Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-10-14
TRAPPED.

bell at his elbow, ana In moment the
janitor appeared at the door.
John" he said, would you ask
Mir. Brooks to step this way?"
"Yes, sir" said the departing jan
itor Soon after John came into the
room and said:
"Mr Brooks is not down yet, SIR"
mot down yet?" echoed the presi-
dent. "Why, that's strange. It's
twenty minutes past TO-"
The president arose and passed
through to the bank.
'Mr. Jones'" he said to the book
keeper, "hasn't the cashier come down
yet?"
"I have not seen him this morning,
SIR" said Jones.
This lateness is not customary"
asked the president.
mo, sir; Mr.. Brooks is generally
very punctual"
HE may be i'll this morning said
the president ''but | 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, l
think" continued the president.
yes, sir"
well, l will just step down and see
what is the trouble. As the directors
come in kindly tell them will be back
in few minutes, ask them to wait for
me. want to see them particularly.
Mr.. Bonus, president of the Stability
bank, walked down the street towards
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 that he didn't take that care
which 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
valise in his hand running against
him. Mr. Bonus was rather firm on
his feet, however, and the other colld-
ing party was thrown backwards a
couple of steps.
Hello, 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 recover
ed from the shock.
"Oh, not particular; just got in on
the morning train from Chicago, and /
say, Bonus, your bank must be solid
institution"
lit is, said Bonus, "But why doyou
make that remark?"
Well, it is not every financial insttu-
ton nowadays that can afford to let its
cashier take a vacation trip to Canada"
ITO Canada?" ventured Mr. Bonus
cautiously; you mean Mr., Brooks, l
presume.
"Yes, as l got into Chicago last night
saw Brooks buying ticket for De-
troit for the o clock train, Michigan
Central. l slapped him on the
shoulder and asked him if he was 90
ing to take q vacation, and he said he
had relatives in Detroit | told him
Detroit was pretty near the border line
for cashier, and he laughed a trife
neryously it seemed to me and said,
Yes, it was Then he asked me when
was going back to Stability, and l
said tomorrow morning So he
shook hands and said if / saw any of
his friends to give them his regards,
and then he took his valise and went on
the Pullman.
Yes, said the president, Brooks
has gone away for a couple of weeks;
he has been a little overworked for the
past year"
Il thought he looked a little tagged
out ;" said the other as he went on his
way"
Mr.. Bonus walked down as far as the
hotel but he did not 90 in. He turned
around and looked at his watch, it was
nearly II o clock. He knew that the
train which left Chicago at o'clock the
night before WIS we'll into the interior
of Canada by that time, and, if Brooks
vas really an abscOnder, he was safe
from pursuit. As Mr.. Bonus entered
the directors room Of the bank the d.
rectors were all seated around the green
table waiting for him. He turned the
key in the door and took his place in
the arm chair at the head of the table
'Gentlemen,n he began in a husky
voice, II am afraid that shall have to
announce that Brooks, your cashier, is
at this moment in Canada"
There was silence around the board
>or fully minute after this startling
announcement, then Mr.. Meiggs spoke
p:
"How are his accounts, AIR. Bonus?"
AT the last Inspection" replied the
official, they appeared all right.
Appeared, humph," growlsd Mr..
Meiggs, you know l never liked that
fellow he was deuced sight too clever
for me. Now if he has got away with
any cash it will certainly be a consider
able amount"
The silence that ensued seemed to
give assent to the proposition by Mr..
Meiggs.
Il met Saunders on the street Just
now" said Bonus, "and he saw Brooks
leaving on the 9 o'clock train last night.
Brooks evidently gave him to under
stand that he had gone on his vacation.
saink it would be good idea to have
that information 60 abroad | think
we might have it announced that
Brooks has gone of for a 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
'sltion, but Meiggs, who was the kicker
OF the board said grufily, Stuff. What