Part 5 (1/2)
”Not a one. Obviously the bra.s.s is being stolen by employes, but so far the guilty persons have eluded all our traps.”
”Have you calculated how much I am losing a year?” Mr. Gandiss asked bitterly.
”At the present resale value of bra.s.s and copper, not less than $60,000 a year,” Mr. Fellows reported. ”However, the thieves are becoming bolder day by day, so your loss may run much higher.”
”See here,” Mr. Gandiss said, showing irritation. ”I'm paying you fellows a salary to catch those thieves, and I expect action! You say you have no clues?”
”Several employes are under suspicion,” Mr. Williams disclosed. ”But we haven't enough evidence to make any accusations or arrests.”
”Then get some evidence!” Mr. Gandiss snapped. ”This ring of petty thieves must be broken up! If you can't produce results, I'll turn the case over to another agency.”
After the two detectives had gone, the island owner began to pace the floor nervously.
”Now you know why I wanted you to come here, Mr. Parker,” he said, slumping down into a chair again. ”My plant, which is making war materials, is being systematically looted of valuable copper and bra.s.s.
The pieces smuggled out are small in size, but they count up to a staggering total.”
”Sabotage?” Mr. Parker inquired.
”I doubt it,” the island owner replied, frowning. ”While the thefts slow up our war work, the delay is not serious. Materials disappear from the stock rooms and from the floors where the girls work. I hold a theory that the metal is being taken by employes who resell it for personal gain.”
”It looks like a simple case of theft,” Mr. Parker declared. ”I should think your detectives would have no trouble running down the guilty persons.”
”That's what I thought at first,” Mr. Gandiss answered grimly. ”It appeared as easy as A B C. But all ordinary methods of catching the thieves have failed. Obviously, the thefts are well organized by someone thoroughly familiar with the plant. It's getting on my nerves.”
”Have you called in the police?”
”No, and I don't intend to. The matter must be handled quietly. That's why I need your advice.”
”But I'm no detective,” Mr. Parker protested. ”Why call on me?”
”Because you and your daughter have solved some pretty tangled cases.”
”Only for the newspaper,” Mr. Parker replied. ”How many employes do you have at the plant?”
”About 5000. And not a sc.r.a.p of real evidence against any individual.
There seems to be a perfect system in accounting for all the stock, yet somehow it gets away from the factory.”
”Have you had employes searched as they leave the building?”
”No, we haven't dared resort to that,” Mr. Gandiss answered. ”You can't search such a large number of workers. If we tried it, half the force would quit.”
”I'd be glad to help you, if I could,” Mr. Parker offered.
”Unfortunately, I don't see how I can if professional detectives have failed.”
”Let me be the judge of that,” said the island owner quickly. ”Will you and your daughter visit the factory with me in the morning?”
”We'd welcome the opportunity.”
”Then we'll go into the records and all the details tomorrow,” Mr.