Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-11-16

all about the affair, and after consulting
with the detective, if you think it best to
put the announcement suggested by MIR.
Bonus in the papers there's ample time to
do it.
This was unanimously agreed to, and at
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 little to keep silence,
caution which he assured the gentlemen
was quite unnecessary. 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 a prosperous commercial
traveller, lis your bank in sach state
that it can stand run ?'
Bonus looked rather aghast at the prop
osition, but he said that he thought it was.
Money had been rather drug on the mar.
ket for some time past. The directors
were all solid men. the amount of liabili-
ties was not large, SO the conclusion was
that if necessary the bank could stand a
run.
Then, gentlemen, propose, said the
detective, THAT we tell the truth. | pro-
pose that we announce in the papers that
Brooks has absconded, and that an &C
countant is now engaged in finding the
amount of his defalcation."
II don't like to agree to that" faltered
Mr.. Bonus.
VERY WE'LL" said the detective, taking
out his watch, II have five minutes vet
before | must leave to take the Chicago
train You must have that time 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 someone else"
But there will be run" said Mr..
Bonus, would it not be better to say the
amount of the detalcation is very small 2"
''No. sir" answered the detective, 1--WE
don't know what the amonnt is. 1t NAV
be very large. My motto is to tell the
tru, A."
The board of directors seemed rather
to think that such a 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 it," sug
gested the detective, glancing down at his
watch.
"Yes, but
Just one minute MORE" said the de.
tective.
There was a half minutes consultation,
then Mr.. Bonus said with a sigh:
we leave the case entirely in your
hands understand that Mr. Meiggs is
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 in
Saunders was interviewed and
gave graphic account of his meeting
with Brooks in Chicago, and added much
about his CHASTITY, conscience-stricken
face, which he had not mentioned to Mr..
Bonus. Bonus was interviewed, but said
nothing; and the directors were inter
viewed, and SAID nothing. The detective
was interviewed, and was loquacious !;
and the accountant was interviewed. but
gave no information.
Next day there was a 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 dav it died
out and the bank resumed its former ap
pearance. There was meeting OF the
directors few days atterward All the
directors were present, with Mr.. Bonus in
the chair. The detective was seated near
window, the accountant stood with some
balance sheets in his hand at the lower
end of the table.
"Gentemen." he said. looking at his
papers, there is deficiency Of $65, 34O.-
7S"
A look of horror went round 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 saying. Il told you so. :"
The ste; Ing" resumed the account
ant. 'has been going on for some time
and it has been most ingeniously covered
up. The books apparently balance per-
fectly, and it was only by discovering this
paper of figures which found in Brooks
private drawer that got "A clew to the de-
talcations"
81 suppose" said Mr.. Meggs. THAT
we have no further need of Mr.. Ruler:
he has done the work in very satisfac-
tory manner"
So Mr. Ruler departed for Chicago and
the detective took his place at the table.
"Gentlemen," be began. 81 propose to
announce in to-morrow's papers that the
books have been examined bv experts
from Chicago and that all is perfectly
straight The theory that will be given
OF the adsconding will be that, through
overwork, Mr.. Brooks has become de-
ranged and think that we may wind up
with a tribute to his honesty You NAV
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 away with
him. If YOU ever wish to see any of this
sixty odd thousands hope YOU will ex-
press your regrets for Mr. Brooks. trust
that nothing serious has happened to
him."
II thought" sad the president. 18th at
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 promis.
ing 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 extraordin-
airy transaction reflected on the good name
OF Mr.. Brooks.
Meanwhile Mr.. Brooks had exhausted
the resources of Windsor and was looking