Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-22
his personal analrs.

his personal anaIrs.
/ Stub was ever alert to get hold of
some bit of information that he could |
use as club. but Groll grew more and |
| more daring in his attention with the |
knowledge that the girl feared to speak |
| to Fielding.
Groll always was particularly Of |
fensive when Fielding was at the |
bank The firm had two branches up |
town, and every morning the receipts |
from these branches were brought |
down by the trusted clerks and turned
over to the cashier, who accepted the
credit slips wiil"at question and
passed the scale package on to the
bank with his own deposit by Fielding.
The packages of bills were made into
brick shaped forms and sealed at Ell
Their end. The messengers were trust
ed employees, and there never had
been the slightest inaccuracy.
Stub loved to watch the arrival of
the packages 1t was his ambition to
be messenger himself some day and
carry revolver under license from the
police.
The bulge in the messengers coat
pockets filled him with envy, and he
was saving his tips with the idea of
purchasing a revolver of his own
against that happy day when he should
be intrusted with one Of the leather
satchels chained to the messengers
wrists.
Then came a day when Groll went
into the senior partners Office, and
l
cashiers cage. Here the two, after
brief consultation with the latter, went
toward Fielding's desk.
81 tell you that 1 saw him make the
exchange" Gron was saying as they
moved toward the closed desk. 81 was
in the cage for moment and saw him
bending over his desk"
did Mr.. Fielding go to his desk
after he left the cage?" asked Son.
mers Of the cashier. and the latter nod
ded an unwilling assent
HE had a bottle of medicine that he
wanted to put there. He had a bad
cold'
The cashier carried the bunch of
keys that We're duplicates Of all the
keys in the Office. and they soon found
the one that fitted Fielding's desk. AS
the roll top was raised to release the
catch that held the drawers locked
Stub could not refrain from drawing
near. The trio did not notice his ap-
preach, so interested were they in the
Investigation
With an exclamation that sounded
very like groan Sommers drew from
the bottom drawer a package that was
Enthusiastically the deposit from the
North Side branch. and with trembling
band he reached for the sharp envel-
ore opener that lay upon the blotter.
"I'ye had my suspicious for some
time" announced Groll jubilantly. II
happen to know that Fielding is plan.
ming to marry Miss Vance. and he has
been specializing with what they eau
fleir building fund.- for some time.
lie planned this move to get back his
losses and ut the same time gain
enough to buy home. l have been
watching him carefully. and today my
suspicious were aroused.
1.-THE money is net counted here Ii
the office. and he planned to place the
blame ON the cashier or the messenger
and go scot free"
Stub grinned at the jubilation OF
Groll's voice and stood on tiptoe the
better to observe the proceedings
Sommers had slit the wrapper that the
seals might be preserved intact for flu
ture reference, and all three men gave
an exclamation of surprise when, in.
stead Of the bank notes. Sommers
drew out sheets of crisp bond paper
cut to greenback size.
perhaps his nerve failed him." sug
gested Groll who was the first tc
break the silence.
"Nerve nothin'," interrupted Stub
Il was wise to your game. l had the
switchboard when the girl was out tC
lunch, and 1 was rubberin' on the wire
when you told Mr.. Beekman to fix the
package today like the one he gave
you. You was trying to get Mr.. Field
ing out of the Office so you could
break off the engagement, and maybe
Miss Vance would 60 to lunch wheI
you asked her.
"Piggy Moran up to the branch goe.
to TIL same chOich l go to. l got hin
tn job, an he found out that Their,
was a lot of cut paper in Mr.. Beck
mans wastebasket last night. i Sc,
you bring in the package this morning
an 1 see you and Mr.. Beekman IL
Browns last night when he give it t.
you.
81 was wise. 1 snapped packages Oh
you, an it amt your fault that Mr.
Fielding amt comm back from thu
bank tellin' that the North Side pack
age was o fake. You didn't see M
switch it; you didn't even know wa
- in tn cage, but was there all right
-, and that's how it is that you got bacl
Nc the same package you thought vol
=, was. givin' Mr.. Fielding. I'm there
~ too. when it comes to handin' lemon
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