Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-07-03
AN UNLIMITED GUEST.

| an ONINFIIBD QUEST.
II WAS nearly three O'Clock on a hot sum-
mers day. Tue long polished counters OF
our bank, the Royal Domestic bank, we're
crowded with customers. Money WAS flow.
ing in and running out in the usual business
| like manner. From a raised desk in my pri-
vate room, |, the manager Of the Royal Do
nestle bank, looked out on the busy scene
| with a certain pride and pleasure The Roy
al Domestic is not long established institu
ton; and, without vanity, may say that
much Of its prosperity aud success is attrib-
utable to the zeal and experience OF it's man
ager. In confederation Of this statement
| might refer TO the last printed report of the
directors, laid before the shareholders at their
annual meeting, in which they are pleased to
say But, after all, perhaps l may be
thought guilty Of undue egotsm aud con
ceit, If repeat the aattering terms ia which
they speak Of me.
clerk put his hoad inside my door "Mr
| Ihrapstow, sir, to speak to you
"Send him in, Roberts" said
Charles Tbrapstow had known from boy
hood. We had both been reared in the same
country town. The fact that his parents
we're OF considerably higher social status
than mine, perhaps, made our subsequent in.
timacy all the pleasanter TO me, and caused
| ho W ROT u Nhlub upon ROOu ODlulOn
greater than its intrinsic worth Thrapstow
was a stock broker, a very clever, pushing
fellow, who had the reputation OF pOssessing
an excellent judgment and great good luck.
At my request, he had brought his account
TO our bank. II was q good account He
always kept fair balance, and the cashier
had never to look twice at his checks
Charlie like everybody else in business,
occasionally wanted money. had let him have
advances at various times, of course amply
covered by securities, advances which we're
always promptly repaid, and the securities
redeemed. At this time, he had Ave thous-
and pounds Of ours, TO secure which we held
City Of Damascus Water Companys bonds
to the nominal value Of ten thousand. Ny
directors rather demurred 10 these bonds as
being somewhat speculative in nature but,
a. | represented that the company was high
| ly respectable, and its shares well quoted in
the market, and that / had full confidence in
our customer, our people sanctioned the ad-
vance. had, perhaps, a little uneasy feel.
ing myself about those bonds for they we're
not erybody's money, and there might have
been some little difficulty in finding a Gus
toner for them, in case of the necessity for
a sudden sale.
Thrapstow came in radiant. He was a
good looking fellow, with q fair beard and
moustachc, bright eyes of blush gray, n nose
tilted upwards, giving him a sancy resolute
air. He was always well dressed, the shini-
est of boots the most delicate shade OF color
in his light trousers aud gloves, the glossiest
OF blue frock coats, a neat light dust coat
over it, q blue birds-eye scarf round his
throat, in which was thrust n massive pin,
containing q fne topaz, full OF lustre, and
yellow AZ beaten gold.
well, I've got customer for those DR-
ms IA xuafNinu aN on GaId
well, too, to Billings Brothers, who want
them for an Arab firm. One premium, and
| bought at one discount"
"Tm very glad of it, Charlie, / said and
/ felt really pleased, not only for Thraps-
tow's sake, but because / should be glad TO
get rid of the bonds and the directors shrngs
whenever they were mentioned.
Hand 'em over, old fellow" said Charlie,
''and Ill bring you Billings's check up in
five minutes. You won't have closed 10y
then or, il you have, I'll come in at the pri-
vate door"
went to the safe, and put my hand up
on the bonds.
Charlie stood there, looking so frank and
free, holding out his hand for the bonds, that
hadn't the heart to say to him, a. / ought
TO have done, Bring your customer here,
and let him settle for the bonds, and then |
will hand them over" | should have said
this to anybody else but, somehow, could
MT say it TO Charlie. There would only be
five minutes risk aud, surely, it Was no
risk at ALL
The thing was done in a moment was
carried away by Thrapstow's irresistible man
ner. handed over the bonds, and Charlie
went of like q shot.
II wanted seven minutes to three, aud sat
watching the hands OF the clock in little
tremor, despite my full confidence in Thraps-
tow but then, l had 10 thorough a knowl-
edge of all the rules of banking that could
MT help feeling that l had done wrong.
few minutes, however, would set il right.
Charles white hat and glittering topaz would
soon put in an appearance.
Just at 4 minute TO three, the cashier
brought me three checks, with little slip of
paper attached. They were ThrApstOw's
checks, for fifteen hundred, twelve hun
dred and three hundred odd respectively, -
and his balance was only Ave hundred odd.
l turned white and cold. "Of course you
must refuse them" said TO the cashier
When he went out, | sat in my chair quite
still for a few moment, beWildered at the
sudden misfortune that had happened to me.
Charles ThrapstOw was clearly defaulter !
but there was this one chance, he might
have given the checks in the confidence Of
selling those bonds, and placing the balance
" ulh htCOuub. uub COuEhe, THESE Cl6ckH.
which were crossed, would have been brought
to the clearing house, and have been present
ed on the morrow. But it seemed that his
creditors had some mistrust of him, and had
caused the checks 70 be demanded out of due
course.
The clock struck three. Charles had not
come back. The bank doors closed with a
| clang l could endure the suspense no long
or. Telling the bank porter that, il Mr..
Thrapstow came, he was TO be admitted at
the private door, and was 10 be detained in
my room till 1 returned, went ont, and
made my way TO his office, which was only a
few hundred yards distant He wasn't there
The clerk, youth OF fifteen, knew nothing
about him. He was in Chapel Court, per.
haps, anywhere, he didn't know. Had he
been in within the last half hour? Well, no,
the clerk did not think he had. His story,
then, of the customer waiting at his O flee
was lie.
With a heavy heart / went back to the
bank. No, Mr.. Thrapslow hadn't been in,
the porter said. took cab and went OF 10
the Office of Mr.. Gedgemount, the solicitor
to the bank. l told him in confidence what
had happened, and asked his advice. "Could
l got warrant against this ThrapstOW for
stealing the bonds9"
Upon my word, said Gedgemount, 81
don't think you can make criminal matter
of it. II isn't larceny, because you abandon
ed the possession of the bonds voluntarily
No, don't see how you can touch him. You
must make bankrupt of him, and then you
can pursue him az having fraudulently car
ried of his assets"
But that advice was no good 10 me. l
think / was wrong in taking ii. think l
ought TO have gone straight of 10 the police
office, and put the affair in the hands Of the
detectives. Dignihed men of law, like Gedge-
mount, always fnd dozen reasons for mac
tiOn, except in matters that bring grist 10
their own mill
went home completely disheartened and
detected. How could l face my directors
with such story that had TO tell? The
only excuse that | could urge Of private
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 circumstances TO the directors, |
should be bound to place my resignation in
their hands, TO be put into force il they