The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-12
THE EMBEZZLER AND
 THE BILLIARD SHARK
BY WILLIAM HAMILTON OSBORNE.

 ----s-- BY WILLIAM HAMILTON OSBORNE. Copyright, 1904. Daily Story Pub. co.)I
 Old Peterkins, the President of the Monroc National Bank, had always been an easy mark. Most people had known 1t all along. Now he had come to the point where he felt that it was up to him to admit the fact himself. The easiness came into play when he selected new men as runners for the bank. Monroe was not a small place, and it was difficult to look up the rec ord of man who applied for appoint ment, but most people would have tak-' en bit more pains than Peterkins. He depended too much on the looks of the applicants. The cashier. a hard-mouth- ed chap, had at times recommended new men, and they had turned out we'll. But ten years ago Birdseye, who had started as runner and whose honest looks had impressed Peterkins: Birds eye. after having worked up to a fair position. made of with considerable amount of cash. Littlefeld, who was another of the old mans selections. had petered out few years later by a systematic doctoring of the books, and mad gone to States prison for 1t. And now, here was young Twitchell. Young Twitchell had been wild as a boy; had been sent to a military acad- emy by his people; had been wild there. though they never knew 1t; had come home and had started out on a career of wildness all over again. Ills people, believing that all he wanted was little steadying, sent him down to the old man, the President, with out acquainting that easy gentleman with all the fact.
 Young TwitchelI had been in the bank a year. Most of his acquaintances knew he was fast in a foolish way. Twitchell himself was merely trying to perfect himself fn a few worldly accompiishmtn One of these was billiards; but he practiced many others that were not half SO respectable. Old Peterkins never knew that there was anything the matter with him. He thought he was all right
 And now Peterkins had sent Twitch- ell to New York to get $1o,000 in cur rency. Twitchell had gone and had not returned. He had skipped.
 Fortunately for Old Peterkins no one knew that Twitcheil had been sent. But. nevertheless. when Twitch- ell did not turn up. the tellers wfnked to each other and informed each other that another of Peterkin's ''babfes" had gone wrong. Dut if they had known about the ten thousand 1t would have made it all the worse. Peterkins de- termined that no one should ever know about that
 He sent for Colehammer of the se- cret service. Colehammer was a New York man.
 "Tf he's nifty" said Colehammer to Peterkins. he'll stay right there in New York-inding man therc is like hunting for needle in a haystack But if he gets boozy or cuts a swath can get him. I'll do as you say and as soon as hear anything I'll let you know"
 Young Twitchell. a gentleman who'll ly devoid of moral consciousness. had staid in New York He was pretty young. and pretty bad, and very fool ish. but he was bound to have the time of his life He hadn't got very far along in the spending line when one night he found himself inside a bil- Hard room in the heart of the Tender loin. His face was a bit flushed. He thought he'd try a game. He tried one with one of the on1ookers and the onlooked had him skinned to death in no time. Twitchel1 concluded that they knew more about billiards in New York than they did fin Monroe For. some time he stood and watched Fi- nally a couple of men strolIed in and started a game that drew crowd. One of the players. an honest looking. lit- tie. wiry fellow, won the first game hands down. Some money passed It was only half a dollar. The loser brfs- tied with defiance.
 Here" he said, tell you what youll do with me. I'll play for s25. was only playing with you that time"
 The winner. the wiry little man. snorted. Done" he cried. He looked hastily around upon the faces about him.
 Say young fellow" he said to "rin strapped" He whis- pered 1t. But. by George. here's chance for you to make some hnoney. can beat that geezer You saN, me do