The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-10-28

are always poking into other peoples
| business. He saw that things were 60
ing wrong, and told me so first. Then
we called George into my private room,
and he owned Up to the whole thing at
once. You see, it had gone so far he
couldn't hope to cover his tracks much
longer"
Glow do you know where the money
went? What proof have your
Everybody knew that but ourselves;
and we might have known it if we
hadn't been blind as bats. He had fur
nished suite of rooms for this Leonie
! within 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
shop"
"Can you give me the exact amount
IF my brothers defalcation?"
Eyes, sir, l 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"
''As you please" answered Chalmers.
Il 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 will give sight draft for it.
son my word" said the president,
more kindly than he had last spoken, 81
appreciate your offer, Mir. Chalmers,
and the motive that prompts it. I as
sure you do. But we cannot accept
your proposal. Ipresume you will en-
deavor to have your brother pardoned.
Personally / would wish not to put a
straw in your way, but can't look upon
| this as u personal matter, and if we took
this money, allowing you to square his
account-that is, so far us money can
iquare 1.-THE next thing woHld be that
some of our weak headed directors
| would sign your petition, and so the
whole moral effect of the affair would
DE lost; and-it may sound harsh, but
believe what say-it will be better for
the young man to let him serve out his
term. II you get him out now he will
likely so to the dogs, but if you let him
stay until the end of his time he will he
sobered down by that"
YOU are sincere in that% asked
Chalmers. You think 1t could do any
man good to spend ten years, ten of the
best years of his life in such a placer
Aside from the necessity of Furnishing
crime, you think that sort of punish
ulent 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 quiet insistence in the
others manner that forced him to an
swer.
Really, don't know much about it"
he replied; cts mostly theory with me,
as with the majority of people, pre-
sumo. Maybe there is something in it
that hardens man."
Chalmers aggressiveness had van
ished as quickly as it appeared. There
with this 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.. Rodneys
statement as regarded Georges affairs
He reflected that since they had both
reached manhood they had not known
each other Intimately. They had not
heen much together, nor confded much
in each other as to the minutie of their
lives. So much as Chalmers had seen
of his brother nutwardly when they
met, his life appeared circumspect, if
perhaps little less serious than might
have been desired; and he was suffi-
GENTLY versed in human nature to know
| that man is seldom just what he ap-
pears TO be upon the surface. nnring
the morning he received sufficient con
| tirmation of this to have convinced even
greater skeptic, but 1t did not serve tn
abate his aeal III his brothers behalf,
but on the contrary rather Intensified it.