Arizona republican., 1912-09-08

And I don't remember you as Rob- ert Larned. but 1 do remember you as Frank Elrod. I'm Steve Cummings" Larned turned a shade paer.
 "Well, what can do for you?"
 "I'm in great need of funds"
 Would $50 be of any service"
 Fifty thousand would"
 Larned sat looking at the man.
 q suppose you remember the miss ing funds of the Arlington bank?" said the visitor.
 A pained look passed over Larned's face. but he had evidently been pre- pared for the question.
 T do"
 And your flight at the same time| q left Arlington just before the rob bery was discovered"
 And didn't see fit to show up when it was discovered?"
 ''Well, go onr'
 "A few years ago you came here with money and went into business. Dishonesty has paid you better than honesty has paid me. What do you say to divide?'
 You mean you must be paid to re- main silent?'
 That's about it."
 And you ask S50,0OO? How long before you'll want $5O,OOO more:"
 Give me the money and I'll put it out of my power to ask more.
 Larned after awhile said:
 There's another person interested in this matter whom must consult"
 Cummings looked at him anxiously
 This is Tuesday"-loOking at a cal endar on the desk before him. Come Saturday afternoon at 2"
 At ? o'clock the next Saturday after noon the door to Larned's private of five opened and Cummings walked in. His hand had not left the doorknob when he noticed that in the room with Larned was d lady. He started. He knew her well.
 ''This lady" said Larned, ''is inter ested with me in the matter we were discussing the other day"
 What's she got to do with it?' asked Cummings uneasily
 She is my betrOthed.'
 MT. Larned." said the lady, "has placed these negotiations in my hands. He will do whatever desire him to do. What-is the least sum you will take to guarantee silence?"
 I'm not used to dealing with wo- men"
 You'll have to deal with me or no one"
 She looked at Larned, who confirmed her words.
 q said S5O,OOO," said Cummings.
 "I'll give you 5000"
 Cummings turned to go. The lady stopped him.
 II would advise you to take what 1 offer you, and I will give you five min- utes to decide If you refuse I'll give you nothing" "You do as you like. I'll put the bank in a way to recover the loss
 "The loss is recovered for the bank. One of the persons who stole the mon ey returned his share. Mir. Larned ! has offered me my choice of we'd | ding present I have chosen the re- mainder due. I shall turn it in to the | bank"
 | Cummings looked at her with anx- | ious inquiry. 'I don't like your com 1 ing into this case" he said Maybe you know more than I think you do. 1 Maybe you're interested more than as l the betrothed of Frank Elrod."
 q am. I am interested as the sister of the boy you made your tool when | you robbed the bank" Cummings staggered. Its hard for me to enter upon my | own affairs to such as you,' she con- | tinued, ''but it is necessary. Mir. Elrod proposed to me just before your rob- bery. I declined him. and he went away. Before news of the robbery reached him my brother confessed to me. wrote Mir Elrod asking him to make no appearance of denial till could discover what I might do to save Ben. Mir. Elrod has borne the burden as MT. Larned ever since"
 The rest is too pitiful to dwell upon | Cummings, once a trusted clerk in the bank. had ruined not only himself, but boy of nineteen. Cummings had spent his the lions share of the money stolen. and had been reduced by pov erty and drink to attempt to black mail the innocent man who for love had borne the burden. Cummings left the office with the promise of small 1 stipend It was thought better to keeT him from harm lest he betray tho brother he had led into error. --O----