The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-06-25

solute control of my bank business.
s'I see. Has he appeared to you
lately to be in want of money!? He |
paused for a moment, and then said:
"Well, yes; now I come to think OF
it. Only a week ago he asked me Tor
an advance of salary"
"That may or may not mean any
thing. Aman may be hard up and de-
sire an advance, and yet hesitate
about a deliberate forgery. Have
YOU any of His writing that I can look
at?"
"Plenty. How will this suit your
He handed me note from the clerk
in which the latter made some un-
important communication. AS L was
something of graphologist, l thought
that doubtless the youths calligraphy
might give clew to his character, but
shade of disappointment crossed my
face as I scrutinized the letter. 1t
was the stereotyped commercial hand
which is the bugbear of the handwrit-
ing expert, and which gives absolute
ly no clew to the writer's tendencies.
1 tossed the paper from me, and said:
s'That won't help us bit. Is the
young fellow here to-day?"
"Oh, yes. I couldsring for him,
and you could have look at him with
out his knowing your business. Shall
1 do sop
He rang the bell, and tall, thin
young fellow answered it. From a
sign made by Mr.. Pennythorpe Iknew
that this was the clerk in question,
and watched him narrowly while his
employer gave him some instructions
invented on the spur of the moment.
When he was gone the other turned to
i me.
"Well," he asked, "what do you
think of him?"
s'He looks simple, honest young
fellow" I returned, as I rose to go;
''but of course appearances are not
often reliable. My next move will be
to go down to the bank and interview
the cashier who paid the $500 over
the bank counter"
| Mr.. Pennythorpe rose and held out
his hand. ST am sure you will do
your best for all of us, he said, as !
took my leave.
| Arrived at the bank, I had to wait q
few moments before I could see the
manager, as he was engaged with q
customer. At length, however, the
visitor departed and 1 was rshered IL
to his room.
"Glad to see you, he said, heartily.
1T presume you have just come from
Mr.. Pennythorpe's Office, as he wrote
us that he was communicating with
Scotland Yard?"
eyes, I have seen Mr.. Penny
thorpe" I returned, "but the inter
view has elected very little. He seems
much agitated about the loss, al
though it is the banks, presume,
and not his"
-"Quite SO" returned the manager.
gloomily. ''As you know, the law
provides that in case of forgery the
bank and not the customer suffers. As
to the justice or injustice of that law
will not speak now. Our object is tt
find the culprit.
(which may be far more difficult
: than you may think, I said. 81 have
, always found cases of this kind thu
hardest to unravel. At least fifty pc
cent. of modern forgers are never
. brought to Justice.
ssLet us hope" he replied, quickly
''that this case will belong to the othe
, fifty"
l with all my heart" 1 said; "an'
now, if you will allow me, l. shoul'
, like to have chat with the cashie
3 who cashed the check in question
which T have brought with me iron
Mr.. Pennythorpe's Office.
The managers face fell. ut
l rather unfortunate, he said, "bu
: Wilson, the clerk who paid over tn
8 money, is laid up just now with in
: fuenza. Still, you might go down t
Q his house and interview him."
= "What is his address?" I asked
y promptly. ST will go there without
!, moments delay"
The clerk, it seemed, resided q
0 Chaplain, and few minutes later
= was Mailing cab outside the bank.
"Fern Villa, Melthorpe road, Clap
g hamr' / cried, and presently we wer
e bowling along in the direction OF tn
e southwestern suburb.
d After nearly three-quarters OF a
: hours drive, the cab turned into
shady street made up of tiny houses
:, Fern Villa being the last on the rigt
k hand side. Here I alighted and ran
& the bell, having previously told til
y cabman to await my return.
A small, white-faced woman, whol
r took to be Mrs. Wilson, opened th
I" door gingerly.
l. .'What can I do for you, sir?" sh
y asked, timidly.
ISIS Mr.. Wilson able to receive
II yisitor?" I asked. 81 have just CON
'e from the London & Suburban Banl
n the manager of which place tells m
y he is laid up. My business is impol
'e tant."
sThe doctor is upstairs now, sir,
4 she said, quietly, 'but he won't /
y long. Will you please walk in?"
I entered the tiny parlor and 8
1t down. Presently heard steps on Il
e. stairs, then slam Of the house doc
< which led me to think that the phys
clan had taken his leave. This WI
the cnse as Mrs Wilson appeared {