Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1902-01-24

know how you knew OF it--Dut ne 5 sun
at home. Eve got to take back this
gold to him.
l was puzzled. If this note in my
pocket referred to the same Mr.. Nor
gan-and l could scarcely doubt that 1t
did-it proved this man to be speaking
falsely.
II should not pay this check, Free
man, until we have made some in
Quiries," l said.
',But the manager says it's all right"
my colleague replied.
Then | must go to him and explain.
But don't let penny go out until l re-
turn"
Old Fox looked up when I entered his
room.
II wanted to speak to you, sir, about
this four thousand. I have reason to
believe that Mr.. Morgan is not at
home"
"What?" shouted Fox, jumping up
from his chair. Then he sat down
again. "What of that? He has drawn
the check as usual to self or bearer.
What has his absence from home to do
with it?"
But could see that the old man was
uneasy.
81 have almost certain information
that Mr.. Morgan is at Barton-on-Sea,
yet his secretary declares that he has
not gone there"
"Ask him to come in and see me, and
you had better come, too, Clifford"
Rather to my disappointment Carru-
theirs showed no trepidation on receiv-
ing the portentous invitation to step
into the managers room.
"Mr. Clifford informs me that Mr..
Morgan is not at home-that he Is gone
to Barton. Is that soY'
81 didn't know that Mr.. Clifford had
any knowledge of my employers move
ments. But 1 can safely assure you
that, although there was some talk of
Mr.. Morgan's going to the seaside, he
was unable, through stress Of business,
to start"
The manager looked at me.
"My information is" l replied, that
Mr. Morgan has gone, and must advise
Mr.. Fox to make further inquiries be-
fore he cashes that check"
"By all MEANS" returned Carruthers,
composedly. "What should advise is
that you wire to Mr.. Morgan's house
and inquire If he be at home, while
stay here"
I could see that the managers unbe-
lief was giving way.
"I'm afraid you have lighted on q
mares nest, Clifford" he whispered.
"But you had better go and wire at
once. Unfortunately, Mr.. Morgan is
rather peppery, and l fear he won't be
pleased with the delay
1 hurried out and discharged my mis-
sion with dispatch. In less than an
hour the reply was received. took it
in to Mr.. Fox.
"Am at home. Pressed for money"
Carruthers looked up in triumph at
me as the manager read out this mes
sage.
81 think we need not delay any long
er, Mr.. Clifford" the manager said,
very coldly. II must apologize to you,
sir, for having detained you so long.
You must pardon our cashiers zeal; we
bankers have been much troubled of
late by clever forgeries, and Mr.. Cliff
ford has been, perhaps, little too sus-
picious."
Carruthers smiled blandly.
"Oh, it's quite correct" he said; you
can't be too careful, and l don't doubt
that when l explain matters to Mr..
Morgan he will forgive the delay-al-
though l had express orders to return
as quickly as possible"
l saw that 1 had nearly lost the
game.
"Unless there is another Mr.. Morgan
with another secretary of the name of
Carruthers. l must still maintain, Mr..
Fox, that this check has not been prop
erly obtained"
But this Is childish" the manager
angrily cried. "Are you mad?' he con-
tinued, taking me aside. II don't even
know on what grounds you base your
suspicious, but do remember that Mr..
Morgan is one of our best customers,
that the signature is undisputable-"
'And that Mr. Morgan is at Barton
on-Sea, whilst this man asserts he is at
home"
''But the telegram?"
"Is also cooked" l retorted, in des-
peration, for this part of the business |
could not find any other explanation.
make him write n receipt" | finally
urged land compare his signature with
this, and l pulled out the letter and
showed 1t TO the manager.
Very unwillingly Mr.. Fox did as
suggested. Pretending that he would
hear nothing more from me, he asked
Carruthers for receipt, and in another
minute was comparing the two sigma
lures.
His face changed.
"By Heaven, Clifford, but you may
be right These signatures are exactly