Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-02-24
XXXVI.


 l xXXvI.
 At the bank down in the village at nine o'clock Mortimer, feeling the vir- tue of early effort, with the money of redemption in his pocket, entered into the resumption of his duties.
 To Mortimer's slight astonishment, presently, the cashier, MT. Lane, came out from his office, and speaking some l what carelessly, said: MT. Mortimer, you have that Porter note and money in charge. It is due to-day, isn't it?"
 Looking up, Mortimer saw Lanes eye fixed upon his face with piercing intensity. He flushed out of sheer nervousness.
 "Yes, sir,' he stammered, 'it is. I'll attend to 1t at once"
 "Ah!" there was peculiar drawl in the cashiers voice as he spoke; "ah, had communication from MT. Porter yesterday, asking if the note had been paid
 Mortimer felt his knees shake something was choking him.
 "I couldn't understand it, went on
 
 the money was here to meet the note, but my attention being called to the l matter, looked up the papers. I l found one thousand dollars missing!" He was looking steadily at Mortimer. | There was accusation, denunciation, abhorrence in the cashiers gaze. Mortimer did not speak. He was trying to think. His brain worked in cratic futility; not a sane, relevant | word rose to his lips. In an indistinct way he felt the dishonor that was ! Alan Porter's being given to him.
 The cashier waited for Mortimer to say something; then he spoke again with reproach in his voice. "T at once sent a messenger to ask | you to return from your home to clear up this matter; he discovered that you had not been there; that your mother was not i'll. May I ask where you were yesterday?" 'I was at Gravesend, sir-at the races" answered Mortimer, defantly. This speech broke the 1ethargy that was over him; his mind cleared-he commenced to think sanely.
 
 where the balance of MT. Perter's three thousand dollars 'is?"
 ''It's in the box"
 That's la-it is not" ..S .=
 ''It's in the box," repeated Mortimer. firmly. t >. we can soon settle that point | declared the cashier, going hurriedly into the vault and reappearing instant ly with the box in his hand. He opened it and stared at the pack age of bills that rose up when freed from the pressure of the lid. With nervous fingers he counted the con- tents -l s~., " '"The three thousand dollars is here, but these bills have been put in the box this morning; they were not there last night. It is not the money that was taken away, either. That was one lt bill, a thousand-dollar note; and here are"-he counted them again-ssix one hundreds and eight fifties, besides the original two of one thousand. You put those notes back, MT. Mortimer" " he said, tapping the desk with two fin- gers of the right hand. :. <s ... "I did'' F. ..
 And you took the money yesterday or the day before?"
 T did not"
 "Ah!" Lane repeated in a drier, more severe tone than he had used be- 1 fore. "Ah, if you did not steal the money, who did? And if you did not take 1t, why did you put it back?" "1 cant answer these questions" " answered the man he was grilling. ''The money to pay MT. Porter's note is here; and I fancy that is all the bank needs to concern itself about. It was intrusted to me, and now am prepared to turn it over.'' t Quite true; ah yes, quite true; but it might have been vastly different. | That is the point that most concerns the bank. Whoever took the money" and he bowed, must have needed a thousand dollars for-well some spec ulative purposes, perhaps. Good for tune has enabled some one to make good, and the money has been replaced" The. cashier straightened up, threw his head back and actually smiled. AS the other did not speak, Lane added: t WILL W1Ie HOT MI. CTau0 to come at once.
 Mortimer bowed his head in acaui- essence.
 You might remain at your desk,' the cashier said; 'if there is any mis- take we'll discover it, no doubt Alan Porter was late--he had not come yet. Mortimer waited in suffer- ing suspense for his appearance | What would come of it all? Now that the money was replaced, if the boy admitted his guilt to Crane, probably no further action would be taken, but he would be dishonored in the sight of his employer. Mortimer had sought to avert this; had not denounced Alan in the first instance; by good fortune had been able to replace the money; even now had refused to divulge the name of the thief. He was we'll aware of the mass of circumstantial evidence, the outcome of his own hurried ac- | tions, that pointed to himself as the guilty one. Better this than that he should denounce the boy. Dishonor 1 l.