The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-02-21
Continued from Last Sundays News.
CHAPTER Ill.
MATTERS AT THE
BANK.


CASHIERS MATTERS AT THE
BANK.
Constance was left a prey to anxious
thoughts while Tony went on toward
the mill building. a long, low-built
structure on the river-bank. At a dis
lance it resembled a mammoth bee
hive in more respects than one. Men
toiling hack and forth and the busy
hum of machinery were all. perhaps,
that suggested the similarity. but it
certainly existed.
Tony asked to see Mr.. Carter and
was directed to his Office. a comforta-
BILE enough apartment at the rear of
the building.
Il am up to my ears in business, -
he growled, as he recognized Tony, and
then he fell to sorting letters. What
90 you make of that, now?" holding
up the signature of one to Tony.
Barclay & Co.." he read.
Barclay and dirt! Why can't
man write instead of making tracks
like that?"
Mr.. Carter. have you seen Mr..
Hamilton, this morning-Or last night"'
Seen Mr.. HamiIton What do you
mean, young man? You ought to know
I haven't, without asking" he said ir-
ritably. Though Mr.. Carter was the
best natured of men, as was Mr.. Hen
derson. also. they reminded Tony of a
couple of hens ruffied by a breeze. They
could do nothing but cluck angrily at
this enforced attendance upon business
they usually managed to shirk.
Mr.. Hamilton was at the bank last
night, that's ALL" said Tony.
And never came near the mill! Look
here, Henderson," he called. ''Vane
has come. and we can get him to
straighten that consignment matter.
by George, I'm glad of it. You
know, Carter l said this morning he
was likely to walk in at any time
But it seems he hasn't" said Tony,
coolly, amused. in spite of his anxiety
at their readiness to shuttle off their
responsibilities. And then he told them
the facts as he had done to Mrs. Ham
ilton.
by George. That looks bad, don't it,
Carter"
Yes. where can he be now?"
That's the question. Perhaps he
came back after something, and didn't
want to trouble Constance by going
there. She. of course. would object to
his going away again, and he knows. it.
He knows very well, too, that his mys-
terious journeys vex her, as well they
might"
where does he go, Carter, every
year in May?"
You know as we'll as 1 do. only
hope there's no danger in it, that's all.
Seems as if there must be, or he would
tell Constance"
What! doesn't she know"
Not word, no more than you or l."
Not much like my wife, or she would
have had the secret before this. What
could he have wanted at the bank? By
George! I hope nothing happened to
him after he left it. Locked all right?"
looking at Tony.
yes, sir. Mr.. Hamilton has keys
of his own"
Mr.. Carter, your niece would like
TO have you step up to the house."
Worried, hey! Well, Henderson, you
Just fix that matter as we talked. 1t
seems we must get along without Vane
a while longer. / hope nothing has
happened to him, as you say. I'll just
go up to see Constance. If we only
knew the nature of his business away,
or his whereabouts, but we DON'T"
and with a worried air Mr.. Carter fol-
lowed Tony.
Constance was greatly excited when
he reached the house.
20 uncle, something dreadful has
happened to Vane!" she exclaimed, as
soon as she saw him.
"Oh, no, Constance. / guess not.
guess he had business at the bank.
something connected with the deposit
vault in Boston. He may have been
hurried, and didn't want to alarm you"
But after he had spoken to Tony,
uncle, he must have known l should
Worry"
Yes. so you would. Vane ought to
have thought of that. but men are in
considerate. Verx inconsiderate men
are. my dear"
''vane isn't. He would know should
worry. i ana sure something has hap
pened to him."
Cant you write anywhere to find
out?"
He gave me an address in Boston.
the same l always write to when he is
away, but it amounts to but little"
"Whv?"
Because. as Vane explained. he
might be miles away. though in the
course of a week a letter so addressed
was pretty sure to reach him"
AT all events, it will do no harm to
write"
Il will, at once: but he ought to be
home in a week, now. whether he was
at the bank last night or not.
Yes, he should. Let's see; you got
a letter from him last week."
No, and he usually writes from Bos-
ton the day after he arrives"
And you have heard nothing since
he went away?"
Nothing. / wondered at 1t, for ]
usually receive a line from him at least
four times in the two weeks he is alb
sent"
Constance. has it never struck you
as a strange matter that he should
go away alone every year in May and
stay two weeks?" Mr.. Carter looked
soberly into his niece's face as he ask
ed the question.
Eyes, ii seems very strange, very
mysterious, doubly so in the light of
present affairs"
well, a week will soon pass. and,
no doubt, Vane win return safe and
well. But let me advise you, Con-
stance. Question him about his jour
neys, where he goes. You have a right
to know"
II had decided to, uncle; for, as you
say, ! have the right to know"
AS / have said, the time did not
pass very quickly, for time lags to
hearts wearied or worried. Constance
dispatched her letter to the Boston ad-
dress, and inquiries were made in
Grovedale concerning Mr.. Hamilton's
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