Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-01-26
AN
ATTEMPTED
THEFT
Translated from the French.

Pierre Gambert, a cashier in the
Rousseleau bank, and man high in
the confidence Of his superiors, had
brought home with him a pile of
notes and papers in order to arrange
He had never handled so large a
sum of money before, in a lump, and
the sight of it fascinated him as he
sorted and arranged the piles of
notes.
In the next room, his young wife
was putting the baby to sleep, little
boy of three years who seemed rather
ailing that night.
pierre" she called suddely I'm
afraid baby is going to be sick"
Isn't he asleep yet?" asked her
husband.
D Eyes, but he isn't sleeping quietly
and he seems hot and restless"
Don't worry, dear, it won't amount
to anything" Pierre soothingly.
regain control of himself and looked
there isn't anything the matter with
them"
She shook her head, uncontrolled
and for a long time they sat in silence
before the fire.
At last Pierre said hesitatingly:
Listen. Bertha, we will go away to.
morrow. 1t is no use putting 1t Off.
They have given me my vacation
now. We are both tired and a change
will do us good, besides, II will help
the little one. l shall be very busy
tomorrow and l can't be back for
lunch, so pack your trunk and meet
me at the station in time for the
three o'clock train. | will meet you
there"
He spoke in short, sharp sentences
why, where will we go?" asked
Berthe. astonished
Wherever we like. l have wanted
to go to Belgium for a long time;
suppose we go there. But in any
event, be sure and be on time"
Pierre did not sleep very much
that night The temptation to which
he had yielded in his thoughts kept
his eyes wide open. He had always
been scrupulously honest until then
and he knew that what he was about
to do would disgrace him forever in
the eyes Of his fellow men.
At first the idea had seemed not
only monstrous but impossible, but
the more he fingered the crisp notes
and listened to the tuneful clinking
of the gold in his bag the longing To
make IL his own grew upon him until
finally 1t was stronger than he.
The thought of his wife and child
strengthened his growing resolution
They would never know what he had
done. II the money were his, he
could take them both and go far away
where Berthes cheeks would grow
rosy again and the little son grow up
strong away from this crowded quar- !
ter whore disease seemed lurking in
every corner He had no right to
leave them go on, slowly dying, or
at least living stunted lives because
he had not money enough TO care |
better for them. Here was money, |
and to spare, and It was his for the !
taking.
His mind was made up. He would /
take the money and go away into Bel.
gium with his wife and child.
The next morning, Pierre could not
have been said to have been alive
He simply existed until the time came
when he found himself at the station
violently.
With a strong effort, he sought to
regain control OF himself and looked
around for his wife. He could not
see her. He walked hurridly about
the station. She was nowhere 10 be
seen. A feeling OF terror took poss.
assion of him; he ran TO the door and
looked out StH no one. The train
was due to leave in another moment
and he tried 10 call out, uttering her
name, but his parched lips could not
'rame the word. He ran once moro
along the side OF the train. Berthe
vas not there and a moment later
With a snort and a pun, the train
oiled out OF the station. Pierre
lashed frantically out into the street
Then a quieter feeling seized him,
le felt as II delivered from a terrible
nightmare that had . been crushing !
lin. 4.
But why had not his wife come?
What had happened? He hurried 20
each home, regardless OF everything
mt his wife and child.
AS he drew near, he saw that the
ront door was NOT omen and he al. }