The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-10-13

Gals and employees had given place to
the coolest and chariest Of greetings,
while something like frowns Of suspi.
ciOn and anxiety rested upon tho faces
otall, from President Barrett BIllingsby
down to Jolly Harry Everett, the lusty
messenger OF the bank.
Only this very morning. Mr.. Billings
BY, ~ he was entering the bank. had
accidentally overheard q most ominous
conversation between large depositor
and one Of the receiving tellers.
"What in tho Old Harry's the matter
with you folks here, any how? Bank
in trouble?
"Eh2-What? Why, certainly notI
Eeyershad a larger surplus than this
very minute;" replied the teller in al.
most offended surprise.
"That stralght?"
"Dead morally. iucoutrovertibIy
straightw
"Well, you don't look It. Nobody
has looked it lore for month. All
seem to be in the dumps; seem TO be in
mourning; seem to have funeral on
hand. Anything TO weep over, honest
%Sonsonsel Not a thing" returned
tho teller with assumed heartiness, as
he blotted tho entry and returned the
customers book.
Don't believe 1t. Looks like specula.
ton, or check.kiting, or the banks boen
hard hit with forgery. or balloon loans.
Sec hero. nov, young man." continued
the cnRtoIner, lowering his voice conf
dentiaIIy, aud speaking closely to the
window, "you just say for mo to friend
Billlngsby, on tho quiet, you know, that
this conioundod churlishnoss and
Observation-Disclosures, are really hurt
ing the Trust and Security"
Hurting it?"
"Yes, hurting it. Friends OF the bank
are whispering 1t over and shaking
their heads. First thing you know
here deposits will be quietly withdrawn.
Then there'll be run. Then up you'll
go! see2"
"Two million moro than We eau use,
in the vaults" replied the teller With
au incredulous smile.
Don't matter. Two days OF the right
kind OF crowd'd leave the balance the
other way. You just mention what I've
said 10 Billingsby. Good morning!"
II will, sure. Thanks" replied .the
teller with genuine activity, as he shook
himself into something like cheeriness,
but, on the departure of the customer,
instantly relapsed into his previous look
OF gravity and concern.
"ThaG settles itw said Mr.. Billingsby
stoutly to himself. as he entered his pti-
yate Office. removed his overcoat and
Immediately returned to the exchange.
lie passed quickly behind the oak
and brass-grated partitions aud moved
rapidly from ono little compartment to
another, speaking few quiet and
earnest words to each ocalpant.
This had all almost electrical effect in
reinfusing, whether enforced or real,
thut demeanor OF satisfaction aud gen.
eral content which has often been
known to stand bank in the stead of
sorely needed cash in times Of great
emergency and peril.
Mr.. Billingsby, after observing with
satisfaction the marked change his brief
conference with his employees had
created, returned to his private Office
with the remark:
~ told them would end this annoy
ance at once, and now will do It'll"
With only mere glance at a huge
pile Of unopened letters upon his desk,
lie Immediately went to his telephone
aud gave the instrument peremptory
ring.
He made his order to the central
Office, and, whilo waiting for response
to his call, looked worriedly through
the strong iron bars Of his window into
the walled court below. Suddenly he
gave little start
"Wonder what old Everetts doing
down there2" he reflected. "That's no
place for him at this hour didn't
know any OF our employees had access to
the court before noon or after one"
"Yes;" turning to tho instrument.
1.-THE Trust ana Security-Mr. Billings
by's at the phone Is that you Dingle-
ton? Good morning! Busy"
A little silence ensued.
"Sorry; but can't you postpone your
preliminary investigation on that jew
elry robbery until little later in the
day? My word ia in measure in-
volyed in Strengthening out little mat
tor hero Immediately. Greatly obliged
il you would step down for few min
utes-yourself, you know"
Another short silence followed, dur
ing which Mr.. Billingsby's faco d" eS-
pressed hopefulness, perturbation and
satisfaction by turns.
"All right. Very much obliged. just
run in for few minutes on your way
to the train. Um.m.m?-AIl right.
Good-byop
lIe rang of the call; stopped to
the window; peered closely about the
court, aud with tho remark II some
times don't know Just what to make of
old Everett. Bnt it isn't him, that's
sure enough!" began hasty examin-
alton OF his mornings mail.
Flo was thus deeply enGrossed when
, Dingleton, the head OF great detective
agency, entered his private office, seated
In,msslt close to his desk, and, with a
slight inclination OF his head backward,
toward the tcllers and the vaults, said
cheerily,
mo trouble out There, HOPPER
Not like any Of the detectives in the
stories and the books, was Dingleton;
those detectives with blue.black boards
and black.blue mustaches. dreadful
voices and steeIy, glittering eyes, who
ramp and rend and roar through time
and space. the Nemeses OF avonging
justice, and who should all be clapped
into the vacuum OF forgetfulness by.one
triumphant sweep OF the stern hand of
justice avenged.
lilo was stocky, pudgy man. with as
linc paunCh as good living ever grow,
comfortable way OF resting his hands
upon it,n knobby head which had room