The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-09-10

toner.
whisky" said Charlie to the bar.
tender who came forward to receive
his order. It was placed before him,
and the man watched him as he shak'
inrly poured some water into the glass
Fine weather" said the bar attend
ant. trying to open conversation.
Yes: a trifie chilly" replied Charlie
Everybody now Is talking about
| the bank robbery"
Charlie made no answer.
1T is a tremendous lot Of money to
lose, isn't it-$I3.OOOT
II struck Charlie rather unpleasantly
| that this had been a reflection oe big
own. Why should everybody talk OF
this bank robbery. especially to-nighti
He hastily swallowed the rest II his
drink, said he was in a hurry. and
went out into the street again.
Charlie stood for some time in deep
thought upon the curb. Then he
turned suddenly. hailed a passing cab.
and bidding the driver hasten be drove
rapidly INTO the SuDurDS.
He alighted before large gray stone
mansion.
"Is Mr.. Wentworth in?" be asked
Of the footman. Mr.. Wentworth was
president Of the Imperial Bank.
IL beg you to pardon me for disturb.
ing you at this time. Mr. Wentworth"
said Charlie when Mr.. Wentworth met
him in the library; "but felt that
could not rest until had seen you"
what Is IT." asked Mr.. Wentworth.
q trIfie alarmed. HAS anything gone
w1ongT
"No. sir. nothing has gone wrong
yet" replied the cashier. And then he
hesitated. wondering how he could so
on. "You see." he finally broke out.
II was scared when read the papers
this morning. There have been SO
many defaulters lately. and the I'm
perial might be the next to suffer.
You can't tell whom to trust" The
words almost burned his mouth as he
said them. $50 after hours to-day l.
I made little experiment. I suggest.
ed to the receiving teller that he and
I should take-take money from our
bank. And he agreed to. We've made
a lot OF plans already. OF course. 1t
was purely an-an experiment on my
part" he added with q nervous little
laugh.
The president looked grave.
"You say he Is willing to do It? I
had a better opinion than that OF
Allen"
well. we can't take any action on
what you have told me-" said Mr..
Wentworth. after considerable ST.
lence. "All We can do at present Is TO
watch closely. I depend upon your
vigilance. Mr.. Morton. I thank you
for telling me, and will see that your
attention to duty Is not overlooked"
He bowed the cashier graciously out
of the room.
Scarcely half an hour after Charley's
departure Fred, Allen was shown into
the library.
"Mr. Wentworth" he said. II have
come to tell you something terrible
that happened this afternoon. The
cashier ut our bank. Charlie Morton.
proposed to NE that we rob the bank.
OF course. didn't scare him BY re-
fusing. but accepted his proposal to
draw him out and tell you, 80 that
you could protect yourself" And he
laughed nervous little laugh.
You astonish me-" said Mr.. Went
worth. ~ believed Morton fully trust
worthy"
I'VE have been friends long time,
and I never suspected him capable Of
such thing until to-day"
"Well." said Mr.. Wentworth, sup
pressing q smile as be repeated him
self. I'VE can't very we'll do anything
about the matter as 1t stands now.
About all that we can do Is to watch
carefully. depend upon you to draw
Morton out and to report any new de-
velopments to me. Be assured that
your fidelity will not be allowed to 90
unrewarded."
When he was alone again Mr.. Went.
worth leaned back in his chair and
laughed heartily.
At the directors meeting next day an
wore anxious faces. except the presI-
dent. All were considerably fright
ened by the United National embezzle-
ment the third In the city within six
months. The president listened with
smile to the expression Of their fears
Then he told them Of the two who
had called on him the evening before.
$50 we have two honest men watch
Ing each other and every one else like
hawks. Why" he said. laughing. Its
safer than any patent lock ever in.
vented"
The others Joined In his laugh; but
their faces became grave again about
a month later. when the Imperial
Bank suddenly found itself poorer by
one cashier. one receiving teller and
nearly sixty thousand dollars.-New
York News.
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