Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1910-12-30
The LUCK OF The GAME.

VIZ ., Lie CdSillCT VI Tie luV'TSt
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.
sistant.
MY God!" he muttered. letting the
paper fall and staring blindly at the
sheet. Brownson followed his gaze.
He saw the cashiers finger tremble
upon the notice Of the breakage in
Copper preferred.
Hit. Peters?" he ventured
Curse you," said Peters, fiercely.
What business is it of yours, you
cub? You'd better tell the directors,
You'd like my place, wouldn't your
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 to
be rude, but the fact is, I've had so
much trouble at home-er, that is
He broke off incoherently AS the
lame excuse he sought to summon
ups died on his lips and went out
abruptly. - Brownson went home as
in "a dream. For the same panic that
meant ruin-as he well surmised-to
Peters, meant prosperity to him, and
freedom from that haunting vision
of the penitentiary that had been
growing nearer and ever nearer
He had not failed to notice Peters
abstraction. his increasing irritation,
his frenzied 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 his 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 hundred there to speculate
with, in hopes of a break in Copper.
And soon the books We're 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 time. 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 10 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 We're investigated. Brown.
\
and his suspicious rose to 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 hustllng 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 a dis
crepancy 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 are, sir'' he cried,
triumphantly.
The money was intact then; at
worst it would be suggested that
there had been an error in bookkeep-
ing. Thank God!" 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