The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-11-27
John Selden'sD
-Asfs-s-1i--fEa-Es-s
copyright, 1906. by c. n. H,rt1

copyright. 1906 by c. H. Hirt.1
For ten years, or from the time he
was twenty to thirty, John Selden had
been the cashier of Henderson's pri-
vate bank. People said it was a very
responsible place for a young man Of
twenty. and some shook their heads
and predicted that temptation would
get the better Of him, but Henderson
smiled at their fears and replied:
John has been a clerk here for four
years. l have tried him out over and
over. There isn't dishonest hair in
his head, and you couldn't put money
enough before him to tempt him to
Steal.''
Young Selden did not marry. He had
no vices. He was pleasant and friendly
with all, but it was seldom that he
went out of an evening. At the bank
he was called "Clockwork." A more
diligent, reliable man never gave his
services to another. At twenty-five he
had the banking business at his fingers
| ends. Between that age and thirty he
had as many as ten offers from other
financial institutions. In the ten years
his salary was increased five times.
During these ten years. as Selden him.
self stated, he was never under tempta-
ton for a moment
Then came a horrible temptation,
After awhile it began to tell on his
health. The banker suggested a vaca-
ton. 1t was then that the temptation
triumphed
After being trailed for a month and
after a dozen almost sleepless nights,
John Selden agreed to do as the un-
known wished. He set out without
loss Of time and with feverish anxiety.
and it seemed as if Satan aided him.
He packed up 100000 worth Of bonds
and cash after banking hours, walked
out Of the town with a satchel without
being particularly remarked and when
SIX miles away took train. He had
made no plans as to where he should
go. Where he did 90 was to a village
forty miles away. He was i'll when he
got OF the train and Ill for month at
the hotel. When he recovered he stay.
ed a. He was Quiet, minded his own
affAirs and somehow the villagers came
to believe that he was q detective.
II % happened that Banker Hender.
son WIS the first to discover his loss.
No ono could have taken the money but
hfs trusted cashier. He was stunned
for 4 time by the blow. Then he made
up his mind to certain thing, and not
word regarding the missing money
passed his lips. He said that Selden
had gone on vacation. He spoke al
ways In his praise. 1t put him tC
great straits to make the shortage
good, but he accomplished it, and not a
breath Of suspicion was raised against
the cashier. The money was gone and
tho cashier was gone, but the banker
would not believe that he had been
mistaken in Selden. What he did was
to call in private detective, sAear him
to secrecy forever and then send him
out on search. There was no clew
whatever to work on. Selden might
have gone north, east, south or west.
It was like hunting for a needle in a
haystack.
The detective had to make a short
journey to see a relative who was ill.
He had been about the bank for a
week. Selden had left behind him a
little dog-an animal he had had for
four years. Strangely enough, the dog
took to the detective at once and fol
lowed him everywhere and acknowl
edged him as master. Finding the
canine at his heels at the depot, the
detective lifted him up and took him
along. By and by he got off at vii
lage.
A day or two later he set out for
walk over the highway. The dog fol-
lowed and frisked about. After a
couple of miles had been passed the
man was about to turn back when he
came upon a man seated on bank by
the roadside with his head on bis
hands While he was yet five rods
away the little dog ran ahead and
leaped upon the stranger and barked
and frfsked and showed every sign OF
intense excitement The man did not
repulse him. On the contrary, he lift
ed up the animal and fondled and talk
ed to him.
It did not need the astuteness Of a
detective to come to conclusion on
the spot The dog had found his old
master. The officer advanced and look
| ed down on the man and said:
"You are John Selden, who robbed
| Banker Henderson"
eyes," was the reply, and Seiden did
| not even look up.
| 'Where have you been since"
| Elm the village three miles away.
| 'Where is the money!?
ut is in my room, every dollar OF II.
Leave me the dog, and you may have
the money
| The detective did not put the cashier
under arrest. He went with him to
his hotel, telegraphed the banker, and
that night Henderson arrived ana
asked:
"John, what is it? Why did you 90
hT
"a voice kept telling me to rob the
L 10