The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-06

position or age should naturally imply |
some recollection of these matters, he |
may-perhaps-learn more of the details
of these inquiries than can possibly |
tell him. But it is far more likely that
the more is remembered, the less will be
told. l know that for my own part
should not like to ask any such ques-
tions, unless 1 wanted to be answered by
a snub or Jest according to the charac-
ter Of him whom ventured to question.
Banks should be, and are, confessionals;
and unless some consider like myself,
who is bound by no confidential duties,
tells what he knows, the psychology OF
gold must remain an unexplored field for
ever. a 4lcaff iu ta+
The nature Of my defense and what it
must needs lead to, although set up by
his son, Mortified old Mr.. Deacon. He
had for the Bank Of England, only in an
intensified form, the feeling that other
men have for their old regiments and
colleges did not believe in my guilt,
because he believed in Annie; but his
sons defense was like a sacrilegious at
tempt to upset the world. There have
been forgers enough, he said, especially
when they used to be hanged, and there
have been bank clerks among them now
and then, and they were always hanged.
But I'll sooner believe that Mrs. Wilson
there herself forged thousand pound
note with her own hands than that the
''Old Lady isn't everything she ought to
be. must be good deal older than |
am yet before / take to putting the old
times before the new; and I'll find out
the whole thing myself, if ! have to put
off the pump twenty years more"
But it seemed unlikely that he would
find out anything for me or against me,
if for Annie's sake or for the banks he
put off the pump for another century. /
need not tell the nature of the cloud
that came over me at D. while I was
waiting to be tried. III .4a,s al.aa
/ Pride and prudence combined forbade
me to leave the place, even though all
but the very poorest patients refused the
prescriptions of a medical man who
would soon be slave in Botany Bay. /
made point of being seen about in the
streets, and held my head up very high;
but i felt the cloud over us all, and how
near it was to breaking into a final and
crushing storm. E+... SD
\ Perhaps my need to be brave for An
mics sake obliged me to show more cour-
age than felt; but it was only the cour-
age Of the ostrich, after all. OF what
other sort could it be in those days? In
a few short weeks, she and the boy
would be the wife and child of con-
victed felon; and what end would that
mean for them? I ana bound to tell my
story plainly. It is the only way in
which such stories can ever be told. ,sa
The first that / heard Of any secret in
quiry was communication from Mr..
Robert Deacon that the bank would give
me all facilities for identifying the clerk
who had, according to my story, cashed
my alleged check, If 1 thought fit to use
them. The point had given rise to 3
great many questions ON both sides.
But at lastit was arranged that l should
try the ment-indeed I should
have to do it sooner or later, and was
convinced that could as certainly put
my finger on the clerk who had given
me the note as upon the note he had
given. #5.'bns iar-s.
believe it had been ascertained what
clerks had been at the desks at the pay.
ing counter on the day in question. AT
any rate, in company with my solicitor
and with old Mr.. Deacon, l once more
travelled to London, and then left them
in one of the private Offices while
walked the length of the counter. All
was just as had seen it before. went
to the same writing desk in the same
window, that ] might place myself in
precisely the same circumstances as be-
fore, listened for moment to the same
ticking and scratching, and then turned
round, Just as some clock outside struck
the first stroke Of noon. I noticed it at
the moment as q coincidence Though
certainly not as curious one) that The
hour was the same, to the stroke, u,
when / had just finished indorsing my
check on that 10th Of May. sa1 D,1
7 saw twelve clerks at twelve desks
but the thirteenth, for whom ! was look
ing, ! did not see. 5'5.',. -s.
l hardly knew whether to feel uneasy
or relieved. To have seen him might
have had the effect Of relieving me from
my own peril; but on the other hand
almost shuddered at the thought Of see
ing again the ghastly face Of hopeless
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