The Grit-advocate., 1903-10-30

they think the success Of the steal
may have been due TO some neglect of
duty on his part"
Cummings laughed.
There never was Il trustier man in
the world"
"That's what everybody says" re
turned the other, but Hargrovc is so
worked up about ii that he proposes to
resign
"Well,' Cummings remarked slowly,
Il can't see why he should. 1t would
look better to stay right where he is"
THAT'S true enough, Adjutant, but
HnrGrove is II sensitive chap"
Months rolled away; the robbery re-
manned mystery and the company of
Beaver street fame had parted with
their first assistant cashier. not SO
much at their desire as at that Of Har-
grove himself. The Beaver street mag
mates politely hinted regrets, for there
were few among them but tr:sted him;
but HargrOvc was determined. He
left the city and for years was heard Of
no more. Adjutant Cummings, too,
had made a change, having left the
army after paying up his debts. He
then sailed away for parts unknown.
The strong currents of metropolitan
life swept other namcs and topics of
interest along the social channels upon
which moved the life with which these
two had once been familiar, and soon
they were forgotten.
One cheerful day in October. seven
years after the disappearance of Cum
mings, the doors Of the L Trust
Company were darkencd by a tall man
attircd In fc"cign style, and carrying Il
small bag.
A stout clerk glanced up from his
books Then he started with surprise.
"RObert Hargrovc, sure rs live" he
exclaimed.
Hello, Martin! How are you:'
The clerk arose and shook HargrOve's
extended hand cordially. after further
greetings. the new arrival asked
whether the President was within.
Eyes, he is" replied Martin, ''and
he will be glad to see you. Step right
into his private Office
For the ensuing ten or fifteen min
utes President Greer was the most
astonished man in New York. Har-
groves sudden appearance had natur-
ally surprised him. but Hargrove's
story. told briefly and rapidly. was al
most too much for the genial gentle
man.
"Why bless my soul. young man."
he declared. 'it is simply unprecsdcnt-
-paralyzng-tha1's what it is! So
that handsome Stanton Cummings was
at the bottom of the mystery?'
"Yes, through his influences ever me
by means of his hypnotic powers. he
frequently called here during business
hours ! never suspected him until,
one day, when we happened to be alone
IN the cashiers office he commenced to
exercise his strange influence. l strove
to resist him and call for help, but was
unable to do either. In moment l
had passed into the hypnotic state.
during which I was unconscious of all
that passed around me. When l re-
gained my senses was alone. Look
L
private vault aiar. y hasty eXamina-
ton proved, TO my horror and dismay,
that fifty thousand dollars were miss
ing. Instantly it flashed upon me how
the money had been taken. but in the
absence of positive evidence, decided
to breathe my suspicious to no one and
bear upon my own shoulders whatever
n II, 10,
pose.
"As you know. I shortly after re-
signed my position. l felt utterly dis
graced One night the idea occurred to
me TO verify my suspiciOns OF Cum
mings. and compel him. If he proved to
be the thief, to rclinQuish the stolen
money. The next day I learned that he
had disappeared. Happily for me.
however. l gained clue to the dircc
ton in which he had gone and followed
him. l spent over six years In travel
before I finally tracked my man to his
hiding. 1t was in the widest section
of Northwestern Australia. At sydney
l had learned that Cummings was with
party Of gold seekers. and that they
had struck 1t rich When l entered
his camp Cummings recognized me In
stantly. turned deathIy pale and
showed so plainly that he was guilty
of what l had cherged him with that
l had no difficulty in making terms
with the rascal. This bag" Hargrove
concluded, handing his grip to Mr.
Green, Twill show how satisfactory
those terms We're. 1t contains full
equivalent in first class Australian Sc
curiticS for the fifty thousand dollars
taken by Stanton Cummings from your
vault"-Wavcrlcy Magazine.