The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-05-28
CHAPTER XVII.
FATE. BANK IN DILEMMA.
GOLF GAME, GHOST AND TRIUNE.


HAMBR1cHr's FATE. BANK IN DILEMMA.
GOLF GAME, GHOST AND TRIUNE.
Hambr,pht was dead. The doctors
said so; the coroner reported it as the
verdict of his jury, and the undertaken
certified the fact in his burial certificate.
Dead by suicide. Was it done because
of the wreck of all his hopes, or TO es-
cane exposure, disgrace and imprison-
ment? Why should he despair at the
Ioss Of one woman? Why should he fear
ANYTHING? Did guilty conscience make
him afraid? Did he believe the detec-
tive knew aught against him!
Fink only suspected that he had stolen
the bonds and had tried to shoot him in
the cave. Evidence was lacking. The
arrest was a mere bluff. in order to put
him through an examination ana, per-
haps, the third degree,
The detective wished an explanation OF
his movements and actions during Presl.
dent Bemls' illness, and hoped he would
furnish some facts to strengthen their
suspicious and add something important
to the little evidence they had collected.
Most criminals convict themselves.
There was no news of the bonds from
any source. If Hambright had taken
them, he had hidden them safely where,
now that he was dead. perhaps, they
would never be discovered: He mad
hoped to increase his wealth, to help
Miss Patterson to affluence. and to marry
her. He had expected to continue tne
manipulated advance of his stocks, ana
to have an easy compliance OF the lady
with his wishes. :.
There was nothing especially venal IN IN
his plans to get rich quick, as the worlo
views such matters, except the impro-
priety of procedure so soon a1ter MS
wife's decease. Love often violates pro
priety and scorns control by conVen''on-
atty. ; GO
the majority of his speculative 1sio"e,
and until more is known abort him, 1t
;s onlv fair to believe him ;rnocent OF
INV criminal intent. A sensible woman
ana world calamity had thrown him
down. -, =.
The bank was in dilemma. 1t could
not deliver the Orc bonds, if the owners
wished to pay their loans; it could not
call the loans in necessity, because the
bonds could not be delivered; it dared not
make nuplic their loss for fear of run
mon the bank. as its deposits and sur
plus were very low.
The Board of Directors was distressed
and asked the detectives to make haste
and find the bonds, or to give up the
mest Fink declared there was one
more chance of success and asked an
other weeks time, which was granted,
hecause the bank officers had no other
hope of relief.
An auto sped out of the city one morn
ing. containing Fink, Wendell, and three
secret service men, and stopped at the
County Club. Wendell and one men Sc
lected golf irons and played golf down
into the valley to the ninth hole, While
Fink and the two other men were inter-
ested spectators. Wendell and his COM
panion quit the game at the last green
near The stream and walked leisurely
along it's bank toward the hill, the for
mer remarking to Fink, 'We will meet
YOU at the den beneath the mountain.
"All right; be careful you don't mis-
take us for robbers and do some shoot
ing replied the detective.
"Have no fear" said Wendell, waving
his hand. as he and his companion dlsap-
peared in the bushes.
Fink and his men went along the foot
hill to the auto, ran it at moderate speed
to the base of the mountain, and lett It
under shelter in care of Spinoza.
81 am going to explore the cave and
all the underground passage today: would
YOU like to 90 with me?'' said Fink to
"No. senore; me no Ikea go where
backe lives ard is no light.
Very well; take good care of the
auto until we return.
Fink and his men went to the entrance
of the cavern, flashed an electric lamp
and passed within the mysterious way.
Wendell and his attendant had done the
same at the southern end, and were
stumbling over rocks and splashlng
through the stream towards the goal.
The men examined every crevlce. pick
ed I'D every scrap Of paper, and search
ed every diverticulum en- route for evil
dence of human presence. Neither
party found anything Of Importance,
and all met at the den without hlndrance
or adventure.
The cave showed nothing to indicate
it's occupation since Wendell and Fink
had been there, and the sleuuhs began
systematic search of it's walls, roof, floor
and everything contained therein. The
bedding was prodded, ripped and turned
inside out; the dishes and cooking uten-
sils were examined within and between;
the stone fire place was scrutinized care
fully; the crannies, hooks and shelves
were cleared of articles; the ferret-like
work was finished, and nothing had been
found of value, or that pointed toward
further effort.
sit is strange there is so little here to
indicate ownership. Care has been ex-
ercised to leave nothing to implicate any
one. Even hog would have left the
corn cobs, remarked Fink in disgust.
Wendell and one of the men had made
a fire. 1--WE may as we'll take comfort
in our defeat; l am going to have a
smoke" said the former, opening his
cigarette case.
Here, have a cigar; stop burning
those paper denominations that smell
like half burned house and make the
nervous system anxious for more nico-
tine,' said Fink, holding out handful
of cigars to him and the other men.
Wendell took one, laughing, watched
the smoke curl to the roof, and remarked,
"You have that addressed envelope that
we found here?''
Eyes; and glimpse of the man who