The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-11-17

anybody else, but somehow couldn't
say il 10 Charlie. There would only be
five minutes risk, and surely II was no
risk at oil.
The thing was done in moment; /
was carried away by Thrapstow's ire
sistible manner. / handed over the
bonds, and Charlie went of like shot
II wanted seven minutes to three, and
I sat watching the hands Of the clock
in little tremor, despi3e my full con.
tidence in Thrapstow; but then ! had
so thorough knowledge Of all tho
rules OF banking, that I couldn't help
feeling that had done wrong. A few
minutes, however, would set it right.
Charles white and glittering topaz
would soon put in an appearance.
Just at a minute to three tho cashier
brought me three checks, with q little
slip Of paper attached. They were
Thrapstow's checks, for fifteen hundred
twelve hundred and three hundred
odd respectively, and his balance was
only FIVE hundred odd.
Iturned white and cold. "0f course
you must refuse them" I said to the
cashier.
When he went out, / sat in my chair
quite still for q few moments, bewilder.
ed at the sudden misfortune that had
happened to me. Charles Thrapstow
was clearly q defaulter but there was
this one chance-he might have given
the checks in tho confidence OF selling
those bonds, and placing the balance to
his account. In duo course, these
checks, which were crossed, would have
been brought to the clearinghouse,
and have been presented on the NOR
row. But IL seemed that his creditors
had some distrust Of him, and had
caused the checks to be demanded out
Of due course.
The clock struck three. Charles had
not come back. The bank doors closed
with clang. I could endure the sus-
pense no longer. Telling the bank
porter that II Mr.. Thrnpstow came, lie
was to be admitted at tho private door,
and was to be detained in my room till
I returned, I went out, and made my
way to his Office, which was only few
hundred yards distant. He wasn't
there. The clerk, q youth Of fifteen,
knew nothing about him. He was in
Capel Court, perhaps-anywhere-he
didn't know. Had ho been in within
the last half-hour? Well, no; the
clerk did not think ho had. His story,
then, Of the customer waiting at his
office was lie.
With heavy heart, went back to
the bank. No; Mr.. Thrapstow hadn't
been in, tho porter said. 1tooka Han
som, and went of to tho ofico OF lfr.
Gedgemount, the solicitor to tho bank.
l asked his advice. "Could 1 get q
warrant against this Thrapstow for
stealing the bonds?"
"Upon my word, said Gedgemonnt,
"I don't think you can make crimi-
nal matter out Of it. II isn't larceny,
because you abandoned the possession
OF the bonds Voluntarily. No; l don't
see how you can touch him. You must
make n bankrupt of him, and then you
can pursue him, as having fraudulently
carried off his assets."
But that advice was no good to me.
I think I was wrong in taking 1t. l
think l ought to have gone straight OF
to the police station and put the affair
in the hands Of the detectives. Digni-
fed men Of law, like Gedgemount, al-
ways find dozen reasons for inaction,
except in matters that bring grist to
their own mill.
I went home conpletly disheartenel.
How could face my directors with
such a story rs that had to tell ? The
only excuse that I could urge, Of pri-
yate friendship and confidence in the
man who had robbed us, would make
the matter only the worse. Clearly, at
the same time that told the circum-
stance to the directors, I should be
bound to place my resignation in their
hands, to be put into force II they
thought Ct. And there could be little
doubt but that they would accept 1t.
How damaging, too, the story would be
to me, when / tried to obtain another
appointment
I had promised to take my wife and
children for an excursion down the
river, as soon US tho bank closed, ana
the youngsters eagerly reminded me
Of my promise. / replied SO savagely
and stcrnly, That the children made on
in tears my wife, coming to SEQ what
was the matter, fared little better. Z
must have had q sunstroke or some
thing, she told mo, and brought ban
dages and eau dc Cologne. l flung
them away in n rage, and went out OF
the house. Imust be doing something,
I felt, and I hailed q cab and drove to
Thrapstow's lodgings.
Mr.. Thrapstow wasn't coming home
that night, his landlady told mo. She
thought he was away for little iaunt |;
but she didn't know. He occupied the
ground.hoor OF small housein Eccles-
ford street, Pimlico-two rooms open
ing into each other. I told the woman
that would sit down aud write letter.
She knew me well enough, as l had
frequently visited Thrapstow, and she
left me to myself. Then / began to
overhaul everything, To try to find ont
some clue to his whereabouts. A few
letters were on the chimney. piece /;
they were only circulars from trades
men. In the fireplace was a consider
able quantity Of charred tinder. He
had evidently been burning papers re.
Gently, and q quantity OF them.
turned thetinder carefully over, spread.
ing IL out upon newspaper ] found
nothing legible except one little scrap
OF paper, which the fire had not alto
pether reduced to powder, on which
saw the name Isabel shining with
metallic lustre. Then went TO the
bedroom, and searched that Here,
too, were evident preparations u Tla.t for