Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-07-28

hSs
city. Before entering
actively upon the
practice of law l had been a news
paper reporter and the feeling that l
was carrying a story tina the news
papers would deluge with red and
black ink was sufficient to thrill me.
Besides. it was my first big case.
l had come into the case In q
strange way. Soon after reaching the
office my telephone rang. On answer
ing it a heavy voice with a slightly
foreign accent spoke as follows;
This is Mr.. Martin Anderson OF
1876 Gramercy Park. Just now Mr..
George Rhodes, who Is in the Munich
pal Bank, and who is to marry my
daughter Marie, called up and said
that when he opened the vault this
morning a package with a million
dollars in bonds was missing. He Is
responsible for the vault and he told
me to tell Marie that he did not take
1t, but that he withdrew his request
for her hand. Now, then, Mr.. Dun
can, l don't care n damn about him,
but my daughter must not be dragged
into this case. ! want you to go over
TO the bank and help him in every
way, to be his attorney, and then you
can see that he keeps his mouth shut
about Marie. I SEND you my check for
fve hundred this morning and I want
to know all about what you do at my
house tonight. Do you take the 5ob?'
Would 1 take the job? Was ever a
fee Of five hundred dollars disda1ned
by a struggling young attorney?
When I reached the bank and ask
ed for MI. George Rhodes a all,
broad-shouldered, clean-cut young
chap came forward and took my card
through the bars. A glance over the
force Of the bank. just preparing to
open the work Of the day, showed me
that the fact of the robbery was not
known ever to them. But 1t was
painted plain on George Rhodes face.
He was pale and haggard and there
were lines about his mouth that told
of worry. He took me n the ante
room of the directors chamber and l
told him the nature Of my business
and that Mr.. Anderson had retained
me to do all I could for him.
Really, MI. Duncan, 1 have thought
Juo HldllSl oFSA SdASiuiAy civ
is nothing to do" he replied In a dull,
expressionless way.
you surprise me-, Mr.. Rhodes" l
said. Hadn't you better give me the
facts and let me be the judge of what
a be done?"
The facts are few enough" he
answered. 1.-The bonds were in :
package four inches thick. They were
80 government tours and worth,
when entered on the first of the
month, three weeks ago, n million
dollars. Last night l checked the
cash and the books going in, to-
gether with the assistant cashier and
the receiving teller. This is our night
ly rule. We check owe the securities
in the vault but once a month, but
every night and morning I run over
the pile. If a package were taken out
1t would leave a depression in the pile
that would be easily detected. Last
night nothing was missing, for the
pile was perfectly even across the
top, and we closed the vault and set
the time lock as usual. This morning
the time lock was running n the
safe absolutely as I left It. But when
I went into the vault and ran my
hand over the securities I saw at once
that a package was missing. l check
ed off all the packets by my list and
found that the 80 governments were
gone. l checked them over three
times and the result was the same.
Of course it's up to me to &C
count for those bonds. The as
sistant cashier and the receiving tell
er were with me as usual when I
opened the vault and checked out the
books and cash, and they know it was
not touched over night. I have not
told the cashier of the loss and the
president is not down yet"
l had been watching him covertly
as he spoke and I felt the conviction
stealing over me that he had the
bonds or, at least, knew where they
were.
81 beg your pardon, Mr.. Rhodes"
I said. drawing Oh ny gloves, Il do
not mean to be brutal, but the facts
are very much against you"
The tense line of his white lips -
Taxed into a sickly smile.
Eyes, the facts-I know. l am not
In a position 10 resent DelHS TeLlllu-
ed of them. But, l have made up my
mind to tell the cashier
"See here, Rhodes" l said with
sudden determination. I'm going to
do what / can in this matter. Is there
any reason why it will become known
as a matter of c%ourse?"
1.-THE first of the month, a week
from tomorrow, will be the triple
checking-up time
Very well, just you hold off this
morning, anyhow. Meet me at Hams
at 1915
"All right. Good morning"
/ related the case to Belts, my
partner, when l reached the office and
he laughed ~incredulously:
Say. Duncan he said. "that is a
bit too wild a tale for me. A million
dollars gone from a Unchecked bank
vault overnight without opening it!
Gee, Why don't o consult that man
Rand, Lawrence Rand, the fellow Il
has beer untying some of those hard
knots out West. Don't o remember
the tombstone mirror poisoning case
and the Rebstock mines AFFAIR.""
Yes, | do. Is Rand his name?
Where is he to be found?"
III r--. 49, ls~ ,,~ ~ thu fo1onh0na