The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-04-22
A CASE OF CONSCIENCE.

On a certain dark night in October, two
gentlemen might have been seen standing
under q gaslight, az the junction OF two
business streets, engaged IN close c0nverta-
ton. They spoke in low, cautious tones, and
their faces. beneath the Pickering light, were
grave unto solCmnity.
In the tall, slim young man, who leaned
against the lamp post in such a tragical att
tude, and who seemed to be doing all the
talking, almost any one might have recog'
nized the cashier of the First National bank,
Mr.. Cleveland B. Street, while the broad
11onldered, pleasant faced gentleman, stand
ing with folded arms and head bent forward
TO listen, was equally well known az Mr..
George Lamoreaux, real estate agent and
chosen friend of Mr.. Street.
Past themin gay procession filed the people
returning from the theatre over the way;
opd more than ono turned to comment curl
ously upon the untimely conference. But
the two men needed them not; and the pleas
ure seekers, as they passed on TO their homes,
and straightway forgot all about the occur
renee, little dreamed of the dark secret that
was being unfoldcl beneath the gaSlight
For it was a dark secret. No wonder hr.
Streets voice grew deep and impressive as he
proceeded to lay it before his friend.
"Six years ago. began Mr.. Street, II was
teller in the kerrin Savings bank One
night it was broken into and robbed OF
$4,000. Islept in the bank at the time, and,
OF course, | tried 10 defend the property. |
had an encounter with a burglar, but he was
~stronger than l., and | might have Jared
III. - A., ~lsoa lalrf cnp1a ~ my T(@(Ilp
The robter heard them and made his escape,
and he has never been heard Of since
Here Mr.. Street paused for breath.
'WellY' said the other, looking mystified.
But continued the cashier, 'in the
struggle | got a good sight Of the mans face,
and I've always declared | should know that
face if / ever saw it again"
"yVeil,n from his friend, still more myst,-
fled.
1.-Two months ago | saw that face, / met
that man and talked with him. | meet him
every day"
AT length Mr.. IauOrcaux was interested.
"And you now him, too pursued Nj.
Street.
~
ayes, you; everybody knows him he'-
"Ohi come" interrupted Nj. Lamorcaux,
impatently, whats the mans namef'
"He is known here as Walter Hammond
Not the new partner IN the spring works"
"Thc same"
Mr.. Lamoreaux uttered "a low whistle.
"Well, that beats mel" he CALCULATED "Tbe
high toned Mr.. Hammond, that everybody's
running afteri Why, Street, you must be
mistaken"
"Mlstaken! know that face as il l had
Seen it but yesterday. Why, man alive, if
you had lain on your back n looked up
into that face bending over you, knowing
that it might be the last face you would ever
look upon in this world-if you had seen It
under the circumstances l did l think you
would remember that faceP
There was q painful silence, broken by Mr..
1Amoreaux.
"Well," he said, what are you going to dc
about tn
"Goodness knows, l don't" returned Mr..
Street, helplessly. what would you dor
Mr.. IAnoreaux gazed refectively out into
The darkness.
I'M tell you, Street, he said, slowly, IL
wouldn't do anything. I'd keep an eye on
the man and say nothing. You see, he's %
prominent here, 7 would make a terrible sen
sation. And if you have no evidence bat
your memory you couldn't prove anything,
anyhow"
ayes, and his accOmplices might asasi-
nate me, or something, too"
'Tfats SO" promptly assented hin friend
''Its clearly your duty to keep still"
At that instant q light flashed across the
street. A man emerged from a doorway OPP
posite, stopped a moment to light a cigar,
then walked rapidly down the street. He
was little above medium height and slender.
A heavy black mustache and square cut chin
were all that was visible beneath the soft cap
he wore well down over his eyes. He carried
his head slightly forward and walked rap
idly, with u light, n~oiscless step.
The two mon under the gaslight calculated
simultaneously.