Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-02-01

care 10 call on me should be glad to see
YOU. Perhaps we may think OF some argu-
ments to make Miss Rand look at the case
differently. At any rate 1 agree with his
honor, your father. and am also with
you Yours.
ROBERT SrORROW."
The next day the judge was obliged
to go to distant city to act as referee
in a case.
The Rand case was almost purely
circumstantial one and hung on the
handwriting in which the false entries
had been made IN the books. The handL
writing experts all agreed that the en-
tries had been made by Rand; indeed,
the prisoner admitted as much.
He had pleaded mot guilty." and
when he admitted the identity of the
handwriting there was little left to do
for him. His counsel was completely
bafled by the admission and Rand re-
fused to explain it in any way.
It could never be found how Rand had
disposed of the sum he embezzled. In
fact, not a penny of the missing money
was ever found, and the bank charged
it to profit and loss.
Hooper, the president of the bank,
was in constant attendance at the trial,
and expressed great sorrow for Rand.
Shortly after the sentence Hooper left
the bank and went to another city,
where he engaged in a private banking
and brokerage business. 1t was in this
city that Judge Storrow was now sit
ting.
One night at his club the converse
ton drifted round to money and bank
ing. The judge made the remark that
he wished to procure letter of credit
for his niece, who was going abroad,
and some one suggested Hooper's house
as the best place to get it.
"By the way" said his adviser, "you
sentenced the cashier of the bank OF
which Hooper used to be president,
didn't your" The judge said he did.
"Well," continued the man, that's
the way some men treat those who have
been kind to them. My wife grew up in
the village where Hooper and Rand
were boys together. Rand was not in
very good circumstances, while HOPPE
had plenty of money. At that time
Hooper was quietly buying up great
deal of land through which he knew
railroad was projected. He let Rand in
on the ground floor, lent him money,
and then, when they realized, collected
Rand's notes, and in this way they both
made money, and Rand's share was
moderate fortune to man in his cir
cumstances. 1t wasn't many years be-
fore Rand had lost his money in fooE
ish investments. Then Hooper got him
the position of cashier in the bank
where he was president. 1t seems pref
ty tough for Rand to have stolen all
that money. The directors asked
Hooper for his resignation, of course,
and he was obliged to come here and
start fresh"
Now, this was part of the story that
the Judge had never heard before. 1t
little agreed with his personal impress
sions, which of course has nothing to
do with the claw and evidence" lie
had an idea that Rand was not that sort
of a man, and, curiously enough, he
had acquired an antipathy for Hooper.
Gradually he found himself forced tc
a conclusion for which there was little
reason. He somehow thought that
Hooper was the guilty man and Rand
the innocent. He had known a few
similar cases of quixotic gratitude.
The next day he called at the bank
ing house of Hooper G. Co. AS he was
leaving he met Hooper face to face
The man went white, and staggered
against the door jamb as if he had
been struck.
"Why-how dye do? Why-I didn't
expect to see you," he stammered
Anything we can do for you?"
The Judge looked him square in
the eve and said: mo, Mr.. Hooper
nothing you can do, unless-bu'
never mind now" and he gave him
a peculiar look under which Hooper
quailed.
The judge had not gone two blocks
before one of the clerks came rushing
after him and said Mr.. Hooper want
ed him to come back. He found Hoop
err striding the floor and mumbhng
to himself.
"My God, judge, do you know" he
cried.
81 know you are a scoundrel," the
Judge replied, surprised out Of his self
control
81 did it, Judge. 1 did it."
81 knew it," calmly replied tho
judge.
"I came to this city because
couldn't stand meeting you, and
have never had a happy or an cas-,
moment since. I've lived in constant
fear of apprehension"
The judge, stepping back, turned
the key in the lock and put it into
his pocket. Then he went to the tel
ephone, told police headquarters who
he was, and asked them to send hin
an inspector at the banking office.
"Now," he said, before either of III
leave this room you are going t.
write the whole -tory. You will sigr
1t in the presence of witnesses, and in
side of two weeks Rand will be a free
man. You will be arrested at once
but for two weeks, for my owl
reasons, you will continue to conduct
your business, and a headquarters
man will be always with you. Yot
can explain his presence in any way
that you like. Now sit down ant
Hooper shrank from the task, but
the judge insisted. When he had fin
ished and was ready to sign, there
came a tap at the door and a stranger
was ushered In. He locked the door
after him, and the judge had low
conversation with him. The comics
sion was duly signed and witnessed.
It yet forth Hooper's necessity to