The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-10-14
THE CASHIER TRAPPED.
Why Tt Was Announced That He
Was Crazy.

The president of the Bank of Stability
Ill, sat at the green baize table in tn
large and airy directors room of tina
Institution. He paused in his writin,
for moment and touched the silve
bell at his elbow. and in a moment tn
janitor appeared at the door.
John" he said, would you asl
Mr.. Brooks TO step this way?"
Yes. SIR said the departing JAM
TOR. Soon after John came into tn
room and said:
''Mr. Brooks is not down yet, sir
Not down yet?' echoed the presi
dent. "Why, that's strange. It.
twenty minutes past ten"
The president arose and passed
through to the bank.
''Mr jones'" he said to the book
keeper, hasn't the cashier come dowr
yet?"
al have not seen him this morning
SIR" said Jones.
This lateness is not customary?'
asked the president.
No, sir; Mr.. Brooks is generally
very punctual"
He may be i'll this morning." said
the president, but should have thought
he wonld have sent US word"
The bookkeeper made no answer.
He evidently had no particular liking
for Mr.. Brooks, the cashier.
He lives at the Bellmere House, ]
think, " continued the president.
'Yes. sir"
"Well. | will just step down and see
what is the trouble. As the directors
come in kindly tell them | will be back
in few minutes, and ask them to wait
for me. l want to see them particular
ly this morning"
Mr.. Bonus, president of the Stability
Bank, walked down the street towards
the Bellmere Hotel. intending to make
some inquiries after Mr.. Brooks. He
was so absorbed in the unusual fact of
the cashiers absence during business
hours he didn't take that care which Il
portly old gentleman should take in
passing along crowded street, and
the first thing he knew he had the
breath knocked out of him by a man
with valise in his hand running
against him. Mr.. Bonus was rather
firm on his feet, however. and the other
colliding party was thrown backwards
couple of steps.
"Hullo, Bonus" cried his acquaint-
ance, you are about as solid as your
own bank, take it.
You are in hurry this morning,
Saunders, gasped Bonus as he recov-
cred from the shock.
30. not particular; just got in on the
morning train from Chicago, and l
say. Bonus. your bank must be a solid
institution?"
ut is" said Bonus, "but why do you
make that remark"
We'll, it is not every financial insti-
tuition nowadays that can afford to let
its cashier take a vacation trip to Can
ada"
ITO Canada?" ventured Mr.. Bonus
cautiously; you mean MIR. Brooks. 1
presume"
Yes, as l got into Chicago last
night saw Brooks buying ticket for
Detroit for the nine o'clock train,
Michigan Central. l slapped him on
the shoulder and asked him if he was
going to take a vacation. and he said
he had relatives in Detroit. l told him
Detroit was pretty near the border line
for a cashier, and he laughed trifle
nervously it seemed to me, and said:
Yes, it was Then he asked me when
l was going back to Stability, and 1
said tomorrow morning. So he shook
hands and said if l saw any of his
friends to give them his regards. and
then he took his valise and went on the
Pullman"
Yes" said the president. Brooks
has gone away for couple of weeks;
he has been little overworked for the
past year"
81 thought he looked a trife tagged
out" said the other as he went on his
way.
Mr.. Bonus walked down as far as the
hotel but he did not go in. He turned
around and looked at his watch; it was
nearly eleven o'clock. He knew that
the train which left Chicago at nine
O'Clock the night before was well into
the interior of Canada by that time.
and if Brooks was really an absconder,
he was safe from pursuit. As Mr..
Bonus entered the directors room of
the bank the directors were all seated
around the green table waiting for
him. He turned the key in the door
and took his place in the arm chair at
the head of the table.
Gentlemen, he began in a husky
voice, 81 am afraid that / shall have to
announce that Brooks, your cashier, is
at this moment in Canada"
There was silence around the board
for fully minute after this startling
announcement then MIR. Meiggs
spoke up:
"How are his accounts, Mr.. Bonus?"
'tAt the last inspection. replied that
official, ''they appeared all right"
Appeared, humph,' growled Mr..
Meiggs, ''you know never liked that
fellow; he was deuced sight too clever
for me. Now if he has got away with