Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-12-25
CAUGHT IN THE ACT.

Tie Moreton Bank was a Joint-stock
affair In the North, with several
branches. Each branch was under a
separate manager, with high pay, good
social position, and liberty to do very
much as he liked, for the Central
Board of Directoi had great confidence
in their men, and everything worked
very smoothly and successfully. All
the managers were men who had been
from boys in the banks employ, and
were very well paid and thought much
Of by the surrounding gentry.
Well, business was slack, and / was
sitting in my little Office one October
day when my head (and only clerk
showed in a visitor. This was Mr..
Sherris, a solicitor of good standing in
the city, much in favor with CONNER
cial men. 1 had hid two or three
things before from him.
He was a man of few words, and
liked men of the same sort.
''Stanning," said he, ''there's thing
IN your line one of my country clients
has COZ suited me about. You, know,
can keep your tongue between your
teeth, or you'd never have had anything
from me. Well, keep it closer than
ever, for no one knows about this af-
fair but my client, you. me, and-the
thief. The Moreton Bunk is being
robbed. How, notody knows. THAT'S
Tor you TO find out. Here's your note
of Introduction to Mr.. Dale, the mana
ger. Go as soon as you can. Do credit
10 Ely introduction. Good-morning.
Well, was rather glad of the job. so
by six that evening l was in the town
of Moreton, big but dull place, though
1 should say there's good deal of cash
and property about.
/ saw Mr.. Dale as soon as could.
He was keen sort of man, with bright
eyes, quick voice, and iron-gray mus
tache and beard; over fifty; wife pretty
and very nice-mannered; no children.
They made me welcome, asked me to
take refreshments, and 50 on. Mr.. Dale
had evidently, like sensible man, told
no one of my errand, for, on reading
the note from Mr.. Sherris, he merely
said:
$50 you want to be recommended
some good house property. Mr.. Stann-
ing, for investment.
l said yes, of course. He was a wise
man. Even your wife will talk TO her
maid, and in our line perfect secrecy as
to be got, il we mean to make hit.
Well, by-and-by Mrs. Dale wished us
good night. She was, as l say, a very
pretty woman, younger than her bus
band by fifteen years, should think,
and they seemed very fond of each
other, but she wasn't, should imag
Inc, trusted with many weighty mat
tiers, being rather childish. Yet he
70 Ialr II ~
when the door closed behind her, and
he turned to me with his face full of
worry and perplexity.
Briefly sketched, this was what he
tolG M: Robheries of bank notes hau
oc, ur. ed for some time. None could
be traced. Every care had been taken,
every precaution adhered to. He him
self counted and locked up all his cash.
Yet, and at different hours, the notes.
with irregular intervals between, dis
appeared. He hat, being well-to-do,
replaced them for his monthly state
ments to the directors, and being a
proud man, and most sensitive to the
slightest breath furnishing his OF the
banks credit, he had not mentioned TO
any one-not even his wife, perhaps, or
head cashier, these robberies There
was such a system of personal super
vision and control on his part in the
Moreton branch, that by little extra
work, appearing nothing unusual, he
was able to keep these facts from the
knowledge of any one In the bank
except the thief or thieves.
As for the staff, there were his two
ne hews and five other clerks, and an
old head cashier, Mr.. MItley. His
nephews were cousins, sons OF his
brother and sister respectively, named
Adolphus Drake and Hugh Linton.
The clerks we're all respectable and
quiet, esI ecially one Mason, who was
considered a most excellent young man.
|; [ Immediately resolved IN my OWL
mind to keep special eye on this young
man, In consequence of his admirable
reputasion. As for the notes, they
were taken one at time, and never
| larger than a twenty-five pound one
mostly smaller ones.
L listened to all Mr.. Dale's statements
| and theories; not that l had much faith
I in either, but sometimes one may PICK
I'D q grain of sense from amateurs
besides, as they pay the piper, they may,
I to a certain extent, be allowed to think
they call the tune. But when he'd
done talking, felt this was a very DIFF
II
fcult business. However, be MADE me
stay at his house, always as the gentle
man wanting some houses; and slepi
| like a top till reused by instinct b,
somebody creeping past my door. On'
1 crept, too, and there WAS Mr.. Dale
(about four A. N. J, in blanket, ian
cying he heard noise down stairs
Down he went, but found nothing. U
/ course not.
"Now, look here, sir" whispered
.sif Pm to manage this, let me do It
but please don't put your oar in.
81 can't sleep" he said; 81 get up al
all hours; and then in the morning
hours I'm in so heavy sleep that an
always Late"
Iwent back to bed somewhat dis
gusted, for il was a sharp October
| night, and / was tired out with my
| long journey. Blu: his words put al
ids3 into my head, and l rsmsmoeree