The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-08-25

sprung the latch on the lattice door rui
her and returned 10 counting the pile
of bills In front of him.
She leaned ~ he counter beside hiy:.
and as he turned over the bills hs
glanced at her.
"Forty fiftles." he laughed. "Do you
make II the sameT Nettie nodded, and
no turned 10 the rest Of the money. 81.
lently she checked the other items on
the deposit slip, and az the boy turned
away from the window she picked up
one OF the bills.
what IN thatT she demanded, point.
ing to some glistening particles.
NibIo laughed.
That's from the foundry be ex-
planned. ''GFessoD has been buying
some steel"
How do you known she asked
"Greggon IN peculiar. He pays cash
for everything be gets. The foundry
sends him stun for the houses he Ia
building In the new section, and AZ the
last load IN dumped he sends over to
pay for II. He viii not use a bank, but
pays IN cash. and be never lets a bill
run overnight"
Does he buy muchY' she asked as
she fingered bill.
They deposit cash about three times
a week"
"And always with this thing onY'
TITS steel filings" explained Niblo.
"They are everywhere over at the foun.
dry" He slipped the bills In the drawer
and stuck the slip on the spindle.
Jack she said suddenly, count the
money again"
II just did" be said, In surprise, as
he opened the drawer. The other bills
had been banded, and II was an easy
matter TO get only the foundry deposit.
He ran the bills over rapidly, then
turned TO her with a puzzled express
sion.
What do you make III" he asked.
Thirty nine" she declared as she
picked up the pile OF bills and laid
them back In the drawer. Don't find
the other even II you can. Just walt.
As soon as you are out Of the bank
come over to George Castles"
All through the rest Of the afternoon
he wondered as he went about his
work. There was trouble over the
shortage. aud NibIo left the bank with
q warning that the next mistake would
be his last.
He went straight across the street
TO the dental Office In the postoffice
building, where NettIe had told him to
meet her. and In the darkness they
watched the interior OF the bank.
At last Benson came into the receIv-
Ing teller's pen and fumbled there a
moment. With little cry Nettie ceased
her vigil and went to the telephone.
Half an hour Inter Nettie. her father
and Niblo confronted Benson, still por-
ing over his books.
In his pocket was bill to which the
steel fiiings still chung. and Nettie led
the way to NIblo's compartment Pull
Ing out the drawer, she fumbled be-
meath for a second and drew out a
heavy magnet.
Il noticed that the filings were pasted
on the bills" she explained. THE
treasurer at the foundry Ia MFR. Ben
sons cousin. They arranged that de-
poslts should be made In the afternoon,
when the drawer was already full and
the bills would reach high. One bill
would stick to the magnet on account
OF the filings. The drawer is not locked
after the money Is taken out, and It
was easy when the watchman was in
another part Of the bank to slip In and
take 1t off. II had not tried to pick
speck Off the bill Jack showed me no
one would ever have guessed 1t. He
gained his end and the money as we'll"
A little later Jack left Nettie at the
gate, with the salary that goes with
the cashiers Job guess | can afford
to get married now," he said.
"For what else did fool BensonT
asked Nettie as she raised her lips for
kiss. 81 told you I'd do 1t, and l
did"