The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-10-18

his departure so that it should coin
eide with hat of Dunlap. DR.. Thurs
ton had followed his friends lead.
care you going down to the bank
this evening. Mr.. Dunlap?" asked
Sturgis, as the trio faced the bleak
wind.
81? No. Why should II" inquired
the banker, in apparent surprise.
81 see no particular reason why
you should" replied the reporter. Ell
to-day were a banking day, there
would be no time to lose. But since
it is New Years day, there is little,
if any, chance of the trail being dis
turbed; and it will be much easier
to find it in broad daylight than by
gaslight. Our friends of the central
office are usually pretty clever in dis
covering at least the more evident
clews in a case of this sort, even when
they have not the ability to correct
ly interpret them. And since they
have completely failed in their search
tonight, we must anticipate a more
than ordinarily difficult puzzle"
"Why, Mr.. S%turgis," said Dunlap,
somewhat ~anxiously. "You talk as
though you really believed that some
mysterious crime has been committed
at the bank"
II do not know enough about the
case as yet to advance any positive
belief in the matter" said Sturgis;
"but if we assume as correct the cir
cumstances related in the article
which DR.. Murdoch read to us this
evening, they certainly present an
extraordinary aspect"
Dunlap reflected for an instant.
"Still, the fact that our cashier
found everything in good order at the
bank is in itself completely reassur-
ing" he said, m%usingly.
"Very likely" assented Sturgis. "It
is quite possible that from a bankers
point of view the problem is wholly
devoid of interest; but from a de-
tective's standpoint it appears to be
full of promising features. There
fore, whether or not you intend to
look farther into the matter yourself,
l beg you will at least authorize me
to make a survey of the field by day
light in the morning"
Dunlap looked anything but pleased
as the reporter spoke these words.
He thought before replying.
Frankly, Mr.. Sturgis," he said, at
length, with studied courtesy, 81 will
not conceal the fact hat what you
ask places me in a rather awkward
position. You are a friend of my
friend Sprague, and my personal in
tercourse with you this evening has
been pleasant enough to make me
hope that, in the future, [ may be
so fortunate as to include you in my
w circle of acquaintance. There
fore, on personal grounds, it would
give me great pleasure to grant your
request. But. on the other hand, you
and it is with banks as with nations
happy that which has no history.
Capital is proverbially timid, you
know"
81 see,' said Sturgis; you fear that
the reputation of the Knickerbocker
bank may suffer if the mystery of
the pistol shots is solved"
"No, no., my dear sir; not al all,
not at all. You quite misunderstood
me- replied the banker, with just a
shade of warmth. SIT is not a ques-
ton of the banks credit exactly,
since there has been neither robbery
o defalcation; but depositors do not
lilo 70 ~ +la -o-,o ~ +bo;, 1>or1,
mentioned in the newspapers; they
take fright at once. Depositors are
most unreasonable beings, Mr.. Stur-
gis; they are liable to become panic
stricken on the most insignificant prov
ocation; and then they run amuck
like mad sheep. The Knickerbocker
bank does not fear any run that
might ever be made upon it. It's
credit stands on too secure a founda-
ton for that. But nevertheless a run
on a bank is expensive, Mr.. Sturgis,
very expensive"
"The banks affairs being in so sat
isfactory a condition." observed the
reporter, cit seems to me that what
ever harm publicity is likely to do
q dllCddS OCCu uOllc. liz VI
tions of your depositors are now at
work sapping the foundation of the
Knickerbocker bank. If the truth
cannot injure it's credit, it can only
strengthen it; and to withhold the
truth under the circumstances is to
invite suspicion"
Dunlap did not appear to like the
turn the conversation was taking.
He walked along in silence for a few
minutes, irresolute. At length he
seemed to make up his mind.
perhaps you are right after all,
Mr.. Sturgis. At any rate we have
nothing to conceal from the public.
If you will be at the bank tomorrow
morning at nine o'clock, / shall be
pleased to meet you there"
Sturgis nodded his acquiescence.
well, gentlemen, here is my
street." continued the banker. Good
evening. good evening"
And he was Off
whittier are you bound now,
Thurston?" asked the reporter, as the