Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-11-16
1alfs aud Sketehes.
A DETECTIVES RUSE.


elbow. and in a moment the janltor ap
peared at the door.
!. John" he said, would you ask Mr.
Brooks to step this way?"
Eyes, SIR" said the departing janitor.
Soon after John came into the room and
said:
.'Mr. Brooks is not down yet sir"
mot down yet?' echoed the president
why. that's strange. It's twenty min
utes past 10"
The president arose and passed through
TO the bank.
"Mr. Jones'" he said to the bookkeeper'
hasn't the cashier come down YETI"
81 have not seen MIN this morning
sir" said Jones.
This lateness is not customary" asked
the president.
No. sir; Mr.. Brooks is generally very
punctual." 49,,
HE NAV be i'll this morning." said the
spresident, ''put should think he would
have sent US word"
The bookkeeper made no answer. tie
evidently had no particular liking for Mr..
Brooks. the cashier.
"He lives at the Bellmere house, |
think" continued the president.
Yes. sir"
well | will just step down and see
what is the trouble. As the directors
come in kindly tell them | will be back in
few minutes, and ask them to wait for
me. | want to see them particularly this
morning"
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 50
absorbed in the unusual fact OF the
cashiers absence during business hours
he didn't take that care which a portly
old gentleman should take in passing
along a crowded street. and the first thing
he knew he had the breath knocked out
of him by man with avalise in his hand
running against him. Mr.. Bonus was
rather firm on his feet, however, and the
other colliding party was thrown back
wards a couple OF steps.
"fIuIlo, Bonus" cried his acquaintance,
you are as solid as your own bank,
take it,
You are in a hurry this morning,
Saunders gasped Bonus as he recovered
from the shock.
"Oh, not particular; just got in on the
ih'i tlhlh iIoLii AilNhSO, ohb soy :,
Bonus, your bank must be a solid instilu-
tionp"
al is" said Bonus, "but why do you
make that remarkP''
"Well, it is not every financial institu-
tion nowadays that can afford to let its
cashier take vacation trip to Canada"
ITO CANADA" ventured Bonus eau
tiously: ''you mean Mr.. Brooks, pre-
sumo"
Eyes, as got into Chicago last night |
saw Brooks buying a ticket for Detroit
for the O'Clock tram. Michigan Central.
| slapped him on the shoulder and asked
him if he was going to take a vacation.
and he said he had relatives in Detroit.
told him Detroit was pretty near the Dor
der line for a cashier and he laughed a
trifle nervously it seemed to me and said.
Yes it was Then he asked me when
was going back to Stability, and | said to.
morrow. 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"
eyes" said the president, Brooks has
gone away for couple of weeks; ne has
been little overworked for the past
year"
~ thought he looked trihe 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 / O'Clock. He knew that the train
which left Chicago at 9 o. clock the night
before was well into the interior of Canada
| by that time, and il Brooks was really an
absconder, he was safe from pursuit. As
Mr.. Bonus entered the directors room of
the bank the directors 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," he began in 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 for
fully minute after tins startling an
nouncement, then Mr.. Meiggs spoke up
"How are his accounts, Mr.. BonusP"
AT the last Inspection" replied the
official, "thev appeared all right"
Appeared, humph," growled Mr.
Meiggs; "you know | never liked that
fellow he was a deuced sight too clever
for me. Now. ii he has got away with
any cash it will certainly be consider
able amount"
The silence that ensued seemed to give
assent to the prop )sition by Mr.. Meggs
II met Saunders on the street Just
now" SAID Bonus, land he saw Brooks
leaving on the O'Clock train last night
Brooks evidently gave him to understand
that he had gone on his vacation. think
that it would be good idea to have that
information 90 abroad. think we might
have it announced that Brooks has gone
off tor couple of weeks to visit friend,
in Detroit. This would give US time tt
turn around and consult as to what is best
to be done"
There were several mods at thi;
proposition. but Meiggs, who was tht
kicker of the board, said grutlly, Stuff
What good would that doP The truth i,
bound to come out the moment the re-
porters get scent of the affair, At best
it would only postpone the difficulty for a
week or two
81 am thinking of the credit of tn,
bank" said Mr.. Bonus, mildly. "If vor
don't like my plan. Mr.. Meiggs, propose
something"
4 Yes murmured the others, propose
something"
The phrase Propose something" weni
around the table. and each one of the
L Il y