Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-10-14
There were no objections.

to have both on that train and we can
meet here at to consult. In the
meantime say nothing at all about the
affair, and after consulting with the de-
tective, if you think it best to put the
announcement suggested by Mr.. Bonus
in the papers there's ample time to do
it."
This was UNANIMOUSLY agreed to, and
at 8 o'clock the board of directors
again met. The interview with the ac-
countant was brief. He was given
charge Of the books and cautioned not
little to keep silent, caution which
he assured the gentlemen was quite I'M
necessary. Mr. Meiggs had met the
detective at the station and they had
been in consultation up to the time Of
the meeting of the board.
Gentlemen, said the detective. who
looked like prosperous commercial
traveller, sis your bank in such state
that it can stand a run?"
Bonus looked rather aghast at the
proposition, but he said that he thought
it was. Money had been rather drug
in the market for some time past. The
directors were all solid men, the amount
of liabilities was not large, SO the con-
clusion was that if necessary the bank
could stand run.
Then, gentlemen, l propose" said
the detective, that we tell the truth. l
propose we announce in the papers that
Brooks has absconded, and that an ac-
countant is now engaged in finding the
amount of his defalcation.
II don't like to agree to that" fall
tered MIR. Bonus
"Very WELL" said the detective, TAX
ing out his watch, Il 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-
tireIy in my hands, aud you must do
exactly as / say or you must put the
matter in the care of someone else"
But there will be rum" said Mr..
Bonus, would it not be better to say
the amount of the defalcation is very
small?"
No, SIR" answered the detective,
1--WE dom know what the amount is.
1t may be very large. My motto is to
Tell the truth
The board of directors seemed rather
astonished to think that such motto
was part of detectives equipment,
and they consulted in whispers together.
There will certainly be a run if we
give it out in that way"
You say you are able to stand it,"
replied the detective, glancing down at
his watch.
Eyes, but
Just one minuto more" said the
detective.
There wac half minutes consulta-
ton then Mr. Bonus said with a sigh:
I'VE 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 Mr.. Brooks, of
the Stability Bank. The ticket-egent
was interviewed, the hotel clerk was in
terviewed. Saunders was interviewed
and gave graphic account of his meet
ing with Brooks in Chicago, and added
much about his CHASTITY conscience
stricken face which he had not mention
ed to Mr.. Bonus, Ronus was inter-
viewed, but sad nothing, and the d.
rectors were interviewed and said moth
ing. The detective was interviewed
and was lOquacious; the accountant was
interviewed. but gave no information.
Next day there was a run on the
bank, but all the claims were promptly
paid and things seemed to be going or
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.
The detective was seated near the win
dow. the accountant stood with some
balance-sheets in his hand at the lower
end of the table.
Gentlemen, he said, looking at
his papers, there is q deficiency of
$65, 340.7S."
A look of horror went around the
board. The president leaned back in
his chair with 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, Il told you So"
The stealing" resumed the account
ant has been going on for some time,
and it has been most ingeniously COW
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.
Il 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, II propose
to announce in -morrow's paper that
the books have been examined by ex-
perts from Chicago and that all is per-
fectly straight The theory that will
be given of the Ascending will be that
through overwork Mr.. Brooks has be-
come deranged, and / think that we
may wind up with a tribute to his
honesty. You may have observed that
the papers say that lie has not speculat-
ed and that he had no bad habits, SO
we may infer that the Doodle is in the
valise that he took with him. If YOU
ever wish to see any of this siytv odd