Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-06-01
A CASE OF CONSCIENCE.

On certain dark night in October. tive
gentlemen might have been seen standing
under gaslight, at the junction of two
business streets, engaged in close converse
ton. They spoke in low, cautious tones, and
their faces, beneath the Pickering light, were
grave unto solemnity.
In the tall, slim young man, who leaned
against the lamp post in such a tragical atti-
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
shouldered, pleasant faced gentleman, stand
ing with folded arms and head bent forward
to listen, was equally well known as Mr..
George Lamoreaux, real estate agent and
chosen friend Of Mr.. Street.
Past them in gay procession filed the people
returning from the theatre over the way;
and more than one 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 unfolded beneath the gaslight.
For it was dark secret. No wonder Mr..
Streets voice grew deep and impressive as be
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. slept in the bank at the time, and,
of course, tried to defend the property. I
had an encounter with burglar, but he was
stronger than I, and I might have Jared
badly if the police hadn't come to my rescue.
The robber heard them and made his escape,
and he has never been heard of since"
Here Mr.. Street paused for breath.
'Well?" said the other looking mystifed.
sBut,n continued the cashier, Gin the
struggle got a good sight of the mans face,
and I've always declared 1 should know that
face if I ever saw it again"
"Well," from his friend, still more mysti-
fed.
1.-TWO months ago / saw that face; met
that man and talked with him. I meet him
every day."
At length Mr.. Lamoreaux was interested.
''And you know him, too," pursued Mr..
Street.
"I?n
eyes, you; everybody knows him; he"-
sob! Gomez" interrupted Mr.. Lamoreaux,
impat:ently, ''whats the mans nameg"
''He is known here as Walter Hammond"
''The same"
Mr. Lamoreaux uttered low whistle.
"Well, that beats mel" he calculated. sThe
high toned Mr.. Hammond, that everybody S
running after! Why, Street, you must be
mistaken"
mistaken! know that face as if I had
seen it but yesterday. Why, man alive, if
you had lain on your back and looked up
snfo
that it might be the last face you would ever
look upon in this world-if you had seen it
under the circumstances I did 1 think you
would remember that face!'
There was painful silence, broken by Mr..
LamoreauX.
"Well," he said, "what are you going to do
about it,"
Goodness knows, DON'T" returned Mr..
Street, helplessly. "What would you do?'
Mr. Lamoreaux gazed reflectively out into
the darkness
'srll tell you, Street, he said, slowly, 81
wouldn't do anything. I'd keep an eye on
the man and say nothing. You see, he's SO
prominent here, It would make terrible SEN
sation. And if you have no evidence but
your memory you couldn't prove anything,
ANYHOW ty1yo :, -. ,,,... .,,:.,. 49,.
Yes, ana MS acCOmplCeS m1gnC aSSaSSl-
nate me, or something, too"
''rhat,s So" promptly assented his friend.
ssIt's clearly your duty to keep STILL"
At that instant a light flashed across the
street. A man emerged from a doorway op-
posite, stopped a moment to light cigar,
then walked rapidly down the street. He
was a 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 light, noiseless step.
The two men under the gaslight calculated
simultaneously:
''Hammond!'
''There is something queer about him." OBJ
served Mr.. Lamoreaux.
''It's the shadow of a crime," said Mr..
Street, solemnly.
The town clock struck II. And the two
friends, by common consent, abandoned the
lamp post and turned their faces homeward.
Mr.. Cleveland B. Street was conceded by
every one to be most estimable young man.
The president of the bank spoke highly of
him on all occasions, and occasionally in
creased his salary. The old ladies approved
of him, and the young ladies said he was
'tnice" He was a member of the Shooting
Stars Dramatic club, the East End
Dancing club and Musical union. He
sang tenor in the Presbyterian church.
He led the uneventful life of the
average business man, and was reasonably
contented and happy.
There was, beside all this, another circum,
stance which conspired to make Mr.. Street,
in anticipation, most enviable man. Miss
Alice Wilson was handsome, vivacious
brunette, who, by her thousand winning
ways, had completely ensnared the heart OF
the young cashier. Of late she had been per-
ceptibly more encouraging, and he felt Sc
renely confident that when he urged his suit
she would not say him nay.
Some such thoughts as these were fitting