The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-08-27
The Greater Friendship
By Kensett Rossiter

rlS0n, tney nave peeA ietui ihou W |
now, of course. :"
"They have,' said the cashier,
"your account balanced and the
checks returned to you, as you re-
quested."
Gas I requested. !"
"Certainly,n replied the other, open
ing a drawer and referring to an in
dex Gas / said, you drew two checks
on the 1st and End for 1910 each.
On the 4th you wrote in to have your
account balanced. This was done, and
these two checks which had passed
through the clearinghouse were re-
turned to you''
"But l didn write the checks" in
sisted Morrison. 81 didn't ask you
to balance my account. I've been abb
sent from the city for the last month.
I've been in Wyoming. My train got
in only an hour ago. y
, "Mr. Morrison, said the cashier,
"there is something l don't under
} stand about this.
"There's lot more that l don II
I, understand, retorted Morrison.
The cashier rang for his assistant,
excused himself and made his way
to the president s office. A few min
Q utes later Morrison was sent for. He
Q didn't know that in those few min
utes they had referred to his banking
record of several years, had communl-
e Gated with his company's office and
ascertained the truth of his statement
3 that he had been absent from the city
N for month.
" "Mr. Morrison" began the presl
dent, ~ am going to be very frank
Y. with you. When your checks were re
l. ceived we thought you had some in
side knowledge of the standing Of th'
bank. Now, however, we must con
slider them to be forgeries. If they are
. forgeries, the person who forged then
1 was very clever On the 4th, to give
them time to get through the clear
inghouse, request, evidently anothe
20 forgery, was received, asking that tn
III account be balanced This 7as done
re We have nothing, absolutely nothing
no to 90 bv. The checks were returne
supposedly to you, and have, o
course, been destroyed. "
uo The president got up and paced tn
'ie room. .FSomeone, said he, "som'
'o one who knows you well, who kne
80 YOUR plans, who knew your balan'
70 here, has accomplished this,
Morrison remained silent
'a' nsTbink hard. - went on the banke
'ns edo YOU know any friend, anyone WI
- knew your movements, who was hal
- mn. who might have done this!'
al 4 lumn filled Morrison $ throa
~. "No," he gulped.
"Then | don't see what we c'
w. do" returned the other
~ "sNor T." said Morrison. de W
u suddenly anxious to close the init
ol,s view.
en' 'n A little later, Morrison made
IT, TT, way to his company offlce, IN
n 20 went uptown to his club and to
W own room. He sat on his bed WI
~, aea his hands pressed across his eye.
on M "Poor Billy" he mnttered. M
,u,' rison was stunned. He knew ne col
e'n a,a never bring himself to prosecute
~ friend. He could better afford
lose the 5000 than endure the nlg
wn, Of agony which would follow II
eck brought the law down on Billy's he
ls His friend was probably this mom'
the suffering the torments of the damn
ply, and from the bottom of his ne
Morrison felt sorry for him. I'm
the came knock on the outer door.
"Come in"
- There entered Freddie Myer, one
The the old crowd.
,xed "Heard you were back, !" ne gree'
saw "Have good trip' Fine! Say, we
the got a box at Shantan's tong
lied You II join uss"
than Morrison shook his head.
His Freddie Myer lighted cigarette
vent "What's become of BillyV N
Jom. rison asked at length. "They told
ness at the office that he has left
off club. "
ier s Myer shrugged his shoulders :
him. one knows" he returned. "His nj
g was posted the day after you
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