The record-union., 1894-10-13
Nothing serious" answered Mr.. Bill

mat goodE' SAID DiDgletGn heartily.
1T might lead to worse, though" con-
tinued the banker rellectively.
THAT'S so," assented Dingleton pleas
antly.
The entire amount taken has not ex-
ceeded three months salary of our low
est paid clerk. But the nature of the
populations is mystifying and annoying.
Most always is" unused Dingleton
sympathetically.
'One day it is one department, the
next In another. 1t is never more than
olil or two Of small denomination. Some
lneS, again, 1t IS even postage stamps,
and yesterday bond coupon was
missed"
"Uumpr calculated the detective half
doZingIy.
- GU can see it is not the loss itself. It
is the doubt and anxiety everyone suf-
lefs. The entire force is becoming de-
moralIZed, and, as | learned this NOM
ing, this is being untavorably noticed by
the banks customers"
That's bad''; murmured Dingleton.
suspect anybody?"
No one; positively no one."
On, no; to be sure" This softly and
muslngly from the detective. 1--WE ran
out and reported on all your folks here
some time ago, Mr.. Billingsby ?"
es, just twenty months since; when
the new directory came inn
HIOl1-dU-tD0 HreS1Qent down TO the
messenger and night watchman ?''
Everyone. Treated us all alike"
All alike'; echoed Dingleton bIandly,
Have you those reports handy ?"
The bank President unlocked his desk:
reached into one of its commitments
and handed a small packet of neatly-tiled
reports to the detective.
The latter edged his chair around a lit
tie TO the light and ran them over hastily.
occasionally tilliping the dust from one or
another.
Too dusty" he observed quietly.
w hat do you mean, Dingleton?" 2"
Good idea to look such things over.
about-well, about quarterly, Mr.. Bill
lingsby. Any good man can run long
way OFT the track, in less than a quarters
time. In much less than a Quarters
times" he replied thoughtfully.
why, [ know the habits and environ
ment OF every one OF our employees like a
book; like a book, sir.''
do yOu?"
The detective said this so politely, so
casually ana yet so pointedly. that the
banker instantly knew it meant: Then
why these thefts, and why have you sent
tor Dlngleton? And he flushed notice.
ably.
Good showing here; remarkably good
showing, MIR. Billingsby;" added The de-
tective heartily. Have you taken on
oil y iAp4Oy cS SluC0 lDCS6 16DOrtS?''
why, yes. There's old Everett,
"Old Everett?"
He's not far beyond my age; but |
have come 10 think of him as 'oId Ever
et, he,s SO gray-haired, quiet, ambling
and hollow-eyed."
Quiet, ambling and hollow-eyed?" re-
peated Dlngieton with the infection of
interrogation And what are his du-
ties?"
son tho dapoS;tore, o,o.,,. -,
fourth assistant, l believe"
Has access, back and forth. to the
vaults and passes and repasses the tell
ers' compartments? ?"
Certainly. A dozen other employees of
necessity have also. Now. see here.
Dlngleton. don't want you to involve
that poor old fellow in any of vour de-
tective stratagems. You fellows have
way OF jumping at conclusions and then
weaving all sorts OF assumptions and do
vices to sustain your theories Let old
Everett alone. l wouldn't have him
hurt with even the suspicion of a sus-
piclon for my position here. Why, you
might as We'll pounCe upon his boy.
Harry. our messenger, as thorough a
personihcatlon of tIankness and sunshine
as ever helped bless the labors of a great
city,
Taken on together?"
mot exactly. The Old gentleman first.
little over year since; and Harry, two
or three months later, at the time our old
messenger went out on pension"
~ ou don't mind telling me under inst
what circumstances? ?"
MIR. Billingsby flushed again. A man
of his judgment, and his position. Dioues
easily at implied criticism of policy or
sentiment.
"You know l believe in physical train
ing for business men? For years have
kept up my habit OF taking long walks
every morning before and alter break fast.
the alter breakfast jaunt always terminate
ing here at the bank"
Excellent idea" observed Dingleton.
| taking another comfortable clutch at his
tat fingers.
~ hen the first pinch of the hard
! times was upsetting monetary affairs
generally, made it a rule to get here un-
| usually early. l saw a good deal on nv
| way through the city that worried me-
! thousands of men out OF work, hungry.
! distracted and desperate. One morning
| on reaching the bank. L saw this very
/ man, old Everett, Shufiling back and
! forth III a painting sort of way along the
slde OF the bank building, looking as
| though he were determined to do some
thing Tor which he could be taken in
charge by the police"
! ''Sort of anarchiaI tendencies ?u sug
| BSSlSu III SISbOil QOHID2Iy again.
les; II an utterly discouraged man
with boulder in his pock ct and his hand
clutching the boulder, may lie looked
| upon in that light"
"Umph " murmured the detective
Il was ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS by the con-
! dition OF business affairs: but somehow T
could not pass that man, and. thank God !
l did not. AS | stood at the corner hesi-
tatingly, our eyes met. He turned
! quickly and FASTENED away, as if he knew
1 l were conscious Of his guilty purpose. I
overlook him in moment; told him to
| wait about that little matter of the stone
throwing until after breakfast; soon had
! him outside of a hearty meal, and his
story briefly told"
Interesting, probably?"
/ "Yes; and sad.'
"Umph ~
| The was faint flash of resentment in
| the bankers glance at the imperturbable
| Dingleton; but he continued. as when ono
able man, in his tone and infection rather
than in his words, sets his own views
stolidly against another Able mans nossi-
! bly, differing theories.
He was simply man of good birth
| surroundings and ambitions, a scholar q
thinker, writer-at one time a college
professor, | believe-who had drifted onr
of lucrative employment Then relatives
| and friends fell off, one by one, and AS
hard times are fiercest and most merciless
| on this class, he had at last come to such