The Holly chieftain., 1898-06-17
CHAPTER M.

menst i stood with every muscle par
alyzed. Then l sunk 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.
whats the matter, Mr.. Conway.
Are you sick?" he asked.
His question partially aroused me
.Call the president and the treasurer
Mason. Quick. Tell them to come into
the vault" managed to gasp.
"Why-why-wha 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
ton! 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 do?" hardly
knowing in my CONSERVATION what
was saying. Its gone! all gone!"
whats all gone? 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.
II don't know, sir. left" began,
but the president cut me short.
''Is it that that's gone? You mean
stolen? 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.
mo, indeed" l answered. 1.-THE
vault was locked at usual. I set the
timepiece for half past eight l ex-
pected to be on hand and get things in
shape for the examining committee"
"And you have just discovered the
loss?"
"Yes. sir. 1 went out of town last
evening, and returned but few min
utes ago."
$50 then the lock was unprotected by
the timepiece whole hour before the
bookkeepers arrived" Mr.. Perry said,
with a most piercing glance thrown at
me.
Jackson promised me he would be
here in my place" ! faltered.
"Jacksoni 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 asked him to be
present"
"Call Jackson" Mr.. Perry requested
of the treasurer.
While thnt gentleman was gone on
his errand. Mr.. Perry and made q
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.
''Oh. Mr.. Perry" cried, "as God hears
me. / know nothing about this. oh. be-
lieve me, I am innocent"
''No one has accused you, Conway, so
far" he replied, seriously, and with sig
niflcance.
: "You cannot think had anything 10
do with it," went on. "You know l
have never betrayed any trust which I
have held in this bank"
.My God! don't know what to think.
I can't think. You never told anyone
the combination?" the president sud-
denly asked.
"Oh, no. no; I have never breathed a
figure of 1t to living SOUL" answered,
earnestly.
.who besides yourself knows how
to open the vault?"
1.-The bond teller and the receiving
teller" replied.
"And they are away on their vaca-
tiOns, are they notF
"Yes, SIR" 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 be?" the president
asked jackson.
Jackson glanced around in surprise
at the group he saw inside the vault.
at was an impossibility for me to full
fill my promise" he answered. "An
aunt of mine over in Camden who has
been i'll for some time died last even
ing, and. as am her sole relative and
heir to what little she possessed. ! was
to go over to Camden last
night. l expected to return in time to
keep my word with Mr.. Conway. But
I was unable to complete the arrange
ments for the funeral and some other
minor matters relating to the will until
this morning, and I had only just ar
rived at the bank wleh Mr.. Smithson
(the treasurer) informed me you
wished to see me-"
ThenShe added, In deep concern: IT
hope the inability to keep my
promise has not been the cause Of any
trouble"
well, whatever trouble there may
be. the blame certainly cannot be at
tached to you. Mr.. jackson, under the
circumstances you have smentaoned.'
You may return 70 your work. !" Ny. Per-
~ said. after long pause.
Il intended to AK 1eaxA nf ahaance