The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-09
Weighed in the Balance.
BY EDGAR MELTON COOLEY.

BY EDGAR MELTON CO0AEf. (copyright, 1902. by Daily Story Pub. coo
 Blakely went over his books with an earnest but troubled expression on his face. Save for one incandescent light that burned above his desk, the bank was in total darkness. A cold, drizzling rain was falling without. and pedestrians hurried past. their umbrellas carried low over their heads to protect them rom the raindrops, which the wind seemed de- termined to drive into their faces.
 Two of the other bank clerks, who had been working over time. had long since gone to their homes but the bookkeeper worked on quietly, anxiously. determln- edly. Hour after hour passed. the streets became almost deserted; one by one the stores were closed, and darker and black CT became the night without
 Again and again Blakely went over the books. checking the entries, footing the long columns of figures. But always did he reach the same result.
 There was no mistake, there could be no mistake. The cashier was short in his accounts. Twenty thousand dollars were mssing-twenty thousand dollars that had passed into the hands of the cashier of which his accounts showed no record. What had become Of the money? Was Manning a thief? Could it be possible he was an embezzleri
 The bookkeeper groaned aloud and stared blankly at the books before him. Manning an embezzlert Manning-Al- lene's father-a thief? God! 1t could not be.
 And yet-yet, it must be so. The fig ures told the awful tale too plainly to be doubted. Yes, Manning was. he must be. a defaulter! And he: Blakely,. alone of all the world. save Manning himself. knew the terrible truth.
 Why had the iron of fate made him the discoverer of the awful crime? For years-all of his life, aimost-he had fo- he haA Hy-r1 in hopes of some day making her his wife. With this one aim in view. he had ap- piled himself most earnestly to his du- ties in the bank and had risen, step by step. until now he was head bookkeeper with the position of assistant cashier almost within his grasp
 Much of his advancement he owed. he knew, to the influence of Manning. who was also a director of the institution. And this manifest interest in his welfare on the part of the cashier. had given the bookkeeper reasons to believe that Man ming would interpose no serious objec- tons. when Biakely should ask for Al lenes hand.
 Only last evening Allene and he had discussed. with so much mutual happi- ness. the future. and 1t had been agreed her father for his consent to their mar riage at his first opportunity.
 And now-oh. God! from his lips must come the accusation. from his hands
  Manning as feion. and forever ruin the life of Allene. If. indeed, it did not actually break her heart.
 He clasped his hands behind his head and leaned back in his chair. his face marked with the deep lines of anguish and despair. 4 long time he sat thus. staring helplessly at the pages of the books that seemed blurred and far off. steely glitter crept into his eyes. His cheeks flushed a trifie, and his lips moved, but no sound came from them.
 He might-yes, it was in his power. A few false entries in the books, cleverly made, would cover the shortage so ef- Actively, that even the most inquisitive inspector would scarcely detect the ir- regularities. Not only would he thus pro- would preserve Manning's property and save Allene from poverty and disgrace
 By George; he would Then if the worst came. he would assume the responsi- bility and take the consequences. Even that was preferable to breaking Allene's heart. he thought.
 Nervously. impulsively. he grasped his pen and dipped it in the ink. Then he hesitated.
 His face paled, his. eyes grew dim. but he pressed his lips together and threw down his pen.
 No. he could rot do it. He could no be dishonest, even. for Allene's sake. Hi. mother had taught him to be honest, tt be honorable, and he could not commit so grievous a sin. God had thrown a great responsibility upon him, and he would not shirk 1t. His duty was clear He would follow the dictates of his con- science. come what would.
 Carefully he made a, memorandum ot the discrepancy. he had discovered; Then he put away his books and, turning of the light, left the bank. #
 It was still raining and the wind was blowing a gale from the north. He did not turn in the direction of his home.