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

John Williams awoke with a terri
Bile headache He had dire remem-
brance OF ha wing been the night before
with two friends of his, Borland and
Tucker. of taking a number OF
drinks and smoking n large quanti
y OF cigars. Suddenly he remember
ed something else He and his friends
had been discussing the various ways
| criminals gave themselves away. VII
liams had wondered why they did so,
averring that he would suppose every
faculty they possessed would be call.
ed out 20 shield them from detection
and punishment
This is as far as Williams remem-
bered From that time the liquor he
had taken affected him so far that he
had no recollection OF what had trans
pired. lie did not 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 a bank and so trusted was
he that he was made a keeper OF the
safe lock coInbna ton in order that
when the cashier was absent the
funds might he available.
Something under Williams pillow
rendered his head uncomfortable
Putting his hand there to discover
what It was. he pulled out an oblonG
parcel done up In brown paper. lie
opened It and was surprised TO see n
package Of bank bills. Then he re
membered something more. He had
made a bet with Tucker that he would
take a sum of money from the bank.
keep It n month. meanwhile proceed
without betraylnG his secret. Then
the party had gone TO the bank. WI
rams had opened the safe and had
taken the money
All this he recalled while looking al
the package and was horrifed at what
he had done II detected what avail
would 1t be for Borland and Tucker "a
swear that the money had been taken
on bet and was TO be returnedi He
was In the position OF a criminal. His
first thought was to telephone to the
hank that he was Ill and would not
he there that day. But the loss would
be discovered. and his absence would
cause suspicion that he had taken the
money. No; he must get up and 60
to the bank as usual He plunged into
cold bath. dressed. drank cup of
coffee and. leaving the bills locked in
I'm old trunk in n stOreroom. went To
face the officers and clerks of the bank
Meanwhile ne had been thinking
that he would .onfess the whole af
fair. Would he be believed? WonId
It not be considered that he had com
mitted the theft. become frightened nj
what he had done and made up this
story TO save himself? His two
friends would testify for him. but nj
most any one would help fellow ont
OF such fix, and their testimony
would he 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 as
careless an air as he could command
Nothing seemed amiss with those .
sembled there. Williams sat down al
his desk and went TO work. About II
o'clock he was called into the pre,i
dents office, where he found the cash
Ter, both officers showing by their Dc
meanor that the loss had been dis
covered
"Mr. Williams" said the president
$4,000 In bills Is missing from the
safe. You and Mr.. StIvers, the cashier
and one other are the only ones VII,
know the combination OF the safe lock
am not going 10 accuse you OF tax
Ing this money. simply wish to
hear what you have to say about The
matter"
Williams. whose heart was In his
throat. denied any knowledge Of how
the theft could have been effected He
looked frightened. bat that was 10 b..
expected. The president. after study
Ing bis face carefully, dismissed him
Williams went back to bis desk ard "a
misery. As TO doing his work that
was impossible. What he tried 10 d.
be bltpdered over. After an intermlna
BILE day OF wretchedness he went hom
and to his room and fell on his bcd
with II groan.
"1f l, who am really innocent o.
wrong" he said. "am so affected b,
my position, what must be the state Q.
a real criminal?"
There was no sleep for william
that night. He dreaded to 20 TO ta-
bank that day and dare not renal.
away. He went 10 bis desk al the u~.'
al hour. and as be sat down, though \.
looked at no one and no one looked ~
him. he felt that a battery Of eyes We
upon him. During the day trifc o..
comfort came to him. since he w
treated hy NJ. in The bank with ~,
same Headlines as before the rot
berry. But t7ore was n steady wrnI
upon his nerves. and when he renci 81
his room b. feit that he had lost much
ground on this first day Of his trial
he now knew that be could not
stand the strain for thirty days nor
for half that time. He must end Il
way 10 return the money. covering h.
tracks at the same time He was SC
unstrunR that he could not. dare no.
use any method that occurred TO him
On the flftlI day he went to the pre-.
fdent ard confessed that be had taes
tempted to steal the money. making
mention Of his bet
The omission 81 ved him His friend,