The stayer. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1896-1903, 1901-12-12
CHAPTER MI.
THE BooKKEEPERs CONFESSION

THE BoOKKEEPER'S CONFESSION
Late that same evening Sturgis re-
turned to his lodgings. after a busy day
spent in working upon the knicker-
booker bank case. He was tired and he
was perplexed for, with all his untiag-
cling energy, his quick intelligence and
his plodding perseverance,. be had come
10 standstill IN his investigation. The
Evening Tempest had appeared with no
further mention of the Quinlan case,
and with only a pertunctory report of
the cab mystery, no attempt having
been made to connect the two, fer Stur-
gis would not consent TO publish his
evidence until he was sure of complete
success in his undertaking.
As he approached the house the re-
porter saw a light in his window, and
inferred that visitor was awaiting
his coming. 1t was Mr.. Dunlap, who,
pale and careworn, was striding nerv-
ously back and forth in the room, with
his hands behind his back and his head
bent forward upon his breast.
"Ah, there you are at last" ex-
claimed the banker, eagerly; ~ have
been waiting for you for over an hour"
Has something new turned up?"
asked Sturgis.
Yes; read that"
At the same time Dunlap handed the
reporter letter.
Let NE tell you about it first. After
leaving you this morning l went to the
morgue and saw the body. You were
right; it is Arbogast's. | had been
only half convinced by your evidence;
but ] now saw that you were probably
right in all your other inductions, and
/ became anxious TO learn something
definite concerning the amount of Ar
bogast's defalcation. AS ! could not
reach the books for some time. called
upon Mrs. Arbogast, thinking might
be able TO learn something from her.
You had not been to see her, had ycu?"
NO" answered Sturgis, grayely, II
did not think it likely she knew as
much about this matter as we do. and
| shrank from the ordeal OF revealing
TO her the fact OF her husbands crime
and tragic death. wished. al any rate,
TO exhaust all other means of obtain
ing information before resorting TO
this one"
''Of course, of course" said Dunlap.
somewhat impatiently; "the woman is
naturally 10 be pitied; but l could not
allow any sentimental consideration TO
stand in the way OF the discharge of
my duty TO our depositors."
What did you learn from herr"
asked the reporter.
"When / reached the house ihe 1aid
told me that Mrs. Arbogast had spent
the previous evening at her sisters
mouse in the country and had not yet
come back. ! was about to leave. in
tending TO return later in the evening,
when the lady herself arrived. Upon
learning who / was she seemed some
what surprised, but invited Ine in. As
we passed into the parlor the maid
handed her mistress a letter, stating
that it had come BIZ the mornings
mail. Mrs. Arbogast glanced at the
envelope. but did not open it. At my
first cautious questions she seemed to
be very much surprised. Arbogast had
announced TO her by telegram the pre-
vious day that he would be obliged to
go out of town for few days on bust
ness. lie allowed her to infer that he
would soon return, and that his busi-
ness was connected with the affairs OF
the bank She could not understand
how it happened that knew nothing
of this trip. But, said she, 4 have just
received a letter from him, which viii
doubtless explain natters.' She evil
IDENTIFY knew nothing of her husbands
peculation. Thereupon che opened the
envelope and took out this letter. i
observed her closely. AT the first
words | saw her cheeks blanch and a
look of agony pass over her features
as she instinctively pressed her hand to
her heart. ! knew then that the let
ter contained some important reyela-
tion, and / became anxious TO obtain
possession Of it. When she had done,
reuid see that she was laboring under
q strong emotion; but she controlled
herself. replaced the letter in its en-
velnpe and said, merely: This does
not tell me my husbands whereabouts;
but shall doubtless have further news
OF him in the course of few days /
saw that she was attempting TO shield
him in the suppositiou that he was still
alive. l therefore broke the news of
his death TO her as gently as could.
Abe first shock seemed 70 utterly up-