he swung one leg over the other, leaned back in his chair, and looked at the wall for a full minute, as if deeply meditating.

“ I think,” he said, with his hands clasped behind his head, and the cigar still in his mouth, 44 that Gibbons has the care of an invalid mother and sister.”

44 You are right ; he is a model son and brother.”

44 How much salary do you pay him ?

44 Forty dollars a week, and I meant to make it fifty on the first of next January.”

44 Very liberal pay — very liberal pay ” —

44 But he has been^worth it all along,” broke in Mr. Gumbridge, resenting even such a slight insinuation against his business judgment.

44 Of course, of course, or you wouldn’t pay it.”

The detective smoked a moment more, and then said, —

44 From what I have heard of him, he is about twenty-one years old ; am I correct ? ”

44 You are ; he cast his first vote at the last spring election.”

44 And as to McCutcheon, what is his age ? ”

44 He is about two years younger. He is of delicate

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build, an expert penman, a faultless accountant, and a young man who is fully devoted to our interests. He has several brothers and sisters, and his parents are living, and in comfortable circumstances.”

“ What is his pay ? ”

“ Thirty dollars a week.”

“ You are quite liberal, Mr. Gumbridge, but I am sure no more than you ought to be. He has been home sick for several days ? ”

“Yes ; but he expects to return to-day.”

“ Yes,” returned the detective musingly ; “ and as to Melton, what about him ? ”

“ He is one of the brightest and best young men I ever knew ; he has been with us four years, and I would not hesitate to intrust him with any amount.”

“ Have you ever done so ? ”

“ I do it continually when he is with me.”

“ And he could skip with the precious stuff whenever he chooses ? ”

“ It would be the easiest thing in the world ; but he would sooner put his hand in the fire than do so.”

“ I hope you are right. May I ask what his salary is?”

“ Ten dollars per week.”

“ What ! ” exclaimed the detective, snatching the cigar from his mouth, and looking keenly at his friend; “ what does that mean ? ”

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Mr. Gumbridge laughed as he replied, —

“ I don’t wonder that you start. Melton is an orphan, without brother or sister. When he reaches his majority he will come into the possession of a comfortable estate ; but until then he is in charge of his uncle, Colonel Marcellus Bainbridge, who is his guardian, and who holds the reins pretty tightly over him. His nephew began in our store on ten dollars a week. My intention was to raise it as soon as he had been tested ; but when I spoke to Colonel Bainbridge he peremptorily-forbade it. He gave as his-reason his belief that it is a woful-mistake to allow young men to have control of too much, money. He attributes the ruination of so many youths to that one fact. He informed me that under no circumstances was I to pay his nephew more than ten dollars a week until he reached the age of twenty-one, when, of course, he will be his own master. I had therefore no choice but to- obey.”

“ Colonel Bainbridge’s views of matters are strikingly original. What board is his nephew expected to pay out of his big weekly salary ? ”

“ His uncle charges him three dollars a week for his board and lodging. He says every young man ought to pay that, even if his parents are millionaires ; but the colonel furnishes him with everything else, — clothing, pew-rent at church, his dues at the Y. M. C. A., and even his contributions to religious and charitable

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objects. He considers that he is very liberal with him.”

“ How does the young mam accept the situation ? ”

“ So far as I see, with- cheerfulness. He has never uttered a word of complaint in my hearing, attends to his duties faithfully, and is one of the best-natured boys I ever knew. It is a pleasure to have him come in the store, whistling softly, or humming some tune. He is a natural musician and a fine athlete ; I confess, I am very fond of him, and I don’t mind saying to you that I offered to increase his pay without the knowledge of his uncle. He thanked me, and shook his head, saying he could not consent ; that he meant forobey his guardian in spirit and letter.”

“ A noble young man a noble young man, but ” —

Here Detective Blowitz brought down both feet on the floor with a thump ; and, holding his cigar in his left hand, slowly shook his finger at the diamond broker, as if to emphasize each word, fixing the while his eyes upon the other’s face.

“ Mr. Gumbridge, you and Colonel Bainbridge are pursuing the one-course that is certain to make a^thief of young Melton. It may not be to-day nor to-morrow, nor next week or month ; but sooner or later that promising young man wilksuccumb to the temptation : my only wonder is that he has withstood it so long.”

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44 1 don’t agree with you, sir,” said Mr. Gumbridge stiffly.

44 You may not, agree with me, but my words are true all the same. In my judgment you and Colonel Bainbridge are compounding a ,-felony, or rather, you are training a boy up to become a criminal.”

44 But what about this black diamond?” asked the caller curtly, as a reminder to the detective that he had wandered from the business upon which his advice was sought.

44 Ah, yes ; we came near forgetting that. I presume the next thing that strikes you as proper is ter arrest Gibbons ? ”

44 What else can we- do ? though it is not to be supposed that he has- forgotten to take precautions that will prevent our recovering the diamond.”

44 There is only one objection to arresting him, Mr. Gumbridge.”

44 What is that?”

44 He is-innocent.”

44 He is innocent ! How can that be ? ”

44 Because he was in my company from eleven last night until after one o’olock this morning. There were others with us, so he will have no trouble in proving an alibi.”

44 You amaze me ! Who, then, is the thief ? ”

44 1 don’t know, but I shall try tofflnd out.”

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Chapter IV

“ Last night,” continued Detective Blowitz, as he again crossed his legs, returned his cigar to his mouth, and leaned back in his chair, “ I dropped in at the Manhattan Club; it was just eleven o’clock, and the first person to greet me was-Gibbons. He was sitting at the table with two friends, whom he introduced me to. I sat down, and we got to talking, and kept it up until after one o’clock. Gibbons is a very companionable fellow, and there is no one with whom I more enjoy a chat than with him.

“Now, inasmuch as your safe was robbed between twelve and one o’clock this morning, and inasmuch as it can be proven that Gibbons was many blocks away at that hour, it may be said that he is eliminated from the problem before us.”

“ There can be no questioning that fact, and it gives me a greater relief than I can express. I will go right round to the store and express my-regrets,” added Mr. Gumbridge, rising to his feet.

“Wait a few minutes, please,” said the detective, motioning him to resume his seat, which he did ; “ I would have further word withnthee. I am aware that

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with the story-writers the professional- detective is accustomed to explain -all liis plans, and lay bare all his thoughts, to every one with whom he talks for five minutes. I regret that I can’t afford to do that; but I am following the rule of the business. Now, without saying what is in my mind, I want to get a little more information from you. In doing that, I must inevitably give way to some of the- fancies that are running through my thoughts ; but let me say that at this moment I have no more knowledge of the thief than has the man in the moon.

“ But let us go back a little. Can you recall the name of the young man who^bought the diamond and gave you his^check therefor? ” ^

44 He signed the check,, 4 R. Field McFarlane.’ ”

44 1 know him ; he is very- wealthy, but so are some others who at this moment are rusticating in Canada. Now I beg you to recall all that took place when he was in your store yesterday.”

44 1 see what is in your mind ; you think he may have abstracted thejdiamoncUwithout my knowledge.”

44 1 haven’t said so.”

44 It isn’t necessary ; but he did not do as you suspect. I had the diamond in my hand after he left the store.”

44 Are you sure ? Did you see it? ”

44 1 think so.”

44 1 don’t want any thinking ; I want positive knowledge.”

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“ I am positive I had it in my hand after he went out.”

“ What makes you certain when you are not sure you saw it?”

“I folded it in the diamond paper after he handed it back to me, talked with him a few minutes, and, as he bade me good-day, I turned around and placed it in the drawer inside the safe.”

“ How soon after that did you close the safe ? ”

“ Within the following five minutes ; we shut up early at this season.”

“Then Gibbons had no chance to take it from the safe yesterday afternoon ? ”

“ Not the slightest ; we left the store together and walked to the corner of Broadway, where he took an up-town car, and I went to my room at the Astor House, where I am staying while my family is in the country, except on Sundays, which I spend with them.”

Mr. Gumbridge may have suspected what was passing in the mind of Detective Blowitz ; but, if so, he was mightily mistaken. It was impossible for the detective not to think fast and hard while pursuing his investigations.

Had Mr. Gumbridge asserted that he had actually seen the black diamond after his purchaser turned his back to leave the store, that would have ended all probing in that line ; but it is well known that crime has enlisted on its side, at all times, a subtle ingenuity and

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a skill as marvelous as that which is arrayed against it. Suppose the late Heller or the present Hermann had stood in the place of the young millionaire, would the abstraction of the gem without the knowledge of the jeweler been more wonderful, or indeed as wonderful as scores of their exploits ?

No doubt Mr. Gumbridge was confident that he had the stone wrapped in the diamond paper, and that he was equally certain he put it in the drawer inside his safe ; but the detective did not consider the fact established beyond all possible mistake. Though Mr. McFarlane may have carried the black diamond away with him, it had been established that some one visited the store that evening after midnight, and called off the electrical connection.

But that was to be expected. It was not to be supposed that the young man personally would do it ; but nothing was easier than to secure a trusty confederate to act for him. True, he must have had the peculiar call by which the sergeant at the police-office was made to believe everything was right ; but that was not so difficult as might be supposed. Any early or late customer might have caught the peculiar signal without attracting suspicion to himself. He may have done it a week before, and he may have made several visits before catching it.

It was clear that McFarlane was to be looked after,

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and Detective Blowitz arranged tliat he should occupy a seat in the store that afternoon when the gentleman called for his property. He wished to have a good look at him, and especially to note his manner during the interview.

But Detective Blowitz’s thoughts did not rest upon this individual alone. There were two others whom he intended to^investigate. The fact that the clerk McCutcheon had been home ill for a couple of days did not exclude him by any means from the problem. It was not impossible that his illness was feig-ned. If he was well enough to come to the store that day, he could have made a midnight visit to the place.

But it must be confessed that the gravest-suspicion lay against young -Melton, who was spending his vacation at a little seaside resort in New Jersey. One thing to be learned was whether he had left Ocean Beach the day before to come to New York, and, if so, when he returned. This knowledge could be easily obtained, and must have an important bearing on the perplexing question.

“ I hope he did notM?ome to the city,” reflected the officer ; “ but if he has, it will be bad, and a man of business must know no sentiment. If Melton is the thief, his' guardian is' not wholly blameless.”

Mr. Gumbridge now bade the officer good-day and went to his store.

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When he arrived, he found his clerk Gibbons, who had arranged everything in order, seated on his chair, pale but composed. He looked searchingly at his employer, who, walking straight up to him, extended his hand.

“ I beg your forgiveness, Ashton ; it has been established that you are as innocent as I: I cannot tell you what a load has been lifted from my heart. ,,

The young man heaved a sigh, and with a glad smile asked, —

“How was the proof obtained? ”

“You were at the Manhattan, I believe, last night, in company with Erastus Blowitz ? ”

“ I was ; how did }^ou learn it? ”

“ He told me himself.”

“ Where did you see him ? ”

“ I met him while I was out, and lie gave me the statement.”

It was on Mr. Gumbridge's tongue to say that Blowitz was the detective whom he had employed to ferret out the matter ; but it occurred to him that that gentleman might not wish it known that he was a detective. Men of his profession often associate for months and years with their friends, without the latter learning their real calling, one of whose indispensable requisites is secrecy.

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Chapter V

Between two and three o’clock that afternoon, Detective Blowitz sauntered into the store of Shipman & Gumbridge, as though, finding himself in the vicinity, he had concluded to drop in for a little chat. He shook hands pleasantly with Mr. Gumbridge, who invited him to a seat in his office. On his way thither he stopped to speak with Clerk Gibbons. He made no reference to the trying incidents of the morning, but the radiant face of the young man told the fact that everything was right, so far as he was concerned.

The officer had hardly taken his seat and lit a cigar when McCutcheon, walking with the help of a cane, entered and greeted his employer and his associate. One look at his colorless face left no doubt that he was just recovering from a severe illness. Naturally he passed behind the counter and took a seat on one of the stools. He was not invited into the inner office, and had no suspicion that any one was there, nor did he once note that the door was open for an inch or so, and that a pair of ferret eyes were fixed upon him, as if they would read him through and through.