The Washington times., 1913-11-20
CHAPTER II.
-HIS is not a detective story ir
any sense of the meaning.

any sense of the meaning.
A sum of money, a large one
the precise amount does not mat
ter just here-disappeared in manner
utterly inexplicable, from the cage OF
the paying teller of the Centropons
Bank some, time during the business
day of Thursday, June Is. 1t was sum
that could not be traced, owing 20 the
denomination and character of the bills
which comprised ii.
1t was gone; that was all there was
to It. And it went in three packages, or
bundies-and so deftly, and with such
consummate skill vas 1t made to van
ish that not so much as the suggestion
Of a trace vas left to indicate the
method by which it had been taken.
Nor was Ii missed until the time came
for slowing 1t away in the time-locked
vaults for the night. Then the teller re-
ported the loss after few moments OF
useless and unfruitful search for II.
Bingham Harvard was that teller.
Not a shadow of suspicion was cast in
his direction. nor, for. that matter, to-
ward the two assistants who occupied
the cage with him. Apparently one OF
the three must have taken 1t, yet de-
velopments showed that twice during
that day there had been an interval, one
of three minutes and the other Of two
or three, both aPproximated. when any
clerk in the bank. being SO minded,
might have slipped inside the cage and
out again, unnoticed.
The directors, hastily summoned, de-
cided to make good the loss, and to per-
NIT no mention of it, even to the cleri-
cal force. OF course, il was generally
known inside the institution that there
had been loss, but not whether It had
been great or small, or of enough i'm
portance to stir them unduly.
But the directors did not shwallow the
loss as calmly as they appeared to -do
They called upon the detective agency
which regularly handled their business,
and the president summoned In addiuon
e man in whom he felt entire oonn-
dsnce, Lieut.. Rodney Rushton, OF the
regular detective bureau: he being also
sworn TO secrecy. Rushton's side part
ner was told about it, naturally. and
his superior officers down at headquar-
ters knew about II. Otherwise 1t re-
mained bank secret.
Rushton had made a reputation for
himself; how, will be left for you % de-
eide On several occasions he had per-
formed really splendid service for Pres
tdent Chester, of the bank. Hence Ches-
ter's confidence in him and in his aptl-
alias, the Night Wind.
For a few days Rushton : ed cheek
by jowl with the accreditc 'Eency-or
appeared to do so. But atom was
ed to "slip one over in tue. direction,
as well as to enhance his own reputa-
ton in doing il. He did it, too, and
beautifully, according to his crite-ions.
I've come to wise you up on this lit. II
announced, with easy familiarity. one
MONDAY a week after the theft &C.
CURED. II know the man, but he has
proved himself too slick for me 20 get
the goods on him to the extect OF con-
.rr-al nf hiS
do understand you to say that you
. already know who the guilty man is,
Mr.. Rushton?" the banker asked, with
a glance over the length and breadth OF
the establishment, for every last man
of them was directly under his eye from
the elevation of his private office, which
was, itself, secluded.
i've got it cinched SO far as that
goes, only / can't prove 1t on him
yet" was the assured reply. I've got
10 force him to a show down; see? I've
got to get his goat. But that'n be easy
enough after you an me get down 70
cases"
Il don't think 1 quite understand you,
Mr. Rushton," the banker said, with eX-
treme moderation. You know who the
guilty man is, and you cannot prove 1t.
Something is lacking as to that part Of
it Thus far followed YOU. but ="
Rushton bent forward in his chair
and his small, keen eyes bored into the
bankers coldly mild ones. so that the
latter stopped with the closing sentence
of his protest incomplete.
Listen here, Mr.. President. I've got
the trap set. laid and covered, and
ready to spring. / amt said that
can't prove this guys guilt to you.
what 1 did say was that I amt got
enough on him to prove it TO jury.
See? But you? He-m--m-m" Rush
ton cleared his throat ostentatiously.
You'll see it,
Have you found the money, or any
mart Of IL 80
no. But I've found the guy that's
got it. r knows where it is, and it's up
TO you an me now to get his goat SOS
he'll squeaL They all squeal when
they're pinched hard enough-and that's
what ! want you 10 help me to do; make
him yelp."
But how"
How? Why, it's like takin' candy
from a kid. Guys Ike he is, once you
get 'em goin', take the toboggan plumb
TO the bottom. They'll put up face
that would sweeten sour milk after
thunder shower. up to a certain point.
dent to the ten commandments. but
they're the quickest to weaken, once
you get the bulge, on EN- good an
plenty. And that's this guy, all night.
a church to look at him or hear him
talk. but you'll find. when / throw the
hooks into him, that his spine amt got
any bones in II at all"
But o. WEOn are you speahlnB- "Ho
is the guilty man, Mr.. RushtonT
The headquarters man crossed the
space until he stood beside President
Chester's chair. He bent forward and
pointed with a stubby, fat-ended index
finger toward the big room Of the bank
toward one profile that showed clean
CIT and strong upon a well-po!sed head.
That's him. he sad. "One, two.
th-ee-the fourth along the line where
I'm pointin' my finger. Him with the
way hair and the white skin / don't
need 20 mention no name. He's the guy
that done IT,"
The banker flushed. then turned white.
The grip of his fingers tightened upon
the edge OF his desk where one hand
rested when he half rose to follow the
Indicated direction with his eyes And
he discovered at once whom the officer
meant.
Not Bingham Harvard he ex-
claimed breathlessly, relaxing upon his
chair. Not that young man. Mr.. Rush
ton. There must be a mistake. You are
jealous, / know. and q keen and expe-