The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-10-20

sured the gentlemen was quite unneces-
sary. Mr. Meiggs had met the detec-
tive at the station and they had been in
consultation up TO the time of the meet
ing of the board
Gentlemen, said the detective. who
looked like a prosperous commercial
traveller. ''is your bank in such state
that it can stand run?''
Bonus looked rather aghast at the
proposition. But he said that he thought
II was. Money had been rather drug
on the market for some time past. The
directors We're all solid men, the amount
OF liabilities was not large, so the con-
clusion was that if necessary the bank
could stand a run.
Then. gentlemen. | propose, said
the detective, that we tell the truth. |
| propose that we announce IN the papers
that Brooks has abseonded, and that an
accountant is now engaged in finding
the amount of his dedication. y
Il don't Ike to agree to that, falter-
ed Mr. Bonus.
VERY well. F." said the detective, tax
ing out his watch; 4 have FIVE minutes
yet before l must leave to take the Chi
cago train. You have that time to make
up your mind. The case must be en-
tlrely in my hands, and you must do
exactly as L say, or you must put the
matter in the care of some one else
But there will be a run, " said Mr.
Bonus; would it not be better to say
the amount of the defalcation is very
small?"
No, sir" answered the detective;
I'VE don't know what the amount is.
| 1t may be very large. Ny motto is to
| tell the truth
The Board of Directors seemed rather
astonished to think that such a motto
was part of a detectives equipment, and
they consulted in whispers together.
There will certainly be a run if we
| give 1t out in that way"
''You say You are able to stand il,
suggested the detective, glancing down
at his watch.
| ''Yes, but"
.'Just one minute more, said the de-
tective.
There was half minutes consulta-
ton; then Mr., Bonus said with a sigh:
1--WE leave the case entirely in your
| hands. | understand that Mr.. Meiggs
is satisfied as to your ability to manage
| it"
Perfectly, said Meiggs, speaking for
| the first time.
The sensation of next days papers
| was the absconding of the popular Mr.
! Brooks, of the Stability Bank. The
ticket agent was interviewed, the hotel
clerk was interviewed, Saunders was in
terviewed and gave graphic account
of his meeting with Brooks in Chicago,
and added much about his ghastly, con-
| science-stricken face which he had not
| mentioned to Mr.. Bonus; Bonus was inter-
viewed, but said nothing; and the di-
| rectors were interviewed and said moth
ing. The detective was interviewed
and was loquacious. and the accountant
was interviewed, but gave no informa-
! ton.
Next day there was a run on the bank,
| but all claims were promptly paid, and
things seemed to DE going on so much
as usual that before the second day it
| died out and the bank resumed its form
er appearance. There was meeting
of the directors a few DAYS afterward
All of the directors were present, with
Mr. Bonus in the chair. The detective
was seated near a window; the account
ant stood with some balance sheets in
his hand at the lower end of the table,
Gentlemen, he said, looking at his
papers. ''there is deficiency of &c.,
$40. 78.
A look of horror went round the
board. The president leaned back in
his chair with face as white rs ashes
Meiggs had frown on his brow and
drummed on the table with his fingers.
but he resisted the temptation of saying,
Il told YOU SO.
''Ihe stealing" resumed the account
ant. "has been going on for some time,
and is has been most ingeniously cover
ed up The books apparently balance
perfectly, and it was only by discover
ing this paper of figures which found
in Brooks private drawer that | got a
clue to the defaications.
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 at the
table.
Gentlemen, = he began, 81 propose
to announce in tomorrow papers that
the books have been examined by ex
perts from Chicago, aud that all is per
fectly straight The theory that viii b6
given of the absconding will be tha
through overwork Mr.. Brooks has be
come deranged. and l think that we
may wind up with tribute to his hon
esty. You may have observed that tbs
papers say that he has not speculateC
and that he had no bad habits, so W.
NAV infer that the Doodle is in the wallis,
which he took with him. If you eve
wish to see any of this sixty odd thou
, sands hope you will express your re
: grets for Mr.. Brooks. trust that moth
ing serious has happened to him."
II thought" said the president. ''tha
5 truth was your motto.
"Ah, that was last week Detectives
, notices have to change sometimes"
} Next day the whole town of StabIlit
| heard of the arrangement of the prom
e ising young man Brooks, lately cashie
Q of the well-known bank of that city
The detective had gone home. Tn
7 papers announced that nothing in tn
0 extraordinary transaction reflected o.
8 the good name of Mr.. Brooks.
Meanwhile Mr. Brooks had exhauste
T the resources of Windsor and was look
: ing yearningly across to the American
e shore He watched with interest wha
the papers said of the case. At las
when it came out that his innocenc
t had been made clear he felt glow {
triumph that his bookkeeping had stoo
:. the severest test that Chicago had bee
{ able to apply. There was now no res
r son why he should remain in Canads
b He telegraphed to Mr.. Bonus that fc
: the past week he had been feeling yer
queer and had come to himself in Wine
0 sor and would be back shortly. Whe
:. Mr.. Brooks stepped off tho ferry on tt
wharf in Detroit man who had eros
It ed with him put his arm through hi
5 and said:
MIR. Brooks. / am very glad to s.
r you"
l. WHO are youg' asked the astonisl
d ed Brooks. Il don't think l kno
If you"
is NO. you don't" said the other, ..bl
d ] know you. l am man who hea
= sermons in running Brooks, and ms
, tell you that your race is ended for ii
r present You are just trifie too smaI
1t Mr.. Brooks. | am Detective Grabun
d of Chicago. Lake Sharp. IN Detrc
Is Free Press.
4 The Mexican Baby Supply.