Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-12-05

Charlie went off like shot.
1t wanted seven minutes to 3, and 1 sat
Watching the hands of the clock in little
tremor, despite my full confidence in
Thrapstow but then, had so thorough
knowledge of all the rules of banking, that
I couldn't help feeling that 1 had done
wrong. few minutes, however, would
set it right. Charles white hat and gilt
tering topaz would soon put in an appear
auce.
Just a minute TO 8 the cashier brought me
three checks, with little slip of paper at
tacbed. They were Thrapstows checks,
for fifteen hundred--twelve hundred and
three hundred odd respectively, and his
balance was only five hundred odd.
turned white and cold. "Of course you
must refuse them," 1 said TO the cashier.
When he went out, 1 sat in my chair
quite still for few minutes, bewidered at
the sudden misfortune that had happened
to me. Charles Thrapstow was clearly
defaulter but there was this one chance
he might have given the checks in the con-
fidence of selling those bonds, and placing
the balance to his account. In due course,
these checks, which were crossed, would
have been brought to the clearinghouse,
and have been presented on the morrow.
But it seemed that his creditors had some
mistrust of him, and had caused the checks
to be demanded out of due course.
The clock had struck 3. Charles had not
come back. The bank doors closed with a
clang. l could endure tue suspense no
longer. Telling the bank porter that, if
Mr. Thrapstow came, he was to be admit
ted at the private door, and was 10 be de-
tanned in my room till returned, 1 went
out and made my way TO his office, which
was only a few hundred yards distant. He
wasn't there. The clerk, youth Of 10,
knew nothing about him. He was in Cap
ell court perhaps, - anywhere, he didn't
know. Had he been in within the last half
hour? We'll, no /; the clerk didn't think
he had. His story, then, of the customer
waiting at his Office was lie.
With heavy heart 1 went back to the
bank. No; Mr.. Thrapstow hadn't been in,
the porter said. I took cab and went off
to the office of Mr.. Gegemount the solicitor
to the bank. 1 told him in confidence what
had happened, and asked his advice.
"Could get warrant against this Thrap-
stow for stealing the bonds?''
Upon my word" said Gegemount, az
don't think you can make a criminal mat
ter of it. 1t isn't larceny, because you
abandoned the possession of the bonds vol
unfairly. No; don't see how you can
touch him. You must make bankrupt of
him, and then you can pursue him. as hav-
ing frauduently carried off his assets"
But that advice was no good to me. 1
think was wrong in taking ii. l think l
ought TO have gone straight off to the police
office, and put the affair in the hands of the
detectives. Dignifed men of law, like
Gegemount, always find dozen reasons
for inaction, except in matters that bring
grist to their own mill.
1 went home completely disheartened
and dejecte How could face my direc-
tors with such story as that had to tell?
The only excuse that l could urge, of pri-
vate friendship and confidence in the man
who had robbed us, would make the mat
ter only the worse. Clearly, at the same
ime that 1 told the circumstances to the
directors, should be bound to place my
resignation in their hands, to be put into
force if they thought And there would
be little doubt but that they would accept
it, How damaging, too, the story would
be TO me, when I tried TO obtain another
appointment!
l had promised to take my wife and chill
dren for an excursion down the river, as
soon as the bank closed and the youngsters
eagerly reminded me of my promise.
replied so savagely and sternly that the
children made off in tears my wife, COM
ing TO see what was the matter, Jared little
better. 1 must have had sun-stroke or
something, she told me, and brought ban
dages and eau de cologne. 1 flung away in
a rage, and went out of the house. l must
be doing something, | felt and l hailed a
cab and drove to Tnrapstow's lodgings.
Mr.. Thrapstow wasn't coming home that
night his landlady told me she thought
he was away for a little iaunt; but she did
MT know. He occupied the ground floor
of small house in Eccesiord street, PIN
lico-two rooms opening into each other
told the woman that would sit down and
write a letter. She knew me well enough,
as l had frequently visited Thrapstow, aud
she left me TO myself Then | began to
overhaul everything, to try to find out
some clew to his whereabouts. A few let
tors were on the chimney-pece they were
only circulars for tradesmen. In the fire
place was considerable quantity Of char
red tinder. He had evidently been burn
ing papers recently, and quantity ofthem.
1 turied the finder carefully over, spread
ing it out upon a newspaper. found moth
ing legible except one little scrap of paper
which the fire had not altogether reduced
TO powder, on which saw the name Isabel
shining with metallic lusre. Then went
to the bedroom and searched that. Here,
too, were evident preparations for flight
coats and other garments Il rown hastily
into cupboards, boxes turned out, an cad
glove or two lying upon the dressing table.
I carefully searched all the pockets for let
tiers or other documents, but found moth
ing. The keys were left in all the recopta-
cles; an instance of Charities thoughtful
ness for others, in the midst of his rascaity.
Lying upon the wash-s was a card,
which was blank upon one side, but upon
the other had the name of a photographer
printed upon it. The card was wet, as if it
had been soaked in water and near the
upper end of /! was n round, irregular cut,
which did not quite penetrate the card 1t
had evidently once had photograph fast
, ened on II accordingly The card had been
welted, to facilitate the removal of the pho-
tograph, whilst the face of the photograph
had evidently been cut out, in order TO
place 1t in locket or something similar.
, 1t struck me at once that the photograph
about which man on the eve of flight
would take so much trouble must be Of
person very dear to him probably his