The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-01-12

they think the success Of the 'staaI'
may have been due to some neglect Of
duty on his part"
Cummings laughed.
There never was a trustler man in
the world"
That's what everybody says" re-
turned the other, but Hargroye is so
worked up about it that he proposes to
resign"
Well" Cummings remarked slowly, I
81 can't see why he should. 1t would
look better to stay right where he is"
"That's true enough, Adjutant, but |
Hargrove is a sensitive chap"
Months rolled away; the robbery re-
manned a 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 limited regrets, for there
were few among them but trusted him;
but HargroYe 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 names 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 darkened by tall man
attired in fc"eign style, and carrying
small bag.
A stout clerk glanced up from his
books. Then he started with surprise.
Robert Hargroye, sure as liver he
exclaimed
''Hello. Martin! How are your"
The clerk arose and shook Har2rove's
extended hand cordially. After further
greetings, the new arrival asked
whether the President was within.
Eyes, he is" replied Martin, land
ne will be glad to see you. Step right
into his private Office"
For the ensuing ten or fifteen min
utes President Green was the most
astonislfed 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 unprecedent-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS what it is! So
that handsome Stanton Cummings was
at the bottom of the mystery?"
Eyes. through his influence over me
by means of his hypnotic powers. He
frequently called here during business
hours. 1 never suspected him until,
one day, when we happened to be alone.
in the cashiers Office he commenced to
exercise his strange influence. 1 strove
to resist him and call for help, but was
unable to do either. In a moment ]
had passed into the hypnotic state,
during which 1 was unconscious of all
that passed around me. When 1 re-
gained my senses 1 was alone. Look
ing about me L saw the door of the
private vault ajar. A 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
~ fra nad IN I'M
pose.
GAS you know, I shortly after re-
signed my position. 1 felt utterly dis
graced. One night the idea occurred to
me to verify my suspicious of Cum
mings. and compel him. if he proved to
be the thief, to relinquish the stolen
money. The next day learned that he
had disappeared Happily for me.
however. 1 gained clue to the direc-
ton in which he had gone and followed
him. / spent over six years in travel
before 1 finally tracked my man to his
hiding. IT was in the widest section
of Northwestern Australia. At Sydney
1 had learned that Cummings was with
party of gold-seekers, and that they
had struck it rich When 1 entered
his camp Cummings recognized me in
stantly. turned deathly pale and
showed so plainly that he was guilty
of what 1 had charged 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 were. 1t contains a full
equivalent in first class Australian Sc
curities for the fifty thousand dollars
taken by Stanton Cummings from your
vault. "-Waverley Magazine.