Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-08-01

tNlltu hlb Eulutu AlluutI hDOlltu D1 luTGb
long hours waiting in the oven-nor could
she get from him all through the evening n
hint of the cause Of his trouble. She guessed
and limited that perhaps Minna Duff, 'tho
little flirt,' had something to do with his
gloom for she knew how her boys heart lay
in regard to the bankers younger daughter
but her sons reply was equivalent to a snub
He was in the office two hours before Off
cial bank hours on the following mornings
but no trace of the missing money could be
found. During the day, all the bankers Gus
toners who had on the previous day been
paid large sums, were asked to check their
payments but when four o'clock arrived and
the cash had again to be counted, the balance
still showed one hundred pounds short. If
the money had been paid away, in error, no
man had been honest enough to return it.
Then for the first time in the Tollkirk branch,
n deficiency in the cash had to be reported to
the head office. A hundred pounds to n rich
man may seem a small matter to worry over
but to James Hamilton, whose yearly salary,
ten years faithful and conscientious service,
did not amount to II hundred pounds and
whose mother-save for the help of trifing
annuity left by her husbqnd-w in great
measure dependent upon him-the liability
to refund this sum weighed heavy. He be-
came anxious and nervous, not being alto
gether certain that the authorities of the
bank might not suspect him of having ap-
proprated the money and from very nervous
ness was guilty during the next few days of
making several small mistakes in his cash
dealings, which confirmed him in the beliefthat
he had paid the money to some INSCRIPTIONS
rascal who did not mean to acknowledge it.
1t seemed an age, although in reality bare
ly month had passed, before a note from
Mr.. TAFT, the chief inspector. (DIr. Duff's
son-in-law), set the matter at rest In con-
sideration," the note ran, ''of the admirable
mode in which the business of the branch at
Tollkirk has hitherto been conducted, the direc-
tors have agreed to wipe of the deficiency in
cash, which it may be hoped will yet turn up
and be re-credted; but in doing so it must
be firmly kept in view that the directors by
no means establish the present case as a prcc-
edent, and must remind the gentleman who
has charge of the banks cash at Tollkirk that
at no future time will the directors be dis
posed to relieve him of the responsibility at
taching to his Office
There, Jamie take That to your mother"
said Mr.. Duff kindly, handing the official note
to Hamilton. II thought Peter would man
age it, a." Creferring to his son-in-law, the in
spector y ''but we maun ca canny." said the
banker relapsing into broad Scotch. to put
the reproof. if such it might be called, in the
gentlcst FORM to spare the lnd's feelings
There were tears of relief in Hamilton's
eyes as he read the note That is generous
treatment Sir; ! was afraid they would roup
sell by auction me and my old mother out
of Tollkirk"
"Roup yei l couldn't spare ye, lad
Then the youth went home TO his mother
jubilant, burden lifted from him.
But on the next evening after business
hours, Hamiltons face was whittier than ever.
His hands were trembling as he fumbled over
his cash, and east and ''recast" the long
columns Of figures in his cash book. 1t was
mnrket-day, a busy day, and large sums had
passed into and out Of his hands. To his
horror he found his cash three hundred
pounds short He had not the courage on
this occasion to 20 to Mr.. Duh's room with
his plant But the banker saw at once AS he
passed through the office on his way up stairs
that something was wrong.
You are late, Mr.. Hamilton" (Mr. Duff
never in general way called James Mr."
His doing so now implied misEivings,)
''Yes, Sir; but think / won't be long :"
his lips felt parched from excitement
Are ye ready to lock up the safe with
me z"
Not quite. If you are in no hurry, Sir,
perhaps We can lock up when you come
down"
Every we'll"
Mr.. Duff went up stairs but on this occa-
he came down half an hour later Hamilton
was not ready to lock up the safe. He was
sitting looking into space, his head resting on
his hands.
Have you balanced your cash now? Mr..
Duff asked with just a perez ptible edge of
annoyance i'll his tone.
mo Sir. | differ three hundred pounds"
"Over or short =
Short, Sir :"
Mercy on us! This will not do. You
must bestir yourself and find it. l have
to go ont to a meeting tonight" The ban
ker spoke sternly.
Hamilton once more. under Mr. Duff r eye,
nervously went over his figures and counted
his cash. The deficiency could in no way be
accounted for
This is terribly awkward James"
There were tears in the youths voice as he
uttered Yes, Sir; and il will drive me
mad"
When Mr. Duff returned from his meeting
at eleven o'clock, Hamilton was as far from
peace a. ever. The younger clerks had gone
away. Again the banker and Hamilton went
over each item together-in vain.
''We can't report this to the head Office
whatever happens" quoth Mr.. Duff, grimly
"What is to be done, Sir -
Find it,"
They looked blankly into each others
faces. Both men went to bed with heavy
hearts nor did the search next day throw
any light on the mysterious transaction. Mr.
Duff could not bring himself to report this
second deficiency to his head office and the
only alternative left was to refund the amount
from his own private means This, as may
be imagined, lie did very reluctantly; and
for the first time in his experience he watched
the younger men, and perhaps his trusted
teller, too, with just faint and irrepressible
glimmerng of suspicion. A mistake of this
sort might happen once but to happen
second time at so short an interval, made him
uneasy on other matters than mere loss of
money. He had framework of mahogany
and glass made for Hamiltons desk, so that
no one could come near the cash in future but
Hamilton himself And SO, with what grace
he could summon and with many grave
warnings, Mr.. Duff paid the ''short" money,
having, as he said, to grin and bear it.
For a week or so things worked well under
the new arrangement but for the third time
Mr.. Duff was destined TO see Hamilton por
ing over his books long after bank hours, this
time to hear on inquiry that the luckless lad
was short by no less an amount than five hum
dred pounds Had the shrewd, quick-witted
James Hamilton, after ten years Of faithful
service, become suddenly dolty
This is beyond endurance" the banker
said sharply, as the fact was communicated
TO him.
1T is most strange replied the helpless
teller, feeling that the Fates were against
him.
1T is impossible you can have paid the
money away"
1T is gone Sir"
"Then you must find i. l can no longer
be responsible for your blunders. Here ID no
less a sum than nine hundred pounds in less
than six weeks to be accounted for MANY n
one has been sent across the sea for less"
The youth put his hands over his face and
fairly burst into tears. 'I must give it up
Sir. / can't stand this. l must leave the
place"
Mr.. Duff was looking at him with very
keen eyes as this was sobbed out. leave
Tollkirk? Understand, Mr.. Hamilton, that
you dare not leave Tollkirk before this matter
is cleared up"