The Savannah morning news., 1904-04-24

result only was known; and as ii would
have awakened great excitement 10
have known that an indictment had
been found against Vane Hamilton, 1t
occasioned equal stir to learn that
none had been brought
And the tongues were set a-wagging
If the cashier had been set at liberty,
then il must be he was reckoned uu-
accountable for his embezzlement, or
some other person had made use of
his name or influence to gain posses
sion of the notes and obtained
them, they said. The grand jury
might consider there was lack of
grounds for indictment, but it would,
in their opinion, have been much bet
ter to let the case come to trial. Bet
ter for him, better for the town. If
insane at one time, what was to pre-
vent a recurrence of mental disease?
What was to prevent him from walk
ing off some night with the joint
funds of the mill company? Nothing.
But speculation was set at rest in this
direction when it became known that
MIR. Hamilton declined to handle any
large sums of money, leaving such
matters to his partners for the pres
ent.
1t must not be supposed these sur
misses came from Mr.. Hamilton's
friends or intimates. Far otherwise.
They We're much gratified at the turn
of affairs, and expressed themselves
so to him.
II am glad, too-very glad" said
he, when the bank president so eX-
pressed himself. THE matter was be-
ginning to wear upon me-"
Yes, you do look thinner than when
you returned. You must not work too
hard.p
mo, 1 shall try to keep from that.
1 handle no money nor notes, though"
he said, smiling gravely! Il would not
risk it. 1t is a terrible thing, Mr..
Hartwell, to feel hanging over you al
ways the sword of impending insanity,
or something as bad"
1T is, it is, Mr. Hamilton" said
the president, seriously; but for that
some of the bank directors'-and he
paused in an embarrassed manner.
II know, Mr.. Hartwell. l was told
of it, and it did me good to learn
that they would have liked me in my
olden capacity, some of them. But the
others were wiser. l could not have
accepted had the wish been unani-
nous, as it was not. Still, do you
know, Mr.. Hartwell, l doubt that l
ever presented that note to Low. for
the reasons stated at the examina-
ton"
You think it was some other man?"
II do, and so must have thought
the grand jury
Gould 1t have been Ashley, do you
Think"
1.-THE man is dead and nothing can
ever be proved, but l wonder that Low
and Hull are retained without an eX-
animation"
why, you don't supect Lowe"
mo; but l do not think he is care
f,,I h1 r1E
l would not make the statement in
public. No; 1 think Low is honest,
but how he could have been deceived
so easily is a wonder"
why, ne says you appeared natu-
raj, and so does Tony, you know"
TONY could not judge in a moment
of time even if it were myself, which
1 do not believe. Well, it is dark
matter; l only hope time will explain
it,"
1T worries you?"
"It does: but for this doubt always
with me, I should feel perfectly WELL
and my old self in every particular
l could accept the fact of my loss of
memory for awhile with perfect equa-
nimity But not to know actually
whether l presented these notes, or
some one else in my name, is source
of almost constant worry
on nave repair the IilOieS' ieI thdt
suffice you"
Il can't. 1t is robbing my wife and
| children if some one else took the
money. In that case 1 ought not to
| have paid it, But there was no other
course open. Now, at last, / can look
men in the face"
Your position is a most unusual
one, Mr.. Hamilton, but you have act
ed nobly. All may be cleared up some
time. 1t might have been Ashley
Bruce, 1 see, thinks it was"
Does he? 1 wish he could prove
it. 1t would relieve me of this wear
ing anxiety"
Detective Swan at one time, !
fancy, thought Primus Edes might be
Ashley"
"Primus Edes! Doesn't he work III
our mill?"
Yes. Oh, he gave up the idea long
ago; no grounds at all for thinking
so. Edes isn't a fool. but he isn't w
to the average"
IAN excellent machinist, though, they
tell me-
Haven't YOU noticed him?"
i"Only at a distance"
"Well, he is a strange man." said
the bank president, walking away and
wondering whether Hamilton would
ever hear. what had been said about
Edes's devotion to his wife. That he
had not yet, was evident by his total
lack of interest in him. Edes himself
looked very Respondent since the CASH
ier's return. or so it was said. Mr..
Hartwell was superior to gossip when
passing through the ordinary chan
nels. but told to him by his sweet
voiced wife it was a different matter
Her information was usually gained
through Mrs. Taylor. Mrs. Taylor
from her hired girl, whose sister lived
near the Frys. But no doubt it was
correct enough.
such a communicating person
What can Mrs. Hamilton see in him!
said Mrs Hartwell the day he talked
with the -0-os sheer.
"It is strange! I hope Hamilton will
not hear of it. He has enough to bear
without that"
Mrs. Hamilton is more prudent
since her husbands return. She does
not go to the Frys now, so Mrs. Tay-
lor says"
81 am glad of that. Perhaps that
is the reason Edes looks so doleful. If
he does"
"Oh, he does. There is no question
about that. Mrs. Taylor's hired girls
sister Mrs. Green, who lives next door
to Mrs. Fry. says she told Mrs. Fry
herself about Mr.. Hamilton's return
when Edes was combing his hair by
the little glass in the kitchen. They
were so excited at first that they did