Daily camera., 1897-08-21
THE DAILY CAMERA.
minutes before ten this morninp?"
asked one Of the vice presidents.
0VoS ci

minutes before ten this mornine?"
asked one of the vice presidents.
Yes, sir" answered.
You have not stated where. Won
were, and how you spent the time"
the man continued. perhaps the re-
naming trustees share with me nat
ural curiosity to know this?"
1 hesitated in giving answer, noticing
which my questioner glanced around
triumphantly, as though he had scored
point against me.
"You do not answer he finally said.
"Of course you need not if your answer
will cri,ninate yourself"
ct is not the fear of eliminating nv
self that causes me to hesitate in nv
answer replied. casting an appealing
glance in the direction of Mr. Morley.
That gentleman turned his eyes to-
ward me. and thought there was rather
a pleased expression about them. He
smiled gravely and bowed his head.
81 srcnt the evening at Mr. Morley's
place il l';Iirlawn." quietly said, in
terpreting that Gentleman's inclination
Of his lead as permission totell.
NV answer oreat ted some surprise. and
I'll eyes Were turned upon Mr. Morley
Such were that gentlemans position
a:;3 standing that the mere fact that I
bed visited at his house produced a
Change in tue manner of questioning
nc. The questions were couched in
more respectful terms.
"And where did you go from Mr. Nor
ley's place." the examiner went on.
''To the Fairlawn hotel" I replied.
"You did not Immediately return to
the city?"
'No, sir, for the reason that I could
not. There was no train until the
morning"
"And you were on that train?"
81 was on that train, and arrived in
town at a quarter before ten," l calmly
replied.
you may be compelled to prove
that" continued the vice president, sig
nifcantly.
Every well, sir; can do so whenever
it is necessary"
Here Mr.. Morley, who had been only
listener until now, spoke in his grave,
dignified manner, and the deferential
way the trustees hearkened to his
words was an indication of the high
regard in which he was held.
Eve are wasting time" he said.
'This method of procedure is futile.
1 will say that Mr.. Conway was a guest
1T my house last evening How he spent
the time after he left my place cannot
say. But he was on the train this
morning, as he said, for usually take
the same train in coming to town, and
I saw him"
Mr.. Morley only stated the cold fact,
but nevertheless that he should speak
at all in my defense seemed to me a
good omen.
!. was soon asked to retire. AS went
out into the presidents room, three
or four fellows went in. knew they
were detectives.
There is no need to tell of the exam
nations | was compelled to submit to
by these same detectives, and how they
tried all their art, wheedling, threat
ening bullying, to get me to confess to
a crime l knew nothing Of. For all
their trouble they got nothing from me
but the truth.
When the trustees meeting broke up,
the president came out to me.
"Nelson, if you are guilty, and wish to
escape the consequences. now is the time
to flee the country. The trustees have
decided not to have you arrested just
yet he said, with smile.
"They are very kind sir. But I wish
to be arrested Nothing would please
me better than to stand trial" replied,
defantly.
Mr.. Morley came through the room as
I spoke, and at my loud tone he threw
glance at me. Whether it indicated
disgust at what he might consider
bravado, or commendation at my dar-
ing to take firm stand on my inno-
cence, could not say.
You may go home for the rest of the
day. Conway" said the president, with
out looking at me. Come to my office
in the morning. Don't go into the bank
room.'
| went out unmolested, and slowly
walked toward my boarding place. Why
should this horrible shadow have fallen,
blotting out the bright promising sun
shine of my young life? Was it a dream
and would | wake to find it all unreal? {?
were already calling: "All about the
bank robbery" and selling their papers
rapidly. God help me, it was no dream.
CHAPTER ".