Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-07-07
THE RELIEF CASHIER.

A hanson pulled up at the door of the
Westminster branch OF the London and
Suburbs Banking company. The faro
was AN elegatly- dressed man of little
over 80, wearing his silk hat just de-
gree or two out of the perpendicular,
and shifting the carnation in the lapel
OF his frock 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 ut the letter he had brought.
1t was an ordinary letter of introduce
ton 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-
yiously 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 ore
of the London branches, for it had been
Durrant's fate to spend 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
toned 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 u 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 nntici-
pated arrival approached, the sprightly
Florence's trills became merrier, and
more critical became her inspections
Of the pretty dilnpled face, framed with
clusters of loose and hayward brown
curls, which smiled saucily at her when
ever she passed mirror.
But Mr.. Kendall came home alone,
and little cloud rapidly travelled over
her face and obscured the sunshine
which had hitherto played there.
''Whcra's Arthur" she demanded,
coming frankly to the point with di-
rectness which made her parent avoid
her gaze.
"Well," he replied with marked hest
tation, 81 don't exactly know. He
wasn't at the bank when 1 called, and
didn't wait"
Perplexity took undisputed posses
sion of Miss Kcndal's face, causing her
eyes to dilate and her little mouth to
open and expose the regular ivory teeth
behind her coral lips.
"Why, father" she exclaimed, "yo,
ore strange!"
"Can you stand piece Of most un
pleasant news, dear?" asked Mr.. Ken
dal, very gravely.
"Tell me, father"
"When l called at the bank Mr.. Scot
land, the manager, informed me thai
Arthur Durant had duly arrived at thu
bank in the morning, had gone out al
lunch time and had not returned. Hi;
cash was then overhauled, and-shall
go on, Flo2"
The girl would not trust her voice
She nodded a panied assent.
There was found to be missing S., O0(
in gold and smaller amount in notes
Of course, there was only one inference
to be drawn"
Not that Arthur" Poor Florence
could not frame the sentence. He:
father interrupted the attempt.
well, my child, there can be no othe
possible explanation. The young man i
now being hunted for all over thu
country, and the manager told me h.
had wired to the head Office for instruc
tons about issuing reward"
Had the door opened a second late
Florence would have been in Mysteries
But her father had inroluntarily called
Come I'M" in response to the knock
ind the parlor maid tripped over to Mr.
Kendall with card upon the salver
Had it been Il message from mahat
ma, precipitated through the substan
tial ceiling under which he sat- he coul'
ly he jumped up, and, without 4 word
darted through the door.
There in the hall, looking i'll and pale
but obviously in the highest spirits hi
feebleness permitted, stood Arthur Dun
rant.
1t was with u mingling of blanl
establishment and distant constrain
that Mr.. Kendall met the young man
cordial greeting.
But Florence, With q little scream
ran at him, and was caught in an EN-
brace which she returned with an intel
est which Arthur willingly set OF
against the fathers chilliness.
My word! it was an adventure
wasn't it?" said Arthur, reluctantly dis
engaging himself from the fetter
around his neck.
Mr.. Kendall preserved a noncommitta
silence.
Haven't you heard?" pursue
Arthur, correctly divining the meanin
of this strange reception. They've go
the couple, and, SO far as is at presen
known, they've recovered every farthin
of the money"
Begin at the commencement, Al
thur" said Mr.. Kendall, as soon as tn