The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1892-11-12


sight of Chalmers white face. pale and
fixed as marble before him. recalled t.
him the subject in hand.
mo, sir" he resumed, that wasn't il
at all. l don't want to hurt you, but
you might as well know the straight
story now"
He looked at his companion interroga.
lively, aud the latter nodded to him to
continue.
''The thing had been going en- for
three years, and might have gone on for
as many more, or until the bank was
ruined, If it had not been for one Of
these government bank examiners. who
are always poking into other peoples
business. He saw that things were SO.
ing wrong, and told me so first. Then
we called George into my private ROOM
and he owned up to the whole thing ut
once. You see, it had gone SO fer he
couldn't hope to cover his tracks much
longer"
allow do you know where the money
went? What proof have you?"
Everybody knew that but ourselves;
and we might have known it if we
hadn't been blind rs bats. He had fur
nished a suite of rooms for this Leonie
within q stones throw of the best houses
on Euclid. They say she has everything
there that money can buy. Our money.
too, mind you," he added quickly. '.And
as for diamonds and other claptrap OF
that sort. he gave her enough to set up
G shop"
"Can yoc give me the exact amount
Of my brothers defalcation"
"Yes, sir, can, Of course. But
would rather not. We specified certain
matters, sufficient to insure conviction,
in the indictment, but we didn't tell the
public the whole story. We have per-
sonally made good the entire loss to the
bank now, and we don't care to publish
just how badly we were hit through our
own stupidity"
LAS You please" answered Chalmers.
II only asked in order that might re-
imburse you. l have instructed my
bankers in New York to have sufficient
funds ready. and if you will name the
amount I will give sight draft for it. "
ION my word" said the president,
more kindly than he had last spoken. II
appreciate your offer, Mr.. Chalmers,
and the motive that prompts it. Us
sure yOu do. Cut we cannot accept
your proposal. presume you will en-
deavor to have your brother pardoned.
Personally would wish not to put
stra'r in your way, but can't look upon
this Us personal matter, and il we took
this money, allowing you to square his
account-that is. so far as money can
square 1.-THE next thing would be that
some of our weak headed directors
would sign yonr petition, and SO the
whole moral effect of the affair would
be lost: and-it may sound harsh, but !
believe what say-it will be. better for
the young man to let him serve out hi.
term. II you get him out now he will
likely go to the dogs. but if you let him
stay until the.end OF his time he will be
sobered down by that"
lyon are sincere in thatY' asked
Chalmers. "You think it could do any
man good to spend ten years, ten of the
Test years Of his life in such a place.
Aside from the necessity of furnishing
crime. you think that sort Of punish
ment can have salntary effect? Don't
you know that prisons make criminals
Mr.. Rodney would have been glad to
avoid further discussion of the subject.
but there was n quiet insistcnce in the
others manner that forced him to an
swer.
Really. / dent know much about it,"
he replied; "it's mostly theory with me.
AS with the majority Of people, l pre-
suine. Maybe there is something in it
that hardens man."
Chalmers aggressiveness had van
lshed as quickly as it appeared. There
was no reason why he should quarrel
with tEis man about his theories and be-
liefs. much reason perhaps why he
should not do so for Georges sake,
There was really no reason, either,
why he should doubt Mr.. Rodney's
statement as regarded Georges affairs.
He reflected that since they had both
reached manhood they had not known
each other intimately. They had not
been much together, nor confided much
IN each other as to the minutie Of their
lives. So much as Chalmers had seen
of his brother outwardly when they
met. his life appeared circumspect, il
perhaps little less serious than might
have been desired; and he was suffi-
GENTLY versed in human nature to know
that a man is seldom just what he ap.
pears to be upon the surface. During
the morning he received sufficient con
tirmation of this to have convinced even
greater skeptic. but it did not serve to
abatc his zeal in his brothers behalf.