Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-09-07

on hand when the clockwork should release
combination of vault. Returning TO bank
reserva Of stSa.0oo missing.
CHAPTER III.
What could it mean! My head swan,
my breath came in gasps, the cold per-
SEPARATION broke out on my forehead and
rolled down my face. For few mo-
menst stood with every muscle par
alyzed. Then I sank down upon the
ledge and covered my face with my
hands.
The porter, who had just come into
the vault in answer to my summons,
approached me.
"What's the matter, Mr.. Conway?
Are you sicls?" he asked.
His question partially aroused me.
"Call the president and the treasurer,
Mason. Quick! Tell them to come into
the vault" I managed to gasp.
"Why-why-what can be the mat
ter?" the porter exclaimed.
sprang to my feet and confronted
him. cannot tell what expression was
on my face, but he slowly edged away
from me.
"Good God. man! don't stop to ques-
toni Go, quick!" He went out imme-
diately at my vehement appeal. and
soon the president and the treasurer
came bustling in.
whats up, Conway?" the president,
Mr.. Perry, asked. "Why, man alive,
how white you are!" he added, looking
searchingly at me.
ooh, sir, what shall do?" hardly
knowing in my CONSERVATION what
was saying. "It's gone! oil gone!"
"What's all gomez Your wits? Are
you sick?" Mr.. Perry asked.
Here the treasurer uttered an ex.
clamation and pointed toward the re-
serve vault. Mr.. Perry craned his neck
and glanced inside. Then he turned
quickly to me, and his face was as white
as his shirt bosom.
"Why, God Almighty, Conway
where's all your currency2" he asked, in
hoarse tones.
81 don't know, sir. left" began
but the president cut me short.
"Is it that that's gone? You mean
stolen2 How could it be? Who could
have entered the vault? You did not
forget to lock up yesterday, did your
he asked, with terrible earnestness.
''No, indeed" I answered. "The
vault was locked at usual. I set the
timepiece for half past eight I ex
pected to be on hand and get things il
shape for the examining committee"
"And you have just discovered the
loss?"
eyes, sir. 1 went out of town las
evening, and returned but few min
utes ago."
$50 then the lock was unprotected by
the timepiece whole hour before thu
bookkeepers arrived" Mr.. Perry said
with most piercing glance thrown q
/ me.
Jackson promised me he would b,
here in my place." faltered.
"Jacksonl What has he to do will
J the vault? He doesn't know the com
bination, does hep"
mo, sir. 1t was only to have an EN-
ploye in the room after the timepiec'
had run down, that asked him to b.
present"
Call Jackson" Mr.. Perry requisite.
of the treasurer.
While that gentleman was gone OF
his errnnd, Mr.. Perry and I made
hasty search through the other com
partments. We found some Of them il
disorder, and, judging from appear
ances, many bonds missing.
f The president was completely over
r whelmed by this new discovery. HI
stood gazing at me with look Of tn
greatest anguish on his white, draw
face.
ooh, Mr.. Perry" cried, "as God hear
: me, I know nothing about this. Oh, be
ieve me, am innocent"
mo one has accused you, Conway, s.
far" he replied, seriously, and with sig
nitlcance.
you cannot think had anything I
do with it," I went on. "You know
have never betrayed any trust which
have held in this bank
: "My God! I don't know what to thinl
can't think. You never told anyon
the combination?" the president sue
denly asked.
"Oh, no, no; have never breathed
figure of it to living SOUL" answered
earnestly.
"Who besides yourself knows no,
to open the vault?"
'srhe bond teller and the receivin
teller" replied.
"And they are away on their vacs
tons, are they not?"
"Yes, sir" faltered, for OWNED th
meaning Of his questions.
Here the treasurer returned, followe
by Jackson. "Were you here this ,morl
ing at the time you promised Mr.. Coz
way you would be?' the preside1
asked Jackson.
Jackson glanced around in surpris
at the group he saw inside the vaul
"It was an impossibility for me to FIJI
fill my promise" he answered. "a
aunt of mine over in Camden who hi
been ill for some time died last evel
ing, and, as I am her sole relative an
heir to what little she possessed, we
compelled to go over to Camden la
night. expected to return in time
keep my word with Mr.. Conway. B,
was unable to complete the arrang
ments for the funeral and some otht
minor matters relating to the will unit
this morning, and had only just a
rived at the bank when Mr.. Smithsc
(the treasurer) informed me yo