“But he wasn’t calling every minute of that time. Wasn’t there time for him to run to my desk, open and close a drawer, and run back between calls?”
“Certainly. But it doesn’t stand to reason that if a fellow went to a wireless instrument and tried hard to call his friends, that he would run away from his instrument at the very time they might be answering. It isn’t sense.”
“Not under ordinary circumstances. But suppose a lad in his situation had plotted this theft and wanted to provide grounds for an alibi. Mightn’t he do that very thing to throw us off the track? This lad is a mighty clever boy. I’ve found that out. He’s smart as a steel trap.”
“Your proposition is all right except for one thing. To provide an alibi, he’d have to make sure some one heard him. He’s too sharp to slip up that way. If he had gotten a reply to his call, your supposition would be within the ground of reason. But under the circumstances, it is not. No court or jury in America would ever convict the lad under the circumstances.”
“I see you are entirely right,” said Mr. King, “and I am more delighted than I can tell you to have this proof of his innocence. For I accept it as proof, though we must still maintain that there is a theoretical possibility of his doing just what I suggested. He’s proving to be a corking good boy. And as I have watched him, I never really believed in my heart that he was a thief. But you know in my business we have to watch any one to whom the finger of suspicion points. It would amaze you to know how many perfectly respectable and even eminent citizens leave their consciences behind when they try to get ashore here with dutiable goods. It makes us sort of suspicious of everybody.”
Mr. Reynolds shook hands with the Chief and took his departure, but not until he had assured Willie that the latter was entirely cleared from suspicion. Naturally Willie was jubilant, yet his joy was somewhat tempered by the thought that although Mr. King no longer had any suspicion as to dishonesty on his part, it had not yet actually been proved that he was innocent. And Willie knew that he would never be really satisfied until the real thief was uncovered and his own honesty was actually proved.
Could Willie have known what took place that very day, while he was out for luncheon, he would have felt more hopeful of complete exoneration. For hardly had Willie left his post that noon, before a tall, shabbily attired cleaner slipped into the Chief’s office. Mr. King looked at the man twice before he knew him. Then he said, “Hello, Frank! What brings you here all dolled up so?”
The cleaner shut the door and laughed. “Never mind the rags, Mr. King,” he said. “Just look at this.”
From his pocket he drew forth an object wrapped in tissue paper. He took off the wrapper and laid the object on the Treasury Agent’s desk.
“What is it, Sheridan?” asked Mr. King. “Wax?”