Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-18

thing choking him. Had the devil of
mischance taken the salvation of Alan S
good name out of his hands-had his york
been for nothings?
II couldn't understand it." went on the
cashier. His voice sounded like a clangor
of a fire bell to the listening man. though it
was evenly modulated, cold and steady in
Its methodical precision. Il thought Por-
ter knew the money was here to meet the
note, said Lane, still speaking, but my
attention being called to the matter,
looked up the note. 1 found 81 900 missing"
lie was looking steadily at Mortimer; his
eyes were searching the young mans very
soul There was accusation, denunciation,
adherence. in the cashiers gaze
Mortimer did not speak. He was trying
TO think. His brain worked in erratic flu
tility. The slangy babbe of Old Bill thrust
! itself upon him; the roar of the race course
was in his ears deadening his brain; not a
sane. relevant word rose to his lips He
was like a child stricken by fear In an in
distinct way he felt the dishonor that was
Alan Porter's being given to him.
The cashier waited for Mortimer to saw
something, then he spoke again. with re-
proach in his voice.
Il at once sent a messenger To asl, Won
TO return from your home at Emerson IN
clear up this matter; he discovered that
you mad not been there: that your mother
was not i'll. May l ask where you were
yeSterday?'
Il was at Gavesend, sir-at the races 8"
answered Mortimer. defiantly.
This speech broke the lethargy that was
over him; his brain cleared he Commenced
to think sanely
Can you tell me-" proceeded Lane.
where the balance of Mr. Porter's 81 coo
is? F"''oo
It's in the box"
That's ait is not
It's in the box" repeated Mortimer
firmly. >''''N
We can soon settle that point" de-
ciared the cashier, going hurriedly into the
vault ana reappearing instantly with the
box in his hand
He opened it and stared at the package
of bills that rose up when freed from the
pressure of the lid.
With nervous fingers he counted the con-
tents.
Il beg your pardon" he exclaimed In y
quick, jerky way. "The $1,000 is here hnt
these bills have been put in the box this
morning. they were not there last night
1t is not the money that was taken aWav
either. That was one bil-a 81 900 note
and here are"-he counted them again
six $10Os and eight sos, besides the orig
inal two of $1,000. You put those notec
back, Mr.. Mortimer he said, tapping the
desk with two fingers of the right hand.
II did"
And you took the money yesterday or
the day before?"
Il did not
"Ahi' Lane repeated in a drier. moro
severe tone than he had used before. This
'ah' of the cashiers with its many grada
tons Of tone, had been most useful
weapon in his innumerable financial hat
ties. Is 81
1t could be made to- mean anything, ev-
erything; flung out at haphazard. It al
ways caught his opponent off guard, II
was a subtle thrust. and while one nom
dered over its possible meaning, Lane could
formulate in his MIND more decisive ex-
pressionS. =
All he repeated, adding. eff Won did
not steal the money, who did? And if Won
did not take it, why did you put it ba ok y,
With an expressive sweep of the hand
narrow head, topped by carefully brushed
gray hair, thrust forward IN the attitude Of
parrot about to STRIFE with it's beaK
Il can't answer those Questions" an
money to pay Mr. Porter's note is here. and
L fancy that is all the bark needs to cor
Germ itself about. 1t wassintrusted to me
and now I am prepared to- turn it, over
Quite true; ah, yes, quite true But it
might have been vastly different. That is
the point that most concerns the bank.
Whoever took the money" and he bowed
deprecatingly with ironical consideration
to Mortimer-''must have needed 81 900 for
wholesome speculative purpose, perhaps
Good fortune has enabled the someone n
make good and the money has been "a
placed"
The cashier Strengthened up, threw his
head back and actually Smiled. He had
scored lnguistically by clever manipula-
ton of the sentence He had made the
some one who had stolen the money the
some one who had replaced It, That was
accusation by inference If you like
AS the other did not speak, Lane added:
81 will wire for Mr.. Crane to come at once
This is a matter for investigation
Mortimer bowed his head in acquiescence
What could he say-what other stand could
the bank take?
'.You might remain at your DESK" the