The Holly chieftain., 1898-06-10

He really seemed 70 Wing 70 do me-
the favor That could bnly reply: !:
THANK you very much. ell depend on
you. It will be doing msk great favor
indeed. I'll recIprocats sne day
Not another word. M Conway. on
the subject. Go and eIt(y your eif. :
Then be regarded me vita smile a. he
continued: II suppose itis Miss Nor
ley that you intend to Wit. Now, i
am just ON my way to - her father
at his once"
''Oh, you are acquainAed with the
Morleys, then7'' l remarked, somewhat
coldly, for did not reiisA his bringing
Florencs Aorley's name into the con-
versation.
-Only slightiy acquaintsd. am In
terested in few busisesa ventures
with Mr.. Morley Ny acqsaintapce ex-
tends no further. Jnclksea sald.
Ireturned to my lodginsf light heart
ed and happy at the proepect OF again
seeing the sweet girl whon I had love1
and worshiped for some dme In secrs.
So then Horace Jackssn was ~
quainted with Mr.. Morley. / could not
but feel greater respectfor jackson,
For Mr.. Morley was one Of the most I'M
fiuential and highly y-thousht-of men in
Philadelphia, and, besides was one Of
the trustees of the bank. jackson had
never boasted Of his rehtions with
such an influential man; Indeed. had
never even heard him mention tho fac.
before this.
had felt all along that it would be
presumptuous for me tolaspire to be
Florence Morley's husband. But this
evening she wus 90 gracious. 30 sweet
and lovable, that 1t was Impossible for
me to resist the impulse TO tell her OF
my love. To my intense happiness |
discovered that my humble self was by
no means an object of Indifference to
her.
Mr.. Morley was Of q dignified, COM
nanding presence, and rather ove-awe.i
me. It would be no easy matter to ask
his consent to marry his daughter
Florence was his only child, and all the
purposes of the fathers life seemed to
center In his motherless daughter. Still
knew l must approach him some day,
and there was comfort in the fact TINT
he had always met me in Z kindly. II
dignifed and reserved. manner. He
had never given me any cause to think
that my. attentions to his daughter
were obnoxious to him: but then those
attentions had been extended out OF
friendship only. How he would be af-
fected by the knowledge that was,
from this evening. the accepted lover Of
his daughter, ! could not surmisc.
could only hope that Florence's infiu.
ence, which was well aware was pow
erful with her father. might prevail.
The dear girls heart was mine at any
rate, for she had told me SO, and | be-
lieved her words.
After the evenings enjoyment with
drew to the hotel near the depot, where
I passed the rest of the night in happy
anticipations OF the future.
Tho train which took me back to the
city was few minutes late, and when /
arrived at the 6ank it lacked but ten
minutes of opening time.
Had been late, either the president
or the treasurer would have had to be
called upon to open the vault, and It Is
doubtful II either of them remem-
bered the combination. The bond telle,
and the head receiving teller shared
with Ine the knowledge Of the combina,
ton. but, az those two gentlemen were
away on their vacations at this time,
was the only one besides the officials
who could unlock the vault.
The heavy outside doors were soon
opened, and, summoning the porter to
help me carry out the cash for the
days business, entered the vault.
There were eight compartments in
side. the doors of which were provided
with combination locks.
One compartment was used for the
reserve currency. another for the re-
serve gold. and these two compartments
remained locked for long periods. The
remaining spaces were used for the
storage of various securities, United
States bonds, mortgages for loans on
real estate. state and municipal bonds,
and for the gold, silver and currency
required in the daily transactions. This
cash was carried out in trays and placed
In the tills In the bankiug-room every
morning.
While unlocking the compartment, /
noticed with surprise that TIE lock Of
the reserve currency compartment, just
at. one side. was on the last figureof the
combination. as though it had been a.
ready unlocked.
! grasped the iron handle. and the
door swung open. started back when
] looked in. What had come over me!
I rubbed my eyes and looked again.
The place was empty; nothing to be
seen but the two shelves and the painted
steel back and sides. OF the 100000.
the amount of the reserve, not one dol,
lar remained.
lTo ss coNTINuEp.1
THAT FOLDING BED.