The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-11-11
Perfectly said Meiggs, speaking

| for the first time.
The sensation of next days papets
| was the absconding of the popular Mr..
Brooks, of the Stability Bank. The
ticket agent was interviewed, the hotel
clerk was interviewed Saunders was
interviewed and gave graphic account
| of his meeting with Brooks in Chicago,
and added much about his ghastly.
conscience stricken face which he had
not mentioned to Mr.. Bonus; Bonus
was interviewed, but said nothing; and
the directors were interviewed and said
nothing. The detective was inter-
viewed and was loquacious and the ac-
countant was interviewed, but gave no
| information.
Next day there was a run on the
| bank, but all claims were promptly
paid and things seemed to be going on
SO much as usual that before the second
day it died out and the bank resumed
its former appearance. There was a
meeting of the directors few days af-
forwards. All of the directors were
present. with Mr.. Bonus in the chair.
dow, the accountant stood with some
balance sheets in his ha4d at the lower
end of the table.
Gentlemen" he said, looking at his
| papers, there is a deficiency of $65,-
/; $40. 49,"
| A look of horror went round the
board. The president leaned back in
his chair with a face as white as ashes.
Meiggs had a frown on his brow and
drummed on the table with his fingers,
but he resisted the temptation of say
ing: II told you So"
1.-The stealing, resumed the account
ant, "has been going on for some time
and it has been most ingenioasly cov-
cred up. The books apparently bal
ance perfectly, and it was only by dis
covering this paper of figures which L
found in Brooks private drawer that |
got clue to the defalcations.
II suppose said Mr.. Meiggs, 'that
we have no further need of Mr.. Ruler;
he has done the work in a very salts
factory manner"
So Mr.. Ruler departed for Chicago
and the detective took his place ut the
table.
Gentlemen, he began, Il propose
to announce in tomorrow papers
that the books have been examined By
experts from Chicago and that all is
perfectly straight. The theory that
will be given of the absconding will be
that through overwork Mr.. Brooks
has become deranged, and | think
that we may wind up with a
tribute to his honesty. You may
have observed that the papers say that
he has not speculated and that he had
no bad habits, so we may infer that the
Doodle is in the valise which he took
with him. If you ever wish to see any
of this sixty odd thousands hope you
will express your regrets for Mr..
Brooks. l trust that nothing serious
has happened to him.
Il thought, said the President, ''that
truth was your motto.
| ''Ah, that was last week. Detectives
mottos have to change sometimes.
Next day the whole town of Stability
heard of the arrangement of the prom
ising young man Brooks, lately cashier
of the well-known bank of that city.
The detective had gone home. The
papers announced that nothing in the
extraordinary transaction reflected on
the good name of Mr.. Brooks.
Meanwhile Mr.. Brooks had exhausted
the resources of Windsor and was look
ing ycarningly across to the American
shore. He watched with interest what
the papers said of his case. At last
when it came out that his innocence
had been made clear he felt glow of
triumph that his book keeping had
stood the severest test that Chicago had
been able to apply. There was now no
reason why he should remain in Cana
da. He telegraphed to Mr.. Bonus that
for the past week he had been feeling
very queer and had come to himself in
Windsor and would be back shortly.
When Mr.. Brooks stepped off the ferry
on the wharf in Detroit man who had
crossed with him put his arm through
his and said:
''Mr. Brooks l am very glad to see
you.''
''Who are you?" asked the astonished
Brooks. 81 don't think l know you.
| mo, you don't" said the other, '.but
l know you. l am a man who hears
sermons in running Brooks and mao
tell you that your race is ended for the
present You are just trifie too smart,
Mr.. Brooks. am Detective Grabula.
of Chicago. Detroit Free Press.
|