Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1911-12-07

| Tucker. of taking number OF
! drinks and smoking a large qnanti-
| u OF cigars. Suddenly he remember
| ed something else. He and his friends
had been discussing the various ways
criminals gave themselves away. VIII
liams had wondered why they did so.
averring that he would suppose every
| faculty thcv possessed would be call
| ed out 20 shield them from detection
and punishment.
This is rs far as Williams rernem-
bered From that time the liquor he
had taken affected him so far that he
had no recollection OF what had trans
pired. He did no, even know how he
had got to bed. The experience was
n novel one To him. for he had never
been intoxicated before. He was EN-
ployed in bank and so trusted WAS
he that he was made keeper OF the
| safe lock combination in order that
when the cashier was absent the
funds might be available.
Something under Williams pillow
rendered bis bead uncomfortable
Putting his hand there to discover
what II was. he pulled out an ob!Ong
parcel done up In brown paper. He
| opened It and was surprised TO see
package OF bank bills. Then he re
membcred something more. He had
made q bet with Tucker that he would
take a sum of money from the bank.
keep IL n month. meanwhile proceed
ing with his duties at the institution
without betrayinc his secret Then
the party had gone to the bank. vii
liams had opened the safe and had
taken the money
All this ne recalled while looking al
the package and was Mortified at what
he had done. IF detected what avail
would it be for Borland and Tucker to
swear that the money had been taken
on a bet and was TO be returnedl He
was I'm the position OF n criminal. His
first thought was to telephone to the
banAr .hct tu was III and would HUt
be there that day. Put the loss would
be discovered. and his absence would
cause suspicion that he had taken tho
money No: he must get up and 20
to the bank as usual lie plunged into
a cold bath. dressed. drank n cup of
coffee and. leaving the bills locked In
an old trunk In n storeroom, went to
face the officers and clerks Of the bank
Meanwhile he had been thinking
that he would confess the whole af
fair. Would he be believed? Would
It not be considered that he had com
mitted the theft. become frightened al
what he had done and made up this
story to save himself? His two
friends wound testify for him. but n
most any one would help n fellow ont
| OF such fix. and their Testimony
would be taken with a grain OF salt
| No; his only hope was to carry out
the conditions OF his bet successfully
He entered the bank. assuming a.
careless an air as he could command
Nothing seemed amiss with those Z
sembled there. Williams sat down a.
his desk and went TO work. About II
| O'Clock he was called into the presi
dents office. where he found the cash
Ter. both officers showing by their dc
meanor that the loss had been dis
GOV cred
''Mr. Williams" said the president.
$4,000 I'm bills Is missing from the
safe. You and Mr.. Stiyers, the cashier
and one other are the only ones vt:c
know the combination OF the safe Io-.A
i am not going TO accuse you OF TAX
Ing this money. simply wish 10
hear what you have to say about tho
matter"
Williams. whose heart was in his
throat, denied any knowledge Of how
the theft could have been effected He
looked frightened. bus that was to be
| expected The president. after study
ing his face carefully. dismissed him
Williams went back 10 his desk aud q,
misery. AS to doing his work that
was impossible. What he tried 20 do
he blundered over. After an interlnina
BILE day OF wretChedness he went HON.
and to his room and fell on his bed
with a groan
eff I. who am really innocent o.
wrong" he said. "am so affected by
my position, what must be the state ol
a real cr.minalT'
There was no sleep for william
that night He dreaded to 60 TO th
| bank that day and dare not rama tr
| awny. He went to his desk az the. u>r.
! al hour. and as be sat down, though 4.
| looked al no one and no one looked -
him, be felt that battery OF eyes WI
| upon him. During the day a trtlc o..
comfort came TO him. since he ".
treated by all in the bank with tn.
same fricndlincss as before the rol
| berry. BIT there was a steady wear
/ upon his nerves. and when be reached
| his room b. fc't that hr had lost much
] ground on this first day OF his trial
He now knew that be could nol
stand the strain for thirty days uog
for half that time He must find .
way 10 return tie money. covering r.
tracks at the same time He was 20
| unstrung that he could not. dare no
use any method that occurred 10 him
On the 9th day be went to the pres
ident and confessed that he had beer
tempted TO steal the money. making n
mention OF his bet
The omission saTed him His friend
told OF the bet. and the president un
derstood the mental strain that had lei
Williams 70 confess himself the crtmi