The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-12-18

ut this moment in Canada"
There was silence around the boar
for fully q minute after this startlin
announcement then Mr.. Meigc
spoke up: %
"How are his accounts, Mr.. Bonus?'
"At the last inspection. /" replied tina
official, ''they appeared all right
Appeared, humph," growled Mr.
Meiggs, you know 1 never liked tina
fellow; he was deuced sight too cleve
for me. Now if he has got away will
any cash it win certainly be consid
cradle amount
| The silence that ensued seem to give
assent to this proposition by Mr.
Meiggs.
81 met Saunders on the street JUS
now, said Bonus, s'and he saw Brook.
Leaving on the nine o'clock train last
night. Books evidently gave him to
to understand that he had gone on his
vacation. / think it would be a good
Idea to have that information go abroad.
| think we might have it announced
that Brooks has gone off for couple
OF weeks to visit friends in Detroit.
This would give us time to turn around
and consult as to what is best to be
done"
There were several mods at this prop
osition, but Meiggs, who was the kick
er OF the board. said grufiy: STUFF.
What good would that do, the truth is
bound to come out the moment the re-
porters get scent of the affair. At
best it would only postpone the diff
Guilty for week or two"
II am thinking of the credit of the
bank, said Mr.. Bonus, mildly. "If
you don't like my plan, Mr.. Meiggs,
propose something"
"Yes," murmured the others, s.pro-
pose something"
The phrase propose something"
went round the table, and each one of
the members looked anxiously at Mr..
Meiggs.
said Meiggs, lis to telegraph to Chica-
60 for an expert accountant and ask
him to bring down as many assistants
IS he requires, so that we may speedily
know our position. Are there any OBJ
jections to that proposal?"
Mr.. Meiggs glanced up and down the
table.
There were no objections.
'.My next proposal is this: Telegraph
to Chicago for one of the best bank de-
tectives in the city and place the case
IN his hands. A train leaves Chicago
at one o'clock. 1t is now shortly after
eleven. If you commission me to write
the dispatches 1 will guarantee to have
both on that train and we can meet |
here at three o'clock to consult. In the |
say nothing at all about the |
affair. and after consulting with the de-
tective. il You think it best to put the
suggested by Mr.. Bonus
n the papers there's ample time TO do
This was unanimously agreed to and
It three o'clock the board of directors
gain met. The interview with the
was brief. He was given
'harge OF the books and cautioned not
little to keep silence, a caution which
Re assured the gentlemen was quite un-
necessary. Mr.. Meiggs had met the
detective at the station and they had
,een in consultation up to the time of
he meeting of the board.
Gentlemen" said the detective.
rho looked like prosperous CONNER
iaf traveller, sis your bank in such a |
tate that it can stand a run?'
Bonus looked rather aghast at the
roposition, but he said that he thought
was. Money had been rather q drug
a the market for some time past.
he directors were all solid men, the Z
mount OF liabilities was not large, so | 7
he conclusion was that il necessary | 1
he bank could stand run.
Then. gentlemen. l PROPOSE" said {
le detective. ''that we tell the truth. In
propose that we announce in the
apers that Brooks has absconded. and !
lat an accountant is now engaged in | 4
nding the amount Of his defalca- b
On.
Il don't like to agree to that" fal-
red Mr.. Bonus.
Very wcll," said the detective. tax
g out his watch. II have five minutes d
t before l must leave to take the Il
licago train. You have that time to a
axe up your mind. The case must 4
entirely in my hands, and you must
exactly as l say or you must put the v
after in the care of some one clse.n a,
"But there will be a rum" said Mr..
mus. "WouId it not be better to say
amount Of the defalcation is very
lall?" 9.
mo, SIR" answered the detective, a
re don't know what the amount is.
may be very large. My motto is to m
ell the truth '"
The board of directors seemed rather
'onished to think such motto was
IT OF detectives equipment, and g
y consulted in whispers together.
There will certainly be run If we
re it ont in that way" hi
You say you are able to stand it."
ygested tho detective glancing down ic
his watch. :.
Yes, but -
Just one minute more," said the M
;ective. =.
There was half minutes consulta- =,
a then Mr.. Bonus said with a sigh: m
we leave the caao onfipoIv - 49,.