Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-11-19
A TERRIBLE NIGHT.

1t was four O'Clock on an afternoon in the
month OF December, IS, and business for the
day being over, the porter of the bank at
W was closing the doors of that establish-
ment. As was accountant at the bank 1 was
busily engaged IN verifying the posting of the
leGgers, while the tellers were hard At work
counting the cash in the tills, and the clerks at
me various books and letters When 1 had
hnlshed an abstract WAS making from some of
the ledgers, 4 took it into the managers room.
AS entered, the manager was just buttoning
his coat to depart.
have done the abstract of profit and lo,s
on bills for the last month";" said 4 pIacin, the
paper on his table, a. and find the result more
satisfactory than you expected"
am very glad of it; the directors are par
tlcularly anxious to improve this branch of the
business will take this abstract with me, and
look It over this evening, said he, putting it in
urgent to do in the office, should like YOU 10
come up and dine with me this evening: in fact
have some news for you, which you will fnd
as acceptable AZ, think, IL viii be Unexpected"
As had 10 pressing reason for doing any
more work that afternoon, accepted the mana
gers invitation, the more 80 as he was very
genial man, and much of my advancement in
the bank was due to his kindly exertions on ms
behalf We both sailed forth into the main
street. IL was miserable night; the rain and
sleet came down at sharp angle, borne on a
piercing wind, and under foot was half-frozen
mixture of mud and snow, which struck a cold
chill through ones feet. We soon found a cab
and Few minutes saw us in the porch OF Mr.
WImots house, and once more in his coy
nuggery As soon as we were seated, Mr.. VIII
mot commenced 10 communicate TO me the
news OF which he had spoken. Ii il I'M
necessary to detail our Conversation. ths
sum OF which was, that he had a yery
good reason TO believe that 1 was on the
point OF being promoted 10 a managership.
To make this comprehensive to the reader. II
l. necessary TO explain something of the organi-
zation Of the bank in which held the post of
accountant. The particular Office in which i
was employed was branch bank, forming part
OF great joint stock bank, having its head
once IN London, and branches in various pro.
yIncisl towns The manager of one of our
branches was about TO retire on a pension and
the board had that day communicated TO MI
Nilmot their intention-on certain condition.
OF appointing me 10 the post at their disposal
Ot course this was joyful news ts me. VET If
seemed rather 10 spoil my appetite for dinner
than to improve IT, and when we went into the
Slsnng.,Oom MIS-; Wilmot rallied me on mn
..Ohi" said her husband. 81 have inst been
telling him some news that may Considerably
Is Eliminating over it,
But thought Mr.. Danny was always in the
sooe Sraces OF me directors. hope no change
None whatever ;" said Mr.. wiImot ssCome
DANDY, you ought TO look more cheerful than
ever; but 1 can well understand that the pros
Pect OF attaining the goal of your ambition IA
too everpoweriDg TO induce sprightliness,
81 can sssnre you," said 4, that the prospect
,sO ygIy G sIIst my a. and cannot tell why
IN TACT, quite confused. Tomorrow shall feel
ali right. no doubt
But" SAID Mrs. wilmot sis there some orea.
secret about Mr.. Danby's prospects,,
mo, my dear J" said her husband. "You are
aware that Mr.. Kinnear, our manager at s.
= gong 10 retire: Well, the directors have
on certain conditions, and as those conditions
are, to my knowledge, favorable, we NAV look
upon the matter - settled?
Mrs. WIlmot expressed her pleasure at INV
improved prospects, and then the Commence
ment OF the dinner interrupted our converse
ton again, an accidental remark of Mrs Will
mot's led TO the introduction of a topic which
had reI eatedly been mentioned in NV presence
on former occasions, but which had never prom
eIiy iathomed. 1t referred to a very mysterious
AFFAIR connected with the disappearanc OF a
valuable lewel-ease belonging TO Mrs Wilmot.
PROMPTED by curiosity, / asked Mr. WilmOt il |
ne would enlighten me as to the whole facts of !
WEI. ill tell you all that know about
II, but that n not much, as the whole trans !
action was very mysterious, and il has never |
yet been cleared up. The robbery, for such
AZ undoubtedly was, took place some three |
years and a half ago, and therefore about |
~ months before you came TO this branch.
IL happened in this way: We had dinner party
one evening, and my wife, when dressing took
some jewelIy out Of her case, which brought
from my private safe for that purpose. This
case she lett on her dressing table, and when
We went 10 our bed room, after our guests had
gone, II was nowhere 10 be found. We had J
servant who Was TO leave the next day the cause
OF her dismissal being her habit Of going ont /
On inquiry, found that this girl had been |
away from the house for about two hours /
Iprlng the time we we're with our guests. |
1hls circumstance, coupled with Others excited /
my suspicious 80 far that sent for the superin-
ttntent of police; but after a long and tedious |
Jury II was impossible TO obtain any evidence /
in question was q gentleman named Garstang,
who hllet the post Of accountant in the bank |
here, but who was on the eve OF his departure /
10 take the msnagership at N. NV wife !
was always firmly impressed with the idea that
Garstang was connected with the disappearance
OF her jewels, but Of course looked upon such |
only grounds for itwsre her general dislihs IN
him, and the fact that he had departed before
the rest OF the company upon what she thought /
whether 1 wrong him, or not cannot tell.
and may never know" said Mrs. wilmo, "but |
have always felt an Irresistible conviction that
my impression was right. You know, Stephen.
that i expressed q dislike TO him when first /
saw him. There was something about the ex- |
preston OF his features that was very unpleas-
81 This Is my strongest reason for distressing \
your conviction, my dear. 1 consider that IL /
Vas the result Of the bad impression he made !
upon you AZ first, indefinite at starting but sud-
denly reduced 70 shape by the circumstances Of |
The robbery. III, however, YOU will consider |
Mr. Garstangs prospects AZ that very time, you |
must see that IL would be absurd to suppose for 1
a moment that he could be guilty OF such an !
c gregious act Of folly-an act the discovery OF /
which weuld have hurled him from Q most en- |
'-eSAc EoSAlOn W Ccu Sucl q SOsDt- |
Cion Is unjust and dangerous, and I should
uemble II thought any one could get an ink
ing or IT. need not impress upon YOU the I
necessity Of silence upon 80 delicate subject,
=; and OF course, Dandy" said be, turning to me,
y, you fuliy understand that what YOU have
heaid - under the seal OF friendship and must
never be even whispered % your own ears"
dgnIned my nrm Intention of never bvsafb-
ma word on this dangerous subject and TUNED
CAS conversation 70 more ordinary n alters
We had just commenced dessert when a tele-
IAN was brought IN by one of the servants and
nasued 70 Mr. Wtlmot, who quickly read IL.
Nn u, Win look Of surprise, passed IL to me.
80, IN the couree of our extensive banking !
e .ness, ~ was continually necessary 10 COM
-, i.u cAte oy wire from one branch to another.
nesdpp'S vr,aht matters, and, for the sake OF the
srS's ~ tecresy, cipher code was Adorned
=, lie Soos v as only known TO the chief ofic;aI.
100, ., .I,@nch, and hence none OF the tele-
kh sPn SIerAs could understand our sdisns,chss
nc teiegism vas In this code. and vss Co..
~, Nsn about 70 miles of vhs,s ,hsn
w<1s lno baLks, viz; our branch and nxtos
oank Ire Telegram stated that mi. nn.irs
bank nau ciosed Its doors finally that ,,P.vsee
~ iour; ina ar. ar: Dane, our manager at W
hSd just got this Information and tbs, -
pected severe run on our bank in ar nee1-
He urged rs TO send him immediate rs,ses mig:
that We should telegram "a anu
Irar oh af @ for gDd for o,Ir =. - ouf 4