St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1886-11-20

l
for fully minute after this startlin:
announcement, then Mr.. Meigg
spoke up:
How are his accounts. Mr.. Bonus9'
| ''At the last inspection" replied tina
official. "they appeared all right"
Appeared, humph," growied Mr.
Meiggs, '.you know l never liked tha
fellow; he was deuced sight too clcvc
for me. Now if he has got away will
any cash it will certainly be a consid
cradle amount"
The silence that enSued seem to give
assent to this proposition by Mr.
Meiggs.
II met Saunders on the street jus
now,' said Bonus, land he saw Brook
leaving on the nine o'clock train last
night. Books evidently gave him t.
to understand that he had gone on hi.
vacation. / think it would be goot
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 grutfiy: 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 a week or two"
Il am thinking of the credit of the
bank" said Mr.. Bonus, mildly III
you don't like my plan, MIR. Meiggs,
propose something"
Yes" murmured the others, ..pro.
pose something"
The phrase propose something
| went round the table, and each one of
the members looked anxious.y at Mr..
Meiggs.
The first part of the proposition, g"
said Meiggs, lis to telegraph to Chica-
go for an expert accountant and ask
him to bring down as many assistants
as he requires, SO that we may speedily
know our position. Are there any OBJ
jections 10 that proposal:'
MIR. 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 will guarantee to have
both on that train and we can meet
here at three O'Clock to consult. In the
meantime say nothing ut 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 three O'Clock the board Of directors
again met. The interview with the
accountant was brief. He was given
charge of the books and cautioned not
a little to keep silence, a caution which
he assured the gentlemen was quite un-
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 CONNER
cial traveller, sis your bank in such a
state that it can stand run?"
Bonus looked rather aghast at the
proposition, but he said that he thought
it was. Money had been rather drug
on the market for some time past.
The directors were all solid men. the
amount of liabilities was not large. so
the conclusion was that if necessary
the bank could stand run.
''Then, gentlemen. PROPOSE" said
the detective. that we tell the truth.
l propose that we announce in the
papers that Brooks has absconded, and
that an accountant is now engaged in
finding the amount of his defalca-
ton"
Il don't like to agree to that" fall
tered Mr.. Bonus.
''Very well," said the detective, tax
ing out his watch. Il have five minutes
vet before l must leave to take the
Chicago train. You have that tim, to
make up your mind. The case must
be entirely in my hands, and you must
do exactly as say or you must put the
matter in the care of some one else"
'.But there will be rum" said Mr..
Bonus. "Would it not be better to say
he amount of the defalcation is very
,mall?"
mo, sir" answered the detective,
I'VE don't know what the amount is. |
I may be very large. My motto is to
Tell the truth. ="
The board of directors seemed rather
to think such motto was
,art of detectives equipment. and
hey consulted in whispers together.
There will certainly be a run if we
i've it out in that way"
"You say you are able to stand it."
the detective glancing down
It his watch.
"Yes, but"
"Just one minute MORE" said the
detective.
There was a half minutes consulta-
ion then Mr.. Bonus said with sigh:
I'VE leave the case entirely in your
lands. understand that Mr.. Meiggs
S satisfied as to your ability to manage
t."
Perfectly" said Meiggs. speaking
or the first time.
The sensation of next days papers
vas the absconding of the popular Mr..
Brooks, of the Stability Bank. The
icket agent was interviewed. the hotel
Jerk was interviewed. Saunders was
and gave graphic account
# his meeting with Brooks in Chicago,
md added much about his ghastly, |
.onscience-stricken face which he had
lot mentioned to Mr.. Bonus; Bonus
vas interviewed. but said nothing: and