Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-11-20

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had so thorough knowledge of all the
rules of banking, that couldn't help
feeling that had done wrong. A few
minutes, however, would set it right.
Charles white hat and glittering topaz
would soon put in an appearance.
just at "A minute to three the cashier
brought me three checks, with q little
slip of paper, attached. They were
Thrapstow's checks, for fifteen hum
dred-twelve hundred and three hun.
dred odd respectively, and his balance
was only five hundred odd.
turned white and cold. "Of course
you must refuse them,' l said to the
cashier.
When he went out, sat in my chair
quite still for a few minutes, bewil-
dered at the sudden misfortune that
had happened to me. Charles Thrap-
stow was clearly defaulter but there
was this one chance-he might have
given the check, in the confidence 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 clear
ing-house, and have been presented on
the morrow. But it 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 clos
ed with a clang. could endure the
suspense no longer. Telling the bank
porter that if Mr.. rhrapstow came, he
was to he admitted at the private door,
and was TO be detained in my room till
/ returned, l went out and made nv
way TO his office. which was only few
yards distant. He wasn't there. The
clerk, youth of fifteen. knew nothing
about him. He was in Capel court,
pethaps-anywhere, he didn't know.
Had he been in within the last half
hour! Well, no the clerk did not think !
he had. Ills story, then, of the Gus
toner waiting at his office was a lie
With heavy heart went back To |
the bank. No; Mr.. rhrapstow hadn't |
been in, the porter said. took a cab /
and went Off to the office of NJ. GedLe- /
mount. the Solicitor to the bank | /
told him in confidence what had hap /
pened, and asked his advice. Could |
get warrant against this Thrap- |
stow for stealing the bonds:'
Upon my word" said Gedgemount.
Il don't think you can make criminal
matter OF it. 1t isn't larceny, because
you abandoned the possession of the
bon"s voluntarily. No; l don't see
how you can touch him. You must
make a bankrupt of him, and then YOU
can pursue him as having fraudulently
carried off his assets
But that advice was no good to me-
l think was wrong in taking it.
think | ought TO have gone straight of
to the police office, and put the affair
IN the hands OF the detectives Di.-
nitied men of the law, like Gedye-
mount, always find dozen reasons for
lnac.ion. except in matters that bring
grlst 10 their own mill.
l went home completely dishearten-
ed and detected. How could face my
Directors with such story as that |
had to tell: The only excuse that |
could urge of private friendship ami
confidence in the man who had robbed
US, would make the matter only the
worse. Clearly, at the same time that
l told the circumstances to the Direc-
tors, should be bound TO place my
resignation in their hands, TO be put in
tf ha, &,
be little doubt.that they would accept
it. How damaging, too. the story
would be to me, when l tried to OBJ
tain another appointment.
had promised to take my wife and
children for an excursion down the
river, as soon as the bank closed. and
the youngsters eagerly reminded me oil
my promise. replied SO savagely and
sternly, that the children made off in
tears; my wife, coming to see what
was the matter, Jared little better. |
must have had sunstroke, or some
thing, she told me, and brought band
ages and eau lie Cologne. flung them
away in rage, and went out of the
house. l must be doing something, |
felt, and hailed cab and drove to
Thrapstow's lodgings.
Mr.. Thrapstow wasn't coming home
that night, his landlady told me, she
thought he was away for little jaunt;
but she didn't know. He occupied the
gronnd floor of small house in E.cles-
ford street, Pimlico-two rooms open.
ing into each other. | told the woman
that l would sit down and write a let.
ter. She knew me well enough, as |
had frequently visited Thrapstow. and
she left me to myself. Then | began
to overhaul everything, TO try to find
some clew to his whereabouts. A few
letters were on the chimney piece they
were only circulars from tradesmen.
In the fireplace was a considerable
quantity of charred tinder. He had
evidently been burning papers recent
ly, and quantity OF them. l turned
the finder carefully over, spreading it
out upon newspaper. found moth
Ing leglble except one little scrap of
paper. which the fire had not altoyeth-
er reduced to powder, Oa which l saw
the name of Isabel shining with metal |
lie iustre. Then l went to the bed.
room. and searched that. Here, too,
were evident preparations for flight
coats and other garments thrown has
tlly into cupboards, boxes turned out,
an odd glove or two lying upon the
dressing-table. carefully searched |
all the pockets for letters or other doc
uments. but l found nothing. The
keys we're left in all the receptacles
an instance Of Charles thoughtful
ness for others, in the midst of his ras-
cality.
Lying upon the wash-stand was a |
card, which was blank upon one side,
but on the other mad the name OF a
photographer printed upon it. The
card waS wet "a IL IN hoI hoou ooaLal |