The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-07-12
ar. A. Lane in New York Times

accompanied by beautiful girl dressed
in the newest summer fashion. They
mad esuch fine-looking pair that they
attracted more than passing attention.
standing in the lobby watching the
people were two young men. one bear
ing the distinct Wall street stamp, the
other evidently a stranger in the city
who was seeing the sights.
Note that couple" whispered the
Wall street youth to his friend.
There's a peculiar story in connection
with the man. The curtain will not go
mp for ten minutes yet. Come next
door and have drink and I'll tell it."
At the bar Of an adjoining cafe the
young man from Wall street told the
following tale:
THE man / called your attention to
is named-well, let US say Adams. That
viii do for story telling purposes. The
young woman with him is his Wife
They were married a few weeks ago
and have recently returned from a
trip abroad. He is connected with a
bank down town and holds a respon..
sible position. AT one time, though
but l am getting ahead of my story.
The bank directors, of which my IA
Their is one, met as usual to talk over
business matters about year ago. An
even dozen of them sat around the
table in President Wilson's office and
for an hour or so discussed several in
vestments, listened to the reports of
the various officers of the institution
and exchanged congratulations over
the banks prosperous condition. 1t
was nearly time for adjournment when
the president, referring to a letter
which he picked out of the mass of
documents on the table. said:
have here a, communication from
Mr.. Adams, the udying teller. In it he
asks for an increase of salary. giving
as his reasons the fact of his approach-
ing marriage and calling attention to
his years of faithful service. "
What salary does he get2' asked
Penheld. one of the richest men in the
board of directors. $3.50
Twenty-Five hundred dollars a
year. replied the president.
Seems to me that's enough for a
young man to marry on, spoke up
Blanchard, another millionaire. Why,
when / got married 1 did not have half
that salary
Other directors added dissenting
opinions and the president, passing the
letter over to the secretary told him
to reply to Adams that his request for
an increase of salary could not be
granted. Then the meeting adjourned
About a week later the bank was
suddenly placed in a precarious posi-
ton. There had been a failure in the
street, and the institution with which
Adams was connected was under a
heavy strain. To meet the expected
crisis 100000 in cash and negotiable
securities had been put aside as sort
of reserve fund. While the officials Of
the bank We're not exactly apprehen-
sive, III panic times it is hard to tell
just what is going to happen. A special
meeting of the directors had been called
to discuss the situation The confer
ence was interrupted by the entrance
of the cashier. He looked pale and
flustered. Apologizing TO all present
he made his way to the presidents
chair and whispered a few words.
IMPOSSIBLE almost shouted that
official. Every man in this bank has
been here for years. They are above
such a thing. There must be some
mistake.
a thorough search has been made,
replied the cashier, but no trace of the
package can be found
Addressing the assembled directors
who had been watching the scene, the
president said:
Gentlemen, a serious matter has
occurred. A package containing $780,,
600 in cash and securities is missing
from the safe. Under ordinary circum-
stances, such a loss as that would not
affect the bank. Just now it is a mat
ter of deep concern, as the street is
shaky and the news of the loss might
result in a run on the bank. With our
funds all tied up to protect invest
ments, who can answer for the re-
suit?
THE directors looked at one another
in despair. Finally one mustered up
energy to ask:
Is there any suspicion as to the
thief%
only Mr.. Adams and I had access
10 the vault replied the cashier.
When was the package put in, the
safer asked another director.
Yesterday afternoon, replied the
cashier 1t was there when 1 went
home, I am positive.
Was Mr.. Adams in the bank when
you left?'
Yes. He said he had some accounts
10 check up
When did you discover the loss?
About an hour ago. I saw the
package was missing and waited until
Mr.. Adams returned from his lunch to
ask him about it. He said he knew
nothing about il. I had a search made,
Dnl Altlt IL llO lldCt u IL
Better send fer Adams, suggested
Blanchard, who had been one of the
first to decry the advance Of salary to
the teller. The thought of that appli-
cation REQUIRED to all present. The
president touched an electric button
and a clerk appeared. Ask Mr.. Adams
10 come in here, said the president.
And as the clerk disappeared he added:
Gentlemen, whatever may transpire,
The news of the defalcation-if such it
should prove to be-must be kept a
secret for the time, at least. The repu-
tation Of the bank is at stake
He had scarcely finished speaking
when Adams entered. He bowed po-
litely to all present and waited to be
addressed.
MIR. Adams said the president
impressively. this bank has been
robbed of 100000 While there is no
suspicion attached to you directly,
everybody in the bank is more or less
involved AS you were the last person
10 be seen near the money, we have
called upon you to see if you can
throw any light on the matter
-" i can, sir said Adams calmly. I
took it
There was a gasp of astonishment
from all present. One of the directors.
VINO was snort anu StOUl, uSNelOpeu
symptoms of apopieXy. Blanchard
was the first to find his voice.
Send for policeman, he gasped
is this a practical joke. Mr.. Adj
ams?' asked the president, sternly.
II am perfectly serious. replied
Adams. The money was taken by me
at the close Of business last night. 1t
is secreted carefully in place known
only to myself, and / fiatter myself
that all the detectives in the country
cannot find it. Now, let me explain
my action he said, as the ,choleric
Blanchard was about to demand again