Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-05-28
A CIRUUMSTANIIAL PUZZLE,
TIN THREE PARTS PART Ill. !

~ ll4lsE1S El4AtS -EahI III
"Where's Mr.. Brown ?" asked the clerk
as he took the leather case. 'It dcesn't
seem like Saturday morning without seeing
Brown"
"Hes away just at present. said I.
''Mr. Butler asked me to give you this.
All right, suppose %
There was no need to lessen my dignity
In Redport as Mr.. Buffers legal adviser, or
to give Adam Brown the reputation he de.
served, by explaining why l was doing the
work of a builders clerk and messenger on
this occasion.
"All right, said the clerk, turning over
the checks, and duly noticing whether
they were properly Endorsed, and so on.
"Quite right. By the way, there's mes
sage or something the manager wants to
send 80 MIR. Butler, believe. l was to
tell Brown so when ne called. suppose
you'll do just the same?'
90 / can take any message for Mr.. Butler, y
said L s. Anyhow. shall be seeing him
on Monday, If that viii do. "
g dare say it will. Would you mind
stepping this way =
l followed the clerk into an inner room,
where for the first time met the manager
of the Redport branch of the County Bank,
hitherto known to me as Mr.. George Rich
ards by name only. We bowed, and he
offered me 4 seat politely,
.'Yoa are my friend Mr. Buffers new
clerk Of the works, presume % asked ne.
enc" said l. ~ have no business in
Redport, except to cash and pay in these
papers for liz. Butler, while passing by.
But If there Is any message 1 can give
him"
- don't know. You are rot leaving
Redport Immediately, l suppose"
''Well, as to that, l am. In fact, by
the very next train.
"By the next train: Hm?" Mr.. Rich
ards was very young man for his place,
and began to fancy there was something
| did not like in his manner. Going
back to Carcester anyhow, suppose ?" he
asked again.
Eyes" answered shortly. " And |
believe the train starts in half an hour.
So If you can tell ne what you want said
to Mr.. Butler I shall be glad, as l haven't
much time 10 lose"
"Yea-of course certainly. But there
is a little matter would you mind telling
me if you received these checks straight
from M. Buller?"
& Certainly l did. Is there anything
wrong
You received them just as they are
now q
{. Exactly as they are now. What is it,
BIr. Richards / am really in hurry ="
'TIa very Gerry. Bat, you see, | am
in a responsible position, and one can't be
too careful in these days. have already
sent a messenger to telegraph to Mr..
Butler would you mind waiting here till
he comes
g The messenger =
g No, til Ir BuIIer can come over.
dare SOY i IS all right, but
" Bat 7 can't wait, Mr. Richards. May
l ask you what you mean ? l can tell You
that Mr.. Baller Is nos In Csrcester, and
will not get your telegram till Monday, il
then.
.'That's awkward, by Jove, il it is SO.
But that re shall see
"Bat meanwhile 1 must wish you good
day. Il there's anything wrong you must
settle i with MIR. Butler. l cant wait
now"
"No? Well, Their, Mr. Mr.. -I Unjust
frankly tell you that l must ask yon to
wait. even if lis till Monday, till Mr., Bal
Ter can come over her. It's an awkward
situation Tn placed in, but-and 1 dare
say sir. Butler is not at CaTcester, as you
say, but-welI; whether you're-it's all
right or all wrong, you see, in your own
interest that l must ask you to remain.
You see here's a check that l daren't cash
without special instructions from Mr.. Bal
Ter.
.'Don's cash it, then. Good day"
"Ouite so. But I'd advise you not TO be
IN quite such = hurry to be of, all the
same. IN fact, It's my unpleasant duty to
ask yen to stay here at the bank uutil the
fact Of his check being IN your hands can
be more fully explained.
~ have explained it," 1 began rather
angrIiy. " I received it from Mr. Butler,
if 1t came ont with the rest from that case
living before you. Why should you ven
tuTe to speak, even to a stranger, as if you
had any reason to doubt his word. ! don't
understand this at all. p"
"For this reason: l have the best
reason for believing that this check was
never drawn by Mr.. Butler. And now you
see how Is becomes my unpleasant duty
Nonsense! As il / hadn't received
every one of those checks straight from
his bands! You talk as if you took me
for forCar. Well, l suppose | must ex.
cuse vou on the ground OF over-zeal.'
at is most improbable that this check
was drawn by-well, never mind why.
Tn bound to tell you that if you refuse Il
wait here for Mr.. Baller's arrival Of vouI
own free VIII, and in your own interest, ]
shall have 10 call upon the police to assist
me in the execution OF my duty toward
the bank and its customers and the public
at large.
Why, I began, my anger half losin,
itself in amusement, this is somethin.
too absurd. You can't call in a constable
unless yoa can give him good reason t,
suspect mo of felony. | have hall minC
to let You try for the fun OF the thing
Only il would be wasting my own time
So I'll put an end to your scruples abou
the pubic at large by telling you at one
that M name is Standish, and that l an
collector 70 Mr.. Buller, and live at Carces
ter. And the next time l advise you, as !
lawyer, 70 be more careful how you trea
people who come to your bank.
g You ere Mr.. Buffers solicitor ? In
deed? OF course that is important-ver.
important; and no doubt you can send TO
somebody in Redport who knows you
Move can't be too careful in these days.