Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-09-16


sured the gentlemen was quite unneces-
sary. MIR. 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 prosperous commercial
traveller. sis your bank in such state
that it can stand a rum"
Bonus looked rather aghast at the
proposition. But he said that he thought
1T was. Money had been rather a drug
on 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, | 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 defalcation.
Il don't like to agree to that" falter-
ed Mr.. Bonus.
Every WE'LL" said the detective, tax
ing out his watch; II 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-
tirely 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
the amount of the defalcation is very
small?'
mo, sir" answered the detective:
''we don't know what the amount is.
1t may be very large. MI motto is to
tell the truth z"
The Board of Directors seemed rather
astonished to think that such q motto
was part of detectives equipment, and
they consulted in whispers together.
There will certainly be run if we
give it out in that way
''You say you are able to stand tn
suggested the detective, glancing down
at his watch.
Eyes, but"
Just one minute more" said the de-
tective.
There was half minutes consulta-
toni then MIR. Bonus said with sigh:
"We leave the case entirely in your
hands. understand that Mr.. Meioos
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
teryiewed and gave graphic account
OF his meeting with Brooks in CHICAGO
and added much about his CHASTITY. con-
science-stricken face which he had not
mentioned to Mr.. Bonus; Bonus was inter
viewed, but said nothing; and the di-
sectors 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 run on the bank.
but all claims were promptly paid, and
things seemed to be going on so much
as usual that before the second day il
died out and the bank resumed its form
er appearance. There was a meeting
of the directors few days aftcrward.
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 $65,-
$40. 1871
A look of horror went round the
board. The president leaned back in
his chair with a face as white as ashes.
Meiggs had q frown on his brow and
drummed on the table with his fingers,
but he resisted the temptation of saying,
Il told you so.
''The stealing" resumed the account
ant, "has been going on for some time,
and 1t 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 l got
clue to the defalcations.
81 suppose" said Mr.. Meiggs, ''that
we have no further need of Mr.. Ruler;
he has done the work in 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 to-morrow's papers 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 hon
esty. You may have observed that the
papers say that he has not specialized
and that he had no bad habits, so we
may infer that the Doodle is in the valise
which he took with him. If you ever
wish to see any of this sixty odd thou
sands hope you will express your re-
grets for Mr.. Brooks. l trust that moth
ing serious has happened to him."
II thought" said the president, "that
truth was your motto"
"Ah, that was last week Detectives
notices have to change sometimes"
Next day the whole town of Stability
heard of the arrangement of the prom
ising young man Brooks, lately cashier
of the well-known bank of that city.
The detective had gone home. The
papers announced that nothing in the
extraordinary transaction reflected on
the good name of Mr.. Brooks.
Meanwhile Mr. Brooks had exhausted
the resources of Windsor and was look
ing yearningly across to the American
shore. He watched with interest what
the papers said of the case At last
when it came out that his innocence
had been made clear he felt glow OF
triumph that his bookkeeping had stood
the severest test that Chicago had been
able to apply. There was now no rea-
son why he should remain in Canada.
He telegraphed 10 Mr.. Bonus that for
the past week he had been feeling very
queer and had come to himself in Wind
sor and would be back shortly. When
Mr.. Brooks stepped off tho ferry on the
wharf in Detroit man who had cross
ed with him put his arm through his,
and said:
MIR. Brooks, am very glad to see
you"
WHO are you?n asked the astonish-
ed Brooks. 81 don't think | know
you"
mo, you don't" said the other "but
l know YOU am man who hears
sermons in running Brooks, and may
tell you that your race is ended for the
present You are just trifle too smart,
Mr.. Brooks. | am Detective Grabum,
of Chicago. Lake Sharp, IN Detroit
Free Press.
Miss M'ClelIan's Mice.