The Princeton union., 1900-06-21
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
What could it mean! My head swan
my breath came in gasps, the cold per
spiration broke out on my forehead ant
rolled down my face. For a few mo
menst I stood with every muscle par
alyzed. Then I sank down upon tht
ledge and covered my face with my
hands.
The porter, who had just come int
the vault in answer to my summons
approached me.
whats the matter, Mr.. Conway;
Are you sicl1?" he asked.
His question partially aroused me
Call the president and the treasurer
Mason. Quick! Tell them to come into
the vault" I 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, an6
soon the president and the treasure,
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 J
was saying. "It's 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.
II don't know, sir. left" I began,
but the president cut me short.
us 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 you?"
mo, indeed" I answered. "The
vault was locked at usual. 1 set the
timepiece for half past eight 1 ex-
pected to be on hand and get things in
shape for the examining committee"
"And you have just discovered the
loss?"
eyes, sir. I 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 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"
mo, sir. It was only to have an en-
plQye in the room after the timepiece
had run down, that I asked him to be
present"
"Can Jackson" Mr.. Perry requested
of the treasurer.
While that gentleman was gone on
his errand, Mr.. Perry and I made a
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
ooh, Mr.. Perry" cried, 'sas God hears
me, know nothing about this. Oh, be-
ieve me, I am Innocent"
mo one has accused you, Conway, so
far he replied, seriously, and with sig
nifcance.
"9ou cannot think had anything to
do with it, went on. |You know I
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; have never breathed a
figure of it to a living SOUL" answered,
earnestly.
''Who besides yourself knows how
to open the vault?"
''The bond teller and the receiving
teller" I replied.
"And they are away on their vaca-
tions, are they not?"
eyes, sir" I faltered, for I 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.