The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-10-20
Blest was the fragrance that came on the
THE DETECTIVE.

THE DEIEC1lN l..
The president of the Bank of Stability,
Ill. sat at the green baize table in the
large and airy directors room OF that
institution. He paused in his writing
for a moment and touched the silver
bell at his elbow. and in a moment the
janitor appeared at the door.
John. he said, would you ask Mr..
Brooks to step this wayp'
''Yes. sir, said the departing jan;tor.
Soon after John came into the room
and said:
Mr.. Brooks is not down yet, sir.
mot down yet?n echoed the presi-
dent why, that's strange. It's twenty
minutes past 10.
the president arose and passed
through to the bank.
'Mr. JONES' he said to the bookkeep-
er, hasn't the cashier come down yet?"
81 have not seen him this morning,
sir" said Jones.
This latoness 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 l should have
thought he would 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, l viii 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 toward
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 a
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 man with a
valise in his hand running against him.
Mr.. Bonus was rather firm on his feet,
however, and the other colliding party
was thrown backward a 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.
''Oh, not particular; just got in on
the morning train from Chicago. and
say, Bonus, your bank must be solid
institution"
1T is, said Bonus, but why do you
make that remark"
'Well, it is not every financial insti-
tuition nowadays that can afford to let
its cashier take a vacation trip to Cana
da.
TO Canada?' ventured Mr.. Bonus
cautiously; ''you mean Mr. Brooks,
presume.
Yes. as | got into Chicago last night
| saw Brooks buying ticket for Detroit
for the o'clock train. Michigan Cen
trail ! slapped him ON the shoulder
and asked him if he was going TO take
vacation, and he said he had relatives
in Detroit. | told him Detroit was pret
ty near the border line for cashier,
and he laughed trifie neryously il
seemed to me and said, Yes, it was.
Then he asked me when was going
back to Stability, and i said tomorrow
if l saw any of his friends to give then
his regards, and then he took his valise
and went on the Pullman.
YES" said the president, Brooks
has gone away +or couple of weeks
he has been a trifie overworked for the
past year.
Il thought he looked triile tagged
! out. " said the other as he went on hi
way.
Mr. Bonus walked down as far as tbs
hotel but he did not go in He turned
around and looked at his watch; it wa
nearly IL o'clock. He knew that tn
train which left Chicago at Q o'olocl
the night before was well into the inter
ior of Canada by that time, and
Brooks was really an absconder. he wa
safe from pursuit. As Mr.. Bonus enter
ed the directors room of the bank tn
directors were all seated around tn
green table waiting for him. He turne,
the key in the door and took his plac
in the arm chair at the head of tn
table.
Gentlemen he began in a husk
voice, Il am afraid that | shall have
} announce that Brooks. your cashier,
/ at this moment in Canada.
There was silence about the board fo
, fully a minute after this startling an
} nouncemens then MIR, Meiggs spok
up:
: How are his accounts. Mr.. Bonus?
: ..At the last inspection" replied tbs
) official. ..they appeared all right p"
7 Appeared, humph, growled MI
| Meiggs, ''you know l never liked tha
fellow; he was deuced sight too cleve
) for me- Now If he has got away wit
, any cash it viii certainly be consider
1 able amount"
, The silence that ensued seemed |
/ give assent to this proposition by Nj
, Meiggs.
4 Il met Saunders on the street ju
now" said Bonus. '.and he saw Brook
r leaving on the o'clock train last nigh
5 Brooks evidently gave him to unde
stand that he had gone on his vacation
1 | think we might have it announce
e that Brooks has gone off for couple
e weeks to visit friends in Detroit. Tn
{. would give US time to turn around an
r consult as to what is best to be done.
:; There were several mods at this prop
e sition, but Meiggs. who was the kicks
: of the board, said gruffiy, Stuff. VIII
d good would that do. the truth is boun
5 to come out the moment the reporte
g get scent of the affair. At best
would only postpone the difficulty for
o week or two.
e Liam thinking of the credit of Il
:. bank said Mr.. Bonus, mildly. :.
d you don't like my plan. Mr.. Meigg
5 propose something
e ..Yes.n murmured the others, pr
'e nose something"
3 The phrase Propose something
+ went round the table, and each one
the members looked anxiously at NJ
3f Meiggs-
II The first part of the proposition
9, said Meiggs. s.is to telegraph to Chica,
4 for an expert accountant and ask hi
/ to bring down as many assistants as
Is requires, so that we may speedily knc
Fl our position. Are there any obieeuo
le- to that proposal2'
d Mr.. Meiggs glanced up and down t
E the table.
There were no objections.
Is .sNy next proposal is this. Telegraph
e Chicago for one of the best detectives
$ the city and place the case in his hans
ID A train leaves Chicago at O. clock
g is now shortly 4afrer III. II you col
.. mission me to write the dispatches
viii guarantee 10 have both on the ira
T. and We can meet here at 3 10 consu
u In the meantime say nothing at
4 about the affair. and after consultil
sn with the detective, If you think it b
IL TO put the announcement suggested
or Mr.. Bonus ia the papers there's ann
Ie. time to do it =
d. This was unanimously agreed to- a
re at s o'clock the Board of Directors aga
By met The interview with the acconl
~ tant was brief He was given char
to OF the books and cautioned not 8 lit