The stayer. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1896-1903, 1901-11-28


"By neither. For many years the
work was done by one or the other of
the members of the firm; but since
their business has grown to its present
proportions Messrs. Murray and Scott
are nolongerahlc tot give personal atten-
ton to their customers. For the last
two years they have sent us trusted
employee, Mr.. Chatham-Thomas Chat
ham,"
YES" said Sturgis, who was appar-
emily wool-gathering.
A silence of several minutes followed,
during which the reporter thought
fully inspected his collection of micro
scopic odds and ends, while Dunlap
beat the devils tattoo upon the desk.
Presently the reporter spoke again:
do you know young man, about
five feet eight inches tall, with fiery red
hair. who affects somewhat loud
clothes?"
"Why, that is Thomas Chatham. You
know him, then?"
~? No; l never heard of him be-
fore"
Then, how on earth do you
know"
HE has been here recently
"Yes; / told you he had been here last
week; but"
mo; / mean he was here yesterday
afternoon" interrupted the reporter.
Not TO my knowledge" said Dunlap,
incredulously.
II thought as much" Sturgis replied,
quietly; but he was here, for all that
The banker looked perplexed.
"Now, another thing" continued
| Sturgis. II notice in the bookkeepers'
department an announcement to the
effect that on January 2-that is to
say, Tomorrow new system of book
keeping will be adopted. Would this
be such as to bring to light any ir-
regularities that might exist in the
books?"
ayes: it involves the transfer of each
bookkeeper every month to different
set of books. But l fail to see the drift
| of your questions
"You will see it presently. Have you
examined the safes this morning."
"Yes; one of the first things | did,
after you allowed me to move at all,
was to examine the cash safe"
"Ah, yes; the cash safe. And you
found its contents intact?"
Perfectly" said the banker, tri'
umphantly.
But there is also safe in the book
keepers department"
at contains nothing but the books,
which of course would have no value
to anyone but ourselves"
"You have not examined this safe?'
"Why. no; l."
IF you have no objection. / should
| like to see the interior of that safe. !
suppose, of course, you know the COM
bination OF that as well as that Of the
cash safe?"
"Oh, yes; the combinations are
changed every Saturday, and of course
1 am always informed of the new COM
bination."
"Then may / examine the bookkeep-
| ers' safe?"
II see no objection to your doing so, II
| you like"
Dunlap seemed surprised at the re-
porter's request; but he rose and pro-
, ceeded to the bookkeepers' department
| Sturgis followed an instant later.
When the reporter came within sight
of the safe, Dunlap was closely inspect
ing the lock. Presently he uttered an
exclamation Of surprise.
"What is it?' asked Sturgis.
81 don't understand it," said Dunlap
81 cannot open the safe. The lock
seems all right; but"
"Perhaps the combination has been
changed"
apparently it has" admitted the
banker; "but how came it to be changed
on week day, and without my knowl
edge?"
THAT is rather significant, isn't it.?
suggested the reporter.
Significant? What do you meanT
exclaimed Dunlap, excitedly.
~ mean that Arbogast was a de
faulter. What his system Of defraud