Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-08-19

homestead, gets Jake Hunscker to drive
him to his boyhood home and recognizes
n S 5Sse II wife SARAH servant sI1,a6 Is years
CTIKPTEH TIA year previous Conway
paying teller IN q Philadelphia savings
bank, was invited to the home OF Florence
Morley to a party. knowing this would
not allow him to return to bank as early
next morning as usual ne arranges win
Horace Jackson-a fellow employe-to DC
on hand when the clockwork should release
combination of vault Returning TO bank
next morning Conway discovers the cash
reserve of S00.00O missing
CHAPTER III.
What could 1t meant 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 1 stood with every muscle par
alyzed. Then / 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 siclk2" he asked.
His question partially aroused me.
"Call the president and the treasurer,
Mason. Quick! Tell them to come into
the vault" 1 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, mani 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.
"Oh, sir, what shall I do2" hardly
knowing in my CONSERVATION what /
was saying. tits gonel all gone!"
whats 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 currency" he asked, in
hoarse tones.
IT don't know, sir. I left" began,
but the president cut me short.
us it that that's gone? You mean
stolen? How could it be? Who could
have entered the vaultP You did not
forget to lock up yesterday, did you?''
he asked, with terrible earnestness.
"No, indeed" 1 answered. "The
vault was locked at usual. I set the
timepiece for half past eight 1 ex-
pected to be on hand and get things in
shape for the examining committee"
CAnd you have just discovered the
loss?"
"Yes, sir. I went out of town last
evening, and returned but few min
utes ago."
$50 then the lock was unprotected by
the timepiece q whole hour before the
boolskeepers arrived" Mr.. Perry said,
with a most piercing glance thrown at
me.
jackson promised me he would be
here in my place." 1 faltered.
"Jacksonl' What has he to do with
the vault? He doesn't know the COM
bination, does he?"
mo, sir, 1t was only to have an en-
ploye in the room after the timepiece
had run down, that l asked him to be
present"
Call Jackson" Mr.. Perry requested
of the treasurer.
While that gentleman was gone on
his errand, Mr.. Perry and l made a
hasty search through the other com.
partments. We found some of them in
disorder, and, judging from appear
ances, many bonds missing.
The president was completely over
whelmed by this new discovery, He
stood gazing at me with look of the
greatest anguish on his white, drawn
face,
"0h, Mr.. Perry" cried, "as God hears
me, know nothing about this. Oh, be-
ieve me, am innocent"
"No one has accused you, Conway, so
far" he replied, seriously, and with sig
ni1cance.
"You cannot think had anything 10
do with it," went on. ''You know ]
have never betrayed any trust which !
have held in this bank"
"My God! don't know what to think
can't think. You never told anyone
the combination2' the president sud
denly asked.
H0h, no, no; have never breathed a
figure of it to a living soul" answered
earnestly.
"Who besides yourself knows how
to open the vault?"
''The bond teller and the receiving
teller" replied.
"And they are away on their vaca-
tons, are they not?"
eyes, sir" l faltered, for OWNED the
meaning of his questions.
Here the treasurer returned, followed
by Jackson. Were you here this morn
ing at the time you promised Mr.. Con
way you would peg. the presideh
asked Jackson.
Jackson glanced around in surpris
at the group he saw inside the vault