Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1898-04-21
CHAPTER ILL.

CHAPTER III.
What could il mean, NV head swan.
my breath came in gasps. the cold per
SEPARATION broke out on my forehead and
rolled down my face. For a few mo-
menst / stood with every muscle par
alyxed. 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.
whats the matter, Mr.. Conway?
Arc 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-what can be the mat
ter?' the porter exclaimed.
sprang to my feet and confronted
him. I 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 busting in.
whats up, Conway" the president,
Mr.. Perry. asked. "Why, man alive,
how white YOU are!" he added, looking
sec-chinely at me.
'-Oh, sir, what shall ! do?" hardly
loou-;,c - x,,v rnoeterposiap uhaf \
was saying. Its gone! all gone!"
'What's 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.
Il don't know, sir. left" began,
but the president cut me short.
els it that that's gone? You mean
stolen? How could il be? Who could
have entered the vault? You did not
forget to lock up yesterday. did your"
he asked, with terrible earnestness.
NO, indeed" 1 answered. THE
vault was locked at usual. set the
timepiece for half past eight I ex-
pected to be on hand and get things in
shaPs Tor the examining committee"
And you have just discovered the
loss?"
YES, sir. I went out of town last
evening. and returned but few min
utes ago"
so then the lock was unprotected by
the timepiece a 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.
jackson! What has he to do with
the vault? He doesn't know the COM
bination. does hep"
NO, sir. II 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
While that gentleman was gone on
his erraud, Mr.. Perry and I made a
hasty search through the other COM
psrtments- We found some of them in
disorder. and. judging from appear
ances, many bonds missing.
The president was completely over
wheimed by this new discovery. He
stood gazing at me with look of the
greatest anguish on his white, drawn
face.
sOh, 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
ni1cance.
"you cannot think had anything 10
do with it," I went on. you know
have never betrayed any trust which ]
have held in this bank"
NY God! I don't know what TO think.
1 can't think. You never told anyone
the combination?" the president sud-
denly asked.
~Oh, no, no; have never breathed a
figure of ii to q living soul, I answered,
earnestly.
who besides yourself knows how
10 open the vault?"
The bond teller and the receiving
teller" ] replied.
~And they are away on their vaca'
lions, are they not?"
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
ill my promise" he answered. "Ar
aunt of mine over in Camden who has
been III Cor some time died last even,
ing. and, % am her sole relative an(
heir TO what little she possessed, ] wal
rompclled to 80 over to Camden last
s4~ht. ! expected TO return in time ts
l.<p ~, word with Mr.. Conway. But
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