The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-02-21
The MISSING NAN ' INA !!!!:! A!'
aNGANaN1ANSNK A2HSNSz@aNAh

winch was the time alIeBeu ny youHS
Osborn as the date when he saw and
spoke to him.
But no one had seen him, or any
person particularly resembling him.
| This was a strange circumstance, as
/ at that hour the streets were never
! deserted, and the electric lights, one
of which cleaned at the corner not
| far from the bank, made 1t seem Inn
| possible that he could have approached
the bank, entered it, and gone away
| unseen.
But providing he had done so, what
I was his object and why did he neglect
| 10 go to his own home, only few RODS
| distant. Some people in Grovedaie dis
| credited Osborn's statement, while otn-
| ers averred that he must have been
| mistaken, though, without doubt, they
said, he thought he was correct in MAX
| ing it. On the other hand, many be-
| lieved that harm had come to the CASH
| Ter after he left the building, while the
| bank officials thought the matter quite
serious enough to call meeting and
look over the books, deposits and col
| laterals of the bank. People who had
/ money in the savings institution got
| wind of the matter, and the pass books
| began to come in so rapidly the Ill
rectors publicly announced that all
| should be attended to in due season, but
that no Irregularities had thus far been
| any. Mr.. Hamilton was expected IN
/ three days now, when, no doubt, mat
tiers would settle in their old place.
! The bank examiner. meanwhile, would
| in any case soon be there. For the
rest. Mr.. Hamilton's bondsmen, Carter
| Henderson and Deane, were response
| BILE men.
And thus the matter rested. if it
could be said to rest when half dozen
bank officials, aided by young Osborn.
were industriously turning over all the
bank books, looking up collaterals and
| deposits, which at one point showed
a difference of several thousand dol
| lars. But there were one or two eras-
ures in the balance sheets, difficult to
understand. and yet which might be
made to come right in the hands of
| the bank examiner. 1t was too soon to
| say anything wrong. Besides, Mr..
| Hamilton was possessed of ample
means, and would, no doubt, place
matters on q firm footing when he re-
! turned. The pass books which had
been examined had been found abso-
| lutely correct. Still, as L have said,
the officials, with anxious faces and
behind closed doors. pored over the
ledger and cash books from dawn till
| nightfall.
Constance knew nothing of all this
| stir, for there was no one to tell her.
/ Mrs. Fry was very indignant at what
! she deemed the unworthy course of
public feeling, and walked the whole
| length of Main street, with $40 bill in
| her hand, to be entered at the savings
| bank as a proof of her faith in the
institution, past and present.
IF he came at all it was to set some
matters right at the bank; that's my
! idee, an 1 don't care who knows
| it. And If harm come TO
him afterwards they'd better be
draggin' the river or settin' folks to
a-huntin' of m up, say" said she.
No reply came to the letter Mrs.
Hamilton had written, and the air by
| Tuesday night, which was just two
| weeks from the time Mr.. Hamilton left
| Grovedale, was rife with a hundred ru-
| mors. At the station when the train
whistled in. the platform was crowded
with expectant people. Mrs. Hamilton
with her children and Mr.. Carter were
all there, waiting, and trying to look
placid and cheerful, but to little pur-
pose. About twenty people alighted,
but Vane was not among them.
HE will come tomorrow, sure" said
Mr.. Garter, cheerfully. Come. Con-
| stance. See where you are stepping,
| Glare. For Heavens sake, look cheer
| full, Constance" Gin an undertone this
was said).
How can I look cheerful?" asked
Constance, drawing down her veil.
| ''Will he come tomorrow, Uncle car
ter?" asked Perley.
| II think So"
"Then what did the man at the sta
ton mean by saying he had gone Oft
with the green-headed woman?"
| "Green-headed woman?" what do you
mean, Perley?'
II don't know. That's what he said;
I heard him. Do people ever have
green hair?"
81 never heard of such a thing The
man was talking so to plague you"
mo, he was talking to another man
and 1 overheard him."
| You must have understood with your
elbows. Here's some money. Run into
Smiths and get some candy for your
self and Glare. Cheer up, Constance.
| Vane will be here tomorrow; if not,
| the day after, surely" he said, kindly,
| for he noticed that she was deadly pale.
But what could the boy have meant
about the green-haired woman?'
Doubtless it is known that a woman
with curiously tinted hair spoke to
Vane on the street the morning he
| went away. She was a stranger and
travelling north, but they left town
| about the same time"
"Oh, yes, that explains it. The man
was joking. l thought So"
| But Mr.. Hamilton did not return the
| next udy HOT lne SeCOnu, anu Dy THIS
| time his wife was thoroughly alarmed,
as he had never before overstayed his
| two weeks absence by so long a time.
| Besides, young Osborn's declaration
that he had returned to the bank in the
| interval made the matter assume a
/ very mysterious character.
The bank examiner was sent for, and
detective engaged to look after the
missing man. 1t must not be under
stood that he was regarded in the light
of an absconding cashier, for nothing
| yet had seemed to point seriously to
| this view of the matter. 1t was Mrs.
Hamilton who employed the detective,
and it was to her he came for orders
and to hear her version of the matter,
although he promised himself a talk
with the bank officials and mill part
| ners later.
Mrs. Hamilton was very much un-
nerved when Mr. Bruce was shown in
| to the sitting-room, and seeing this he
| did not Immediately open the business
of his call, but chatted pleasantly with
| Clare. who was just beginning to take
| music lessons, and was struggling with
| her scales"
Like music?" asked the detective,