The Forrest City times., 1896-06-12
THE RELIEF CASHIER.

A hansom pulled up at the door of the W estminster branch of the London and Suburbs Banking company. The fare was an eleSatly-dressed man of a little over 50, wearing his silk hat just de- gree or two out of the perpendicular, and sniftlng the carnation in the lapel of his froc!. coat.
 lie entered the bank, passed through the private door leading behind the counters and had taken off his hat and coat, while the manager of the branch glanced at the letter he had brought. It was an ordinary letter of introduc. hon from the general manager of the company. stating that the bearer was Arthur Gordon Durrant, whose sigma ture would be found attached, and who had, in accordance with advices pre- viously forwarded, been instructed to join the Westminster branch on tenn porary service as relief cashier.
 The manager having watched this new member of his staff sign the book. mechanically compared the autograph with the firm. bold Arthur G. Durrant" at the foot of the letter of introduction, handed the newcomer his supply of cash and retired into his own sanctum.
 Arthur Gordon Durrant, who had now been with the London and Suburbs Banking company for some years, had long been eagerly anticipating the time when he should become attached to one of the London branches, for it had been Durrant's fate to spend a month or two at most of those branches which were at the greatest distance from the metropolis.
 The specific hardship of this destiny will not be apparent until it is men, tioned that it was in Kensington that Miss Florence Kendall abode, and that, therefore, Kensington was the center of the universe, according to Durrant's geography.
 And, to be perhaps unwarrantably frank about the heart affairs of lady, Miss Kendall had not heard the news of her admirers transference to Lon don without revealing a glow of pleas ure.
 Her father had arranged to call for Arthur at the bank and bring him home to tea, and as the hour of their antici- pated arrival approached, the sprightly Florence's trils became merrier, and more critical became her inspections of the pretty dimpled face, framed with clusters of loose and wayward brown curls, which smiled saucily at her when ever she passed mirror.
 But Mir. Kendall came home alone, and little cloud rapidly travelled over her face and obscured the sunshine which had hitherto played there.
 "Where's Arthur?" she demanded, coming frankly to the point with a di rectness which made her parent avoid her gaze.
 Well" he replied, with marked hesi- tation, ''I don't exactly know. He wasn't at the bank when 1 called, and I didn't wait"
 Perpiexity took undisputed posses sion of Miss kendal's face, causing her eyes to dilate and her little mouth to open and expose the regular ivory teeth behind her col Il lips.
 Why, fathe.," she exclaimed, you are strange!"
 Gan you stand a piece of most un- pleasant news, dear?" asked Mir. Ken dal, very gravely.
 "Tell me, father"
 "When l called at the bank Mir. Scot land, the manager, informed me that Arthur Durant had duly arrived at the bank in the morning, had gone out at lunch time and had not returned. His cash was then overhauled, and-shall l go on, Flo?"
 The girl would not trust her voice. She nodded pained assent.
 .'There was found to be missing $5,0 900 in gold and a smaller amount in notes. Of course, there was only one inference to be drawn"
 Not that Arthur" Poor Florence