The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-19
CHAPTER ".
A MILLIONAIRE IN NEED.
. He telephone fairly ratified aboJ


IT. HE telephone fairly ratified about
upon the table.
Mr.. Hungerford, mouth open
and eyes starting from their
sockets, gulped violently for an instant;
then his seIf-controI returned abruptly,
and he said:
Say. Are YOU certain Of what you're
talking about2"
You can come down here and look
across IF YOU want to. sir
''Well-What's your Nance
Brown. Mr.. Hungerford.'
How much longer are you going to
be at Hayners?"
Until e"
''Then stay right where you are and
watch the bank, please III be there
inside Of fifteen minutes. When you
see me so up the steps, come over and
we'll go in together Meanwhile, don't
mention the thing to any one. under
stand? p
Yes. SIR
And I'll make it worth your while,
Brown. Can I depend on you?"
YES, sir"
.AII right. Good-by.'
Leaving home without breakfast or
q sight OF his family was rather a feat
for Mr. Hungerford. and an unpleasant
one It happened rarely; but it was all
unminded by the bank president this
morning.
With a rush he was into his clothes,
rnutteriug to himself, shaking his head,
grooming mentally now and then, as he
found buttons and cuffs and collar
with rush he made for the corner and
hailed a car.
And there. as he stood upon the plat
form and smoked, Hungerford Gained
his exterior very much indeed Elk
element on his part in the DeiShbor-
hood Of the bank and at unearthly
hours, Just at this stage Of the financial
game, if viewed by an interested men,
Der OF the public might prove not un-
like a smoking cigGreece in q powder
factory.
\ placid exterior for Mr.. HunserfOrd
was the only thing, and when Mr.
Hungerford reached the steps of his
institution. he was all but bean=uS
dignifed happiness. He found the in
conspicuous little push button and gave
his private signal TO th@ watchman-
The Waterman did not come, and ne
rang again-and a third time. And as
he was still waiting. u thickset man
with a rather expressionless face,
walked from the other side OF the street
and moved to his side. Hungerford
turned.
"Oh, yes You're Brown, VINO used
TO be a porter with Us when We were
downtown"
--Tes, sir
Have you seen anything Of the
watchman moving around2"
NO. sir, 1 haven't, and it's mighty
queer that"
Huugerford found his keys. It was
mighty queer. 1t fitted vaguely with
theory that had been trying 10 fight
a way into his unwilling mind. That
COMPOUNDED Cluett was addicted to the
wild habit Of carrying several thou
sands in currency on his person at all
hours, and most Of the employees knew
it Suppose temptation had overtaken
the twenty-dOllar-a-wee person who
pauolled the place at night Suppose
that, IN a moment OF greedy insanity
HUngerford shut his teeth as the big
doors swung open and they came to
the smaller ones within. They'd know
now in a very few minutes,
Side by side they walked to the cages
at the rear and opened the door that led
10 the stairway. In the big, empty place
their steps rang out with almost un-
caury hOllowness on the stone steps.
And there was never a sign OF the al
ways-alert Tompkins to challenge them,
TOmpkins, due to leave at seven, was
nowhere about; and up there
The door at the top stood wide open,
the electric lights sending out a sickIy
glare in the early light Mr.. Hunger
ford gulped, braced himself and walked
through.
And he stopped with a gasp; for there
Tar across the main room, lay stretched
the form Of man, with a gruesome
oark-red pool beneath his head,
An instant, the president turned away,
Eickened, then he wheeled about and
walked straight down upon the thing
and stared into the Upturued face.
And % Browns utter amazement what
appeared 20 be a cry Of joy escaped
him; for he shouted:
''Why. it's only Tompkins you fooI,'
We'll. I didn't say it was anyone else.
sir, l."
But / thought" Mr.. Hungerford
dropped weakly into a chair
Sometimes, when YOU are really very
particular about not having your trou-
bIes public or private. advertised in the
daily press. it is q good thing 70 have
q certain little influence with the police.
HUngerfOrd. for example, when five
minutes had restored a certain amount
Of composure, locked the upper office
carefully. stepped down 90 his own or
nate private domain IN the rear Of the
ground floor and called up a certain per
son connected with the department.
The certain person had good reasons
for ObHging Mr. Hungerford. He as