Ethel Watts Mumford Grant

“ I employ twelve servants in the house, six in the stables, including the chauffeur, six in the gardens and greenhouses. The general overseeing is done by a competent man who resides in the village. Comes with the workmen at six and goes at five-thirty. You see that a considerable sum must be kept on hand for general convenience. I have a small safe hidden in the wall of the dining-room. The cash and the most valuable plate are kept there. As far as I know, only my wife, myself and the butler, who has been in my employ twenty-two years, know the combination. ”

“ Just when, we have no means of knowing, as there was no occasion to open the safe from Monday, the 7th, to Friday, the 11th. The butler, making his weekly tally of the silver, noticed that the envelopes and specie-bags that had formerly occupied one corner, were not there. He reported the fact, without, however, attaching much importance to it, thinking, naturally, that Mrs. O'Leich had given the money to Best. This was not the case. My wife knew nothing of the matter. So far we are without clews, and I must and will discover the criminal. My house is filled with valuables. ”

“ A MAN needn't want to cop everything in sight. I maintain that a few good grafts are enough; and you don't have to work them to death at that. The framed text for me is, “Live and let live.” I don't need to work, but I do; none busier. I like it; it's a good game. I'm always fair with the Old Man and see that he gets his bait, so he lets me in on the good ones. ”

“ The patient said nothing to anyone of his household, but his preoccupation was visible to all. He suggested that a European trip would be of benefit, and let out that he had seen a well known New York doctor, who advised rest. Three days later we repeated the experiment. This time we laid the slumbering magnate beside the opened safe in the dining-room. About him was scattered gold and silver of the denomination of the missing money. A book, the same he had before found upon his knees in the library-episode, lay open beside him, interleaved with $10 and $20 bank notes. ”

“ O'Leich treated me almost like a human being: offered me highballs, which I refused, and excellent cigars, which I accepted. A man always respects another's sobriety, but secretly despises him for inability to appreciate a good smoke. ”

“ I exclaimed. “And now I know vou want to be alone.” I held out my hand. “I know I've no right to trick my employer. I beg you to believe that nothing but my sympathy for you and my belief that the boy has been the victim of a despicable scheme, could influence me.”
She seized my hand and covered it with tears and kisses. For once, I must say, I felt pretty small, as I softly left the room
My next move was to treat myself to a delightful interview with the Best family, lock, stock, and barrel. I had no intention that any of the money in question should find its way into their pockets. ”

“ Donning my best English business suit, reducing my hair to subserviency, submitting to the manicure and other necessities, took up the better part of two hours. I flatter myself that when I appeared at the office of Mr. O'Leich there was not a better found young secretary in the market. ”

“ They must know that the whole state of affairs has been brought to light. Then there is the $1,600 which we must arrange to have found. Do you happen to know,” I asked, turning to Allan, “the denomination of the money of the safe?”
“Twenty twenty dollar bills, thirty ten dollar bills, 200 in silver dollars, and the rest in gold.”
“We must frame that up. Can you, Mrs. O'Leich, get five thousand dollars in hand at once?”
She nodded.
“One thing more, Mrs. O'Leich. Ask your husband this evening, casually, why he was walking down the stairs, with a newspaper in his hand at four this morning. ”

“ O'Leich, empowered to settle with them. They were delighted. It was exactly what they had counted on, having believed from the start that the matter would be hushed for any reasonable amount, and no legal steps taken. I induced the father to write down his accusations against the boy.
After the accusations and demands were all written out, and the possible suit for breach of promise placed at $100,000, we began to talk business. They would settle for $15,000 cash; and even consent to write a statement clearing Allan for all time Everything looked lovely. ”