Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-01-19
Mr.. Price reflected for awhile. He
seemed to be more ready of resource

| than MS superior Ohcer.
"You, sir, had better 60 yourself
| Immediately to Scotland Yard to give
notice of this robbery RXthe police.
will receive Messrs. B1eing, and ex-
plain to them that ybu have been
suddenly summoned thither on ex-
tremely urgent business. I will ask
them to call again an hour later"
"Admirable!" exclaimed the mana
ger appreciatively. "By o'clock we
shall have discovered something either
from Mr.. Aspin or otherwise"
II hope sou
"By the way, Mr.. Price," added the
manager finally, "here is the key OF
my writing table," He detached it
from the bunch which hung on q chain
secured round his waist. "Please
look through every drawer, and Salts
fly yourself that the missing bonds
have not merely been mislaid."
81 will do so, SIR" And the man.
ager buttoned up his tightly fitting
frock coat and clapped on his high
/ hat, Mr.. Price involuntarily reflected
that the last documents could not
have transferred themselves miracu-
lously to the managers pockets with
out the fact disturbing the admirable
cut OF that gentleman's garments.
'No official may leave the bank on
any prctext whatever till I return
rom Scotland Yard" said the man.
I ager.
Mr.. Price bowed acquiescence, and
in q moment more the manager left
him.
| Presently the cashier summed up
the situation. "Pve turned out the
safe twice and seen it locked. I can
| affirm that Messrs. Bulling's bonds
are not there. I've turned out the
/ drawers of this writing table. The
bonds are not here. The manager has
not got them. l didn't take 'em.
Young Aspin must have done it. Will
he come back? He's nearly due now"
Two o'clock struck, but Mr.. Aspin
had not returned. Messrs. Bulling sent
a trusted messenger for the bonds MIR.
Price made the necessary excuse and
requested him to call at $50. Half
past 9 came, but no sign OF Mr.. AS
pin. Indeed, when the manager
returned, shortly after o'clock, &C.
companied by detectives, Mr.. Aspin
=.
In short, Mr.. Aspin did not return.
He had bolted, evidently.
And this is how it came to pass.
On leaving the bank at / 80 the man.
ager crossed the street, and, instead
OF hurrying to Scotland Yard, placed
himself in the shadow OF doorway,
where he could not be perceived
through the ground-glass windows OF
the bank, and where he had a full
view OF the street from right to left.
He watched here for about five or
ten minutes, when the figure of Mr..
Aspin, on his return from dinner, was
perceived coming down the street on
the opposite side.
Before the young man reached the
steps OF the bank he was stopped by
the manager, who said sharply.
Follow men'
The manager walked briskly along,
looking back frequently in order to
see that this command was attended
to. The miserable boy dared not
disobey. Presently, in an unfrequent-
ed sidestreet, the manager hailed a
hanson. He beckoned Mr.. Aspin to
seat himself beside him within the
cab.
Scotland Yard!' cried the mana
ger to the driver. "And pu. the glass
down."
On hearing their destination Aspin
turned as white as q sheet. Before
he could recover himself enough to
speak the manager informed him that
the theft OF Me SIS. Bulling and Co.'S
bonds had been discovered, and that
the suspicious which pointed to Mr..
Aspin us the theft were simply over
whel.ning.
This announcement frightened Mr..
Aspin SO much that he tried to jump
out OF the hanson, but he was held
back in Il powerful grip.
"No. no, young man, you must
listen to me. | do not wish to be
hard on you, even if you are indeed
guilty. You must preceive by this
time that you are ruined for life, if the
guilt attaches to you-.'
II know it, know it," exclaimed
the youth, breaking into tears.
"What will my poor mother say?"
The manager showed some aston
ishment at the boys burst OF grief.
Presently, however, he continued:
Look here, young sir! will help
you out OF this mess-ahem!-for
your mothers sake!'
ooh, sir! God bless you for saying
that"
81 mean it, too; your escape can be
managed. impose a condition, how
ever 1t is this. You will take train
Immediately for Dover. You will
cross to Calls. l will throw every
body off the scent. You will travel
through, without stopping to Spain.
There you will be safe from arrest"
"But have no money.
II will provide for that. Here is a
ESQ note. You will 60 to Gaze's tick
et.ofiice in the Strand and buy two
tourist for Madrid.''
"Why two tickets, sir?"
"To avert suspicion. One OF them
you will use yourself, the other will
take care OF myself. At Madrid you
will stay at the Hotel de Paris till
you receive from me another ESQ
note-ahem-for your mothers sake"
"Oh, sir, how can thank your"
Lo4 ,c,f