The Cairo bulletin., 1910-05-03
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THE LUCK OF THE GAME.

ment Trust Co, locked his drawer
at the minute OF the banks closing
time and snatched the evening paper
from the hands Of Brownson, his as
sistRnt.
MY God!" he muttered, letting the
paper fail and staring blindly at the
sheet. Brownson followed his gaze.
He saw the cashiers finger tremble
upon the notice OF the treakase in
Copper preferred.
Hit Peters?" he ventured.
Curse you" said Peters, tiarcely.
What business is IT. of yours, you
cube You'd better tell the directors.
You'd like my place, wouldn't you?"
They put on their coats and hats
in silence. At the door Peters turn
ed TO Brownson again
Forgive me, old man." ha said, of
fering his hand. Il didn't mean 10
be rude, but the fact is. I've had so
much trouble at home--er, that Isl
He broke off incoherently as the
lame excuse he sought to summon
up died on his lips and went oit
abruptly. Brownson went home as
In dream For the same panic that
meant ruin--as he we'll surmiscd-to
Peters. meant prosperity TO him. aud
freedom from that haunting visior,
of the penitentiary that had been
growing nearer and ever nearer.
He had not failed to notice Peters
abstraction, his increasing irritation.
his frenyied haste to purchase the
evening papers, He shrewdly sur
missed that the cashier had been
specializing, taking advantage of the
rising market In Copper, And he
knew that one word from him to the
directors would give him Peters
place, with its increase Of $500 a
year
Brownson went home. He had for
gotten Peters now, for his mind was
occupied with something that had
been there for dreary long weeks. a
haunting terror, now suddenly chang,
ed, but UNNECESSARILY greater. For,
with dis release from danger, con-
science had awakened. All at once
he sat down beside his wife and be-
gan to tell her.
He had stolen, stolen Systematically
for months. taking hundred here
and a hundred there to speculate
with, in hopes OF break in Copper.
And soon the books were to be aud
tied and the assets counted; discov.
cry was inevitable unless he could
replace $4,000. Well, he could re-
place it, and in the nick of tine. for
he cleared $4,000 that afternoon
when the stock broke. He would go
to the directors, pay back his steal
ings with the increment, and throw
himself on their mercy. And Marcia,
sitting listening dumbly, all her world
shattered, could only acquiesce. The
directors would not be likely to pro-
secute. With their own paltry saw
ings, a few hundreds merely, they
would face the world anew.
The following morning Brownson
stuffed the six thousand into his
pockets and went down to the bank.
He had resolved first to replace his
offerings; he would take the two
thousand to the directors later. He
managed to replace the four thous.
and during the course of the morn
ing.
Suddenly the auditors appeared.
The books were Investigated. Brown
son saw Peters suddenly collapse.
and his suspicious rose TO a certain.
ty. Peters had been gambling with
the banks money; he had been hit
by the same slump that had rescued
himself from the penitentiary.
Suddenly one of the auditors ut.
tered an exclamation of surprise and
went over to his assistant They be-
gan talking in low whispers. A bank
director came hustling in. and the
managers put their heads together
Brownson heard the whisper theft :"
And suddenly, as though by electrical
communication, everyone began look.
ing at Peters and drew away. Peters
took up his hat.
Mr.. Peters, you will not leave the
bank for the present" said the mana
ger, ignoring the cashiers plea of
sudden sickness. There is dis
crepauey of two thousand dollars.
Brownson, see If that bundle of bills
has by any chance been mislaid
among those papers in the safe"
Very faint and weak from the
strain Brownson went to the great
safe. He glanced back They were
looking away. He slipped something
from his coat pocket; then rose with
an exclamation of surprise
Here they ase.' sirr' he cried
triumphantly.
The money was intact then: at
worst II would be suggested that
there had been an error in bookkeep,
ing. Thank pd!" shouted the man
ager.
Brownson saw Peters staring at
him with gray face, and. sunken, in.
credulous eyes. He had saved the
honor of his superior, and, by this
act, averted his own ruin and the
need OF confession. Fate had drawn
bar balance oya.1 Irui1